IIEA Talks

• The Geopolitics of the Middle East: A Region Under Reconfiguration

  The geopolitics of the Middle East have entered a period of profound flux. In recent years, shifting alliances, contested interventions, and the rise of non-state actors have reshaped the region’s landscape. From the Iran–Saudi détente to the Abraham Accords, from the wars in Syria and Yemen to the conflict in Gaza, the stakes for regional and international order are considerable. In his remarks to the IIEA, Dr Hellyer offers a perspective from the region itself, exploring how Middle Eastern states interpret threats and opportunities, the changing role of global powers, and the prospects for a regional security framework less dependent on external actors. He also considers the implications for Europe and the wider international community. Speaker bio: Dr. H. A. Hellyer is Senior Associate Fellow with expertise in Geopolitics and Middle East Studies at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), the world’s oldest defense think tank. He is also Senior Fellow in Geopolitics and Security Studies at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C., which follows senior tenures in Washington at the Brookings Institution, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Brookings Institution, and the Atlantic Council. Dr Hellyer has advised the UK government on radicalisation and extremism in Europe, and is regularly called upon by the public and the private sectors for non-partisan expertise on Middle East developments. A frequent media commentator, he has provided analysis for CNN, the BBC, the Washington Post, and The New York Times. Dr. Hellyer has also held appointments at Cambridge, Harvard, Warwick, and the American University in Cairo. He is the author of ten books and hundreds of articles on the politics and security of the Middle East and Europe.

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• The Role of the Private Sector in Warfare

  Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western states not only find themselves in a changed geopolitical environment but have also learned important lessons about the role of the private sector in wartime. Ranging from the countering cyber-threats, ensuring continuity of communications, and the provision of space-based capabilities, the private sector has access to resources and expertise that states may not have themselves. Their capacity to augment national security risks making the private sector a target of hostile aggression. In his remarks to the IIEA, Franklin D. Kramer explores the changing role of the private sector in wartime crises and ensure that western states are prepared for future crises should they occur. Speaker bio: Franklin D. Kramer is a distinguished fellow and board director at the Atlantic Council. Kramer has served as a senior political appointee in two administrations, including as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. At the US Department of Defense, Kramer was in charge of the formulation and implementation of international defense and political-military policy, with worldwide responsibilities including NATO and Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

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• Addressing the Mental Health Implications of Digital Life

  In this event Dr Ravi Iyer discusses how many people’s lives are increasingly being lived online, with significant implications for mental health. Dr Iyer discusses how many users encounter unwanted or disturbing content and experiences and how many people use digital services excessively with sometimes negative results for their well-being. Dr Iyer discusses how the design choices of online platforms contribute to these trends. He finally assesses how the negative consequences that can arise from this might be mitigated and the role that can be played by companies, governments, and civil society stakeholders in this regard. About the Speaker: Dr Ravi Iyer is the Managing Director of the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School’s Neely Center. Previously he spent over four years leading data science, research and product teams across Meta to improve the impact of social media on both society and individuals. He has a Ph.D. in social psychology from USC and has co-authored numerous articles on the psychology of values and well-being. He currently advises the UK Office of Communications, the Anxious Generation team, as well as several other jurisdictions on how to improve the societal impact of technology.

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• Ilan Goldenberg and Eugene Kontorovich - 24th of September 2025

  'How Might the US React to the Occupied Territories Bill Becoming Law?' Over the Summer many US politicians have been increasingly critical of Ireland’s moves to pass the Occupied Territories bill into law with many calling for Ireland to face sanction if it does so. To discuss the implications of these developments and what measures the US might take, Insights will be joined by Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street, who has previously served at the US State Department Department of Defense. Also joining the discussion is Eugene Kontorovich, Senior Research Fellow in The Heritage Foundation and professor at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, whose opinion article in the Wall Street Journal in early July advocated for a strong US response in the event of Ireland’s enactment of the Occupied Territories bill.

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• Protecting Critical Offshore Infrastructure from Hybrid Threats

  In recent years, increased attention is being paid to the importance of protecting offshore infrastructure from threats. Offshore energy and communications infrastructure, such as wind farms and subsea cables, are increasingly being viewed as targets by hybrid threat actors. Incidents such as the damage to the Balticconnector cable and Nordstream pipelines have heightened awareness of the threat to critical offshore infrastructure. In response, European states are increasing their cooperation to ensure that such infrastructure is secure. Against this backdrop, Ireland is drafting a National Maritime Security Strategy to consider how best to protect both existing, and planned future, infrastructure. In this panel discussion, experts will discuss the threats to critical offshore assets, and what we can do to better protect them from hybrid risks. This event has been organised in conjunction with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ireland. About the Speakers: · Commodore Eduard de van der Schueren, Programme Director for the Protection of North Sea Infrastructure at the Dutch Ministry of Defence · Vice Admiral (Ret.) Mark Mellett, Former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces · Jacqui McCrum, Secretary General of the Department of Defence · Dr Camino Kavanagh, Senior Fellow with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and a Visiting Senior Fellow with the Dept. of War Studies, King’s College London.

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