New Episode - Energy shocks and strategic choices: How Southeast Asia is navigating turbulence in the Middle East
24 June 2026
In this episode, Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy and Richard Heydarian are joined by Dr. Huong Le Thu of the International Crisis Group for a timely discussion on how Southeast Asia is responding to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Together, they explore how the crisis is being interpreted across the region, from differing diplomatic positions and domestic political pressures to the growing impact of energy shocks and disruptions to global shipping routes. The conversation also looks at how governments are balancing short-term risks with longer-term efforts to strengthen economic resilience and diversify supply chains.
They also examine how the conflict is shaping Southeast Asia’s approach to great-power competition, strategic hedging, and Europe’s role in the region — alongside what it reveals about ASEAN’s capacity to manage external shocks and the broader question of strategic autonomy.
And with geopolitics never far from everyday life, they close with a discussion on Europe’s summer sporting season — from tennis to cycling — with Richard offering his take on the FIFA World Cup.
In cooperation with the European Parliament in ASEAN.