For decades, Europeans shared a simple belief: that the world — however messy — ultimately runs on rules.

But what if the escalating war in Iran shows that these rules no longer apply?

In this episode of EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton speaks to two foreign affairs experts who help unpack how the ongoing crisis in the Middle East impacts Europe.

Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations and author of the forthcoming book “Surviving Chaos: Geopolitics When the Rules Fail,” argues the Iranian conflict is a good example of a world increasingly defined by “un-order.”

Meanwhile, Rym Momtaz, editor-in-chief of Strategic Europe at Carnegie Europe and a longtime observe of European and Middle East politics, helps us understand Europe's response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes in a wider geopolitical context.

If you have thoughts or questions about the podcast, you can reach us on our WhatsApp: +32 491 05 06 29.

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