23. June 2026 / From 06:00 pm / CASSIS Conference Room, Genscheralle 3, 53123 Bonn

Since the outbreak of the war in February 2026, Operation “Epic Fury,” initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, has significantly altered the security landscape in the Middle East. The impact of the conflict extends far beyond the region: disruptions to oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf, rising energy prices, consequences for transatlantic relations as well as for regional and global aviation, tourism, trade, investment, and food security.

Thus, the war has not only underscored the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf for the global economy and geopolitics, but has also raised fundamental questions about future U.S. policy toward the region and the U.S.’s overall international strategy—including its relations with Europe.

In his keynote address, Prof. Dr. Gawdat Bahgat will discuss the causes, consequences, and possible outcomes of a U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, as well as its implications for the U.S., Israel, Iran, and its regional proxies, as well as the Gulf states. Following the lecture, there will be a discussion between Prof. Dr. Bahgat and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie (Director of CASSIS and holder of the Henry Kissinger Chair for Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Bonn).

The event is organized by the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS), the Institute for International Cooperation, Technological Diplomacy and Communication (ICI), and the Society for Security Policy (GSP) in Bonn.

Keynote:

Prof. Dr. Gwadat Bahgat
Professor of Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

Anschließende Diskussion mit:

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlie 
Henry Kissinger Professor of Security and Strategic Studies, Director of CASSIS