What role should Europe play in the Middle East?

  • Mon, March 16, 2026 • 10:30 am ET
  • virtual event

An expert discussion on how Europe is approaching the war in Iran and its implications for the region, Europe, and transatlantic relations.

On Monday, March 16, at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs will explore the repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East on Europe and the transatlantic relationship.

The war in Iran and its wider effects carry significant implications for Europe. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have strained energy supplies, attacks across the region have imperiled European partners and European Union (EU) member states in the Mediterranean, and internal divisions over the US operation have sparked transatlantic tensions. These developments are prompting renewed debate in European capitals about how the EU should approach the region and its own geopolitical positioning.

This event will convene leading experts to examine how the conflict is shaping Europe’s engagement in the Middle East and what it means for transatlantic relations going forward.

Please complete the form below to register for this event.

Speakers

Nico Lange
Founder and Director,
Institute for Risk Analysis and International Security;
Former Chief of Staff,
Federal Ministry of Defense of Germany

L. Daniel Mullaney
Nonresident Senior Fellow,
Europe Center and GeoEconomics Center,
Atlantic Council;
Former Assistant US Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East

Margaritis Schinas
Distinguished Fellow, Europe Center,
Atlantic Council;
Former European Commission vice-president for promoting the European way of life

Amb. Jon Wilks
Distinguished Fellow, Transatlantic Project,
Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs,
Atlantic Council

Moderated by

Jörn Fleck
Senior Director, Europe Center,
Atlantic Council

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The Europe Center promotes leadership, strategies, and analysis to ensure a strong, ambitious, and forward-looking transatlantic relationship.

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Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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