Ioannis Alexandris in ERTNews on the war in Iran and its broader geopolitical implications

On 27 March, Ioannis Alexandris, Research Fellow at ELIAMEP, participated in ERTNews’ Off the Record programme, discussing the evolving situation in Iran and its broader geopolitical implications.

During the discussion, Alexandris focused on the European dimension of the crisis. In contrast to the 2003 Iraq War—when Europe was deeply divided—he noted a greater degree of convergence among EU member states, particularly regarding core “red lines”. European governments appear aligned in avoiding direct military involvement and in maintaining a more autonomous European stance in response to developments.

However, Alexandris warned that this relative unity may prove fragile. The main challenges lie less in articulating a common political position and more in managing the consequences of a potentially prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Rising energy costs, inflationary pressures, industrial competitiveness concerns, and fiscal constraints are all likely to test the cohesion of the European Union in the coming months.

Alexandris also highlighted the wider strategic implications, noting that the crisis strengthens Russia’s position and increases pressure on Ukraine, while exposing the EU’s structural dependencies on external energy suppliers.

In this context, he emphasised that the need to advance European strategic autonomy is becoming increasingly urgent, spanning energy, industrial policy, the defence industry, critical raw materials, technology, and the geopolitical dimension of EU enlargement.