(In collaboration with DeBALIE Cafè – Amsterdam)
On 3 February 2026 the JASON Institute Activities Committee assisted in the event “The Red Sea: in the eye of a geopolitical storm” at De Balie Cafè (Amsterdam), a panel discussion between NATO Chief of Staff Geoffrey van Leeuwen and experts Paul van Hooft, Benedetta Girardi, and Máté Szalai about the current security crisis in the Red Sea and its implications for Europe and the Netherlands. The event was the result of a monthly cooperation between JASON and De Balie, which was made possible thanks to the efforts of programme-makers Merlijn Geurts and Senna Felius, who coordinated with the Activities Committee to plan and organise the project from its development to the final details.
The panel opened with an interview with Geoffrey van Leeuwen, who emphasised the need for Europe to continue investing in its defence. In light of the current US administration’s dissatisfaction, Europe needs to assume more control within its sphere of influence, so as to be able to secure its economic interests without relying on external actors. He also stressed that the EU currently lacks the resources to secure the Red Sea, even though this gap is expected to be reduced in the next few years. The main concern, however, is a lack of political mentality, as few European countries are prepared to suffer the collateral damage of an attack by the Houtis.
After the interview, the three experts came together for the panel discussion. Paul van Hooft argued that the United States, despite the reluctance it has shown in the leaked Signal chats to intervene to protect European trade, has actually significant economic interests in the region, as a solid European market can only benefit the American economy.
Benedetta Girardi stressed the importance of the Red Sea, describing it as a “structural vulnerability” for Europe rather than merely an area of conflict to be addressed by regional powers. The EU, as an economic powerhouse, should put most of its focus on the security of the routes through which most of its trade passes.
Máté Szalai added another dimension to the importance of the Red Sea, namely that of competition. There not only regional actors fight for its control, such as the Houtis or Al Qaida, but also nations with different balances of powers – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt – consequently making the Red Sea fertile ground for external powers to intervene and project their influence.
The debate was stimulating, as not all the speakers shared the same views. Throughout the discussion, several themes were addressed, such as European and Dutch trade, proxy wars, geopolitical alliances in the Gulf region, and NATO deterrence strategies. The event was analysed from a broader perspective, also in light of the current war in Ukraine given the presence of Geoffrey van Leeuwen.
The JASON Institute would like to thank De Balie Cafè and all those who worked with us (Merlijn Geurts, Senna Felius, and Yoeri Albrecht) for making this event possible, and looks forward to further collaborations in the coming months. A special thanks also to all the speakers who participated, and to the people who attended the event.
Would you like to revisit key insights from the panel discussion or reflect further on its highlights? If you missed any details or were unable to attend the event, you can still catch up. DeBalie has made the full recording available on their official YouTube channel, allowing you to review it at your convenience.
