CSDP 8 - Great Power Politics in the Sahel: Europe’s Role and Choices

In this eighth episode of CSDP, Antonio Tintoré Vicent is joined by Ambassador João Cravinho to discuss great power politics in the Sahel and what is at stake for Europe. Ambassador Cravinho is the EU Special Representative for the Sahel and formerly served as Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence.

The conversation explores the Sahel as a theatre of global competition, assessing the EU’s strategic interests alongside the United States’ diminished role, Russia’s military-focused presence, and China’s growing economic influence. The discussion also considers how local actors are gaining new leverage and what Europe must do to make its broader, long-term offer of political, economic, and institutional engagement more attractive.

This podcast was recorded on the 17th of March 2025 and is produced by students of the College of Europe. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College of Europe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.