§ IV · Public Engagement

§ I — Policy engagement

Invited lecture

2025 · The Hague

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Invited speaker, “Geopolitics and the Levant,” diplomatic training course on Middle Eastern politics.

Invited lecture

2026 · Groningen

Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG International)

Invited speaker, “Geopolitics of the Middle East,” municipal training course on Middle Eastern politics.

§ II — Public lectures

Studium Generale

Apr 2026 · Groningen

How the Iran War is Spreading

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

OCT 2024 · CAMBRIDGE


Contesting the Middle East Regional Order in Washington

University College Groningen

May 2024 · Groningen

The Power of the Small: Qatar’s Outsized Role in Mediation

Studium Generale

Dec 2023 · Groningen

Geopolitics of the Israel–Hamas War

§ III — Think tank writing

Essay

2023

Sada Journal
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Read →

Qatar’s Stakes in the Israel–Hamas Conflict

Essay

2017

Sada Journal
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Read →

Rivalry for Religious Dominance in Egypt

§ IV — Media commentary

NOS

14 Apr 2026

Historisch gesprek tussen Libanon en Israël, ‘maar kansrijk is het niet’

Historic conversation between Lebanon and Israel, ‘but it doesn’t stand much chance’

NOS

8 Apr 2026

Trump claimt succes met staakt-het-vuren: ‘Maar Iran bepaalt de uitkomst’

Trump claims success with ceasefire: ‘But Iran will determine the outcome’

NRC

10 Mar 2026

Golfstaten wilden in alles ‘het beste van de wereld’ bieden. De oorlog zet dat op het spel

Gulf states wanted to offer ‘the best in the world’ in everything. The war puts that at stake

La Presse

6 Mar 2026

Les appuis de l’Iran sauteront-ils dans la mêlée ?

Will Iran’s proxies jump into the fray?

Volkskrant

2 Mar 2026

Golfstaten wilden rust, maar krijgen drones en raketten. Wat kunnen ze doen tegen Iran?

Gulf States wanted peace, but are getting drones and rockets. What can they do against Iran?

NU.nl

5 Feb 2025

Hoe serieus zijn Gaza-uitspraken Trump? ‘Hij blaast alles op wat is bereikt’

How serious are Trump’s statements on Gaza? ‘He’s blowing up everything that has been achieved’

NU.nl

12 Dec 2024

Dat Al Assad weg is, betekent niet per se dat vluchtelingen terug kunnen

That Al Assad is gone does not necessarily mean that refugees can return

§ V — Op-ed

Dagblad van het Noorden

21 Jun 2025

Waarom Israëls aanval op Iran geen nieuwe regionale orde zal opleveren

Why Israel’s attack on Iran will not bring about a new regional order