On February 25, 2026, John Cabot University hosted a panel discussion titled “America and the Mediterranean in the Trump Era.” The event was organized by Professor Diego Pagliarulo and co-sponsored by JCU’s Department of Political Science and International Affairs and OSMED — Osservatorio sul Mediterraneo.
Professor Silvia Scarpa, Chair of JCU’s Department of Political Science and International Affairs, and Francesco Anghelone, OSMED’s Coordinator at the Istituto di Studi Politici “San Pio V,” kicked off the event and shared informative perspectives on the strategic importance of the Mediterranean basin in the current geopolitical context.
Panel for "America and the Mediterranean in the Trump Era"
The panel featured professors Gregory Alegi (Luiss University), Donatella Della Ratta and Simone Tholens (John Cabot University), and Paolo Wulzer (The University of Naples "L'Orientale"). The discussion was moderated by Professor Pagliarulo.
This pluralistic and multidisciplinary discussion focused on the Mediterranean as a major geopolitical flashpoint in today’s world. Between 2023 and 2025, the war in Gaza tragically placed the region at the center of the global stage. Now, in early 2026, the Mediterranean remains an area affected by a variety of intertwined geopolitical challenges, including the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas and the political transition in Syria.
The panelists debated both the structural and short-term factors shaping US policy toward the Mediterranean, as well as the roles of NATO and the EU in the region. The panel also examined the evolution of American foreign and security policy over the past 80 years, its impact on the Mediterranean, and how Washington’s actions may continue to shape the region. The discussion further analyzed how US policy initiatives are portrayed in the Arab media landscape, as well as the impact of the Trump administration on Arab public opinion.
