In this week’s episode of The Language of Power podcast, host Paul Taylor sits down with experts Mihai Chihaia and Katarzyna Sidlo to explore the future of the Middle East. They discuss the region’s impact on Europe and consider how the EU can foster peace and stability. Tune in for insightful analysis and thought-provoking perspectives on one of today’s most pressing geopolitical challenges.

With Paul Taylor, EPC's senior visiting fellow for the Europe in the World programme and podcast host, Mihai Chihaia, Policy Analyst for the Europe in the World Programme at the EPC and Katarzyna Sidlo, Senior Policy Analyst for the MENA region, EU Institute for Security Studies.


This Podcast is part of the EPC's Europe in the World Programme.

The Language of Power:  Middle East Mayhem - is the EU just a bystander?

In this episode of The Language of Power podcast, host Paul Taylor is joined by Mihai Chihaia, a policy analyst in the EPC’s Europe in the World programme, and Ionela Ciolan, a research officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, to unpack how Russia’s war on Ukraine has reshaped security in the Black Sea.  

From Ukraine’s use of naval drones to Turkey’s control of the straits and NATO’s limited naval presence, the discussion explores the shifting balance at sea, the EU’s new Black Sea Strategy, and what’s next for regional defence. 

The Language of Power: Murky Waters: Navigating the Future of Black Sea Security

The Language of Power – NATO’s summit in The Hague: a turning point or a phoney deal?

This week, host Paul Taylor is joined by Jamie Shea and Iana Maisuradze to unpack the outcomes of the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague – the first under President Trump’s return. Was it a moment of renewed unity or a carefully choreographed illusion? From Article 5 ambiguity to the 5% defence spending pledge, the episode explores what the summit means for transatlantic credibility, European rearmament, arms control, and Ukraine’s NATO path.

Tune in for sharp insights, critical analysis, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on NATO’s most consequential gathering in years.

The Language of Power: NATO’s summit in The Hague: a turning point or a phoney deal?

In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor explores the high-stakes geopolitical tug-of-war over Moldova, a small country caught between EU integration and Russian interference ahead of its crucial parliamentary elections on 28 September.

With insights from Tatiana Cojocari (WatchDog.MD Community) and Anastasia Pociumban (DGAP), the episode unpacks:

• Russia’s full-spectrum campaign of disruption in Moldova;
• EU and US support for Moldova’s democratic resilience;
• The role of Transnistria and recent gas cut-offs;
• The dilemma of decoupling Moldova’s EU path from Ukraine’s amid Hungarian opposition;
• The emergence of Alternativa and the potential election surprises.

The outcome in Moldova could shape the credibility of EU enlargement and the resilience of democracy on Europe’s eastern frontier.

This Podcast is part of the EPC's Europe in the World Programme.

The Language Of Power: Moldova's Moment

In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor, Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Policy Centre, examines the EU’s recent high-level summits with China and Japan. 

What can we learn from the frosty EU-China meeting in Beijing, which marked a tense 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations? And how does it compare to the broader, more cooperative outcomes of the EU-Japan summit held just a day earlier in Tokyo? 

Joining the discussion are Ivano di Carlo, Senior Policy Analyst, and Elixabete Arrieta, Junior Policy Analyst, both from the EPC’s Europe in the World programme. Together, they explore the current state of EU-Asia relations, the impact of the second Trump administration, and whether a distinct European approach in Asia is still possible. 

Europe’s two Asian summits - Beijing blues and Tokyo two-step

In this episode of The Language of Power, host Paul Taylor, Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Policy Centre, examines the EU’s recent high-level summits with China and Japan.

What can we learn from the frosty EU-China meeting in Beijing, which marked a tense 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations? And how does it compare to the broader, more cooperative outcomes of the EU-Japan summit held just a day earlier in Tokyo?

Joining the discussion are Ivano di Carlo, Senior Policy Analyst, and Elixabete Arrieta, Junior Policy Analyst, both from the EPC’s Europe in the World Programme. Together, they explore the current state of EU-Asia relations, the impact of the second Trump administration, and whether a distinct European approach in Asia is still possible.

The Language of Power: Europe’s two Asian summits - Beijing blues and Tokyo two-step

The Language of Power Podcast: Europe’s two Asian summits - Beijing blues and Tokyo two-step

In this episode of the Language of Power, Paul Taylor unpacks a turbulent summer of transatlantic diplomacy, shifting alliances, and war fatigue.

From Putin’s headline-grabbing summit with Trump in Alaska to Zelenskyy’s tense Washington visit, the episode explores whether diplomatic showmanship can halt Russia’s brutal advance in Ukraine. While Russia escalates attacks and Ukrainians hold their ground, Europe is caught between appeasement and agency—offering concessions to Trump in hopes of securing continued US backing.

Together with Jim Townsend and Amanda Paul, the conversation dives into:

🔴 Trump’s erratic stance on Russia and missed sanctions deadlines

🔴 What Europe gets in return for bending to Washington’s demands

🔴 What credible security guarantees for Ukraine could look like

🔴 The broader implications for NATO and transatlantic trust

The Language of Power: Ukraine diplomacy

Is lasting peace finally within reach in the South Caucasus—or is the latest deal just another geopolitical powerplay?

In this episode of Language of Power, we unpack the US-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signed at the White House on 8 August, and explore what it means for the region and the wider world.

Host Paul Taylor is joined by Matthew Bryza, former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and Viktorya Muradyan, Brussels-based public affairs consultant and former co-editor-in-chief of The European Correspondent. Together, they explore why President Trump succeeded where the EU faltered, and what’s at stake for Washington, Moscow, and Tehran.

We examine Armenia’s pivot away from Russia, Azerbaijan’s growing leverage despite its authoritarian record, and the prospects for regional transformation. Can Armenia’s government survive the fallout of losing Karabakh? Is EU membership a credible alternative? And how might Russia and Iran respond to losing influence in their own backyard?

EPC Language of Power - Armenia-Azerbaijan: the Trump Route to Where?

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The Language of Power: Middle East Mayhem - is the EU just a bystander?

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