Iran, the Red Sea, Europe and the UK
Recording and transcript of the August Private Roundtable
Hello from London,
Last week, Michael and I hosted a private roundtable discussion with paid subscribers, looking at some of the geopolitical developments we think matter most as we head into the second half of August.
We started with the Iran war: whether the United States has become trapped by the logic of escalation, what an eventual settlement might look like, and whether the conflict has ultimately strengthened rather than weakened the Iranian regime. From there, we looked at the renewed risks to shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, and what they tell us about the vulnerability of the global economy to maritime chokepoints.
We then turned to Europe, including the extraordinary events in Ceuta, the growing weaponisation of migration, and the longer-term pressures building across the Sahel. And finally, we looked at Britain under its new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and whether he has the political capital — and willingness — to confront the country’s increasingly difficult economic and demographic position.
You can find the recording and transcript below.
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Best wishes,
Damien
