Der Gunther Fehlinger Podcast ist ein politischer, wirtschaftlicher und geopolitischer Gesprächspodcast mit Fokus auf Europa, Sicherheit, Freiheit und internationale Ordnung. In tiefgehenden Interviews und Analysen spricht Günther Fehlinger mit Politikern, Experten, Aktivisten, Unternehmern und Vordenkern über die großen Fragen unserer Zeit.
Kosovo, Serbia and the EU: What Brussels Gets Wrong | Ekrem H. Krasniqi
EU Enlargement, Kosovo and the Future of the Balkans – With Ekrem H. Krasniqi
Gunther Fehlinger welcomes Ekrem H. Krasniqi, a Kosovo-born journalist and long-time Brussels correspondent who runs his own news agency covering the Western Balkans and European affairs.
Together, they discuss the EU's stalled enlargement process, Kosovo's struggle for recognition, the future of Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their shared vision of a Balkan Benelux alliance to accelerate regional cooperation and European integration.
The conversation also explores Aleksandar Vučić's political future in Serbia, Milorad Dodik's connections in Washington, Russia's destabilizing influence in the Balkans, and why EU enlargement should become a strategic and moral priority.
Could a stronger and larger European Union finally bring lasting stability to the Western Balkans?
Chapters
Estimated timestamps – replace with actual recording times before publication.
00:00 – Introduction: Ekrem H. Krasniqi, the Voice of the Balkans in Brussels
05:00 – Canada vs Kosovo: EU Membership and Double Standards
10:00 – The Balkan Benelux Vision: A Forgotten Integration Plan
15:00 – Regional Cooperation, Mini-Schengen and Open Balkans
20:00 – Montenegro's EU Accession and Croatia's Potential Veto
25:00 – Albania's European Future: Corruption, Reform and EU Membership
30:00 – Kosovo's New Political Situation and Economic Challenges
35:00 – Why Five EU Member States Still Refuse to Recognize Kosovo
40:00 – North Macedonia, Bulgaria and the EU Enlargement Deadlock
45:00 – Serbia's Future: Vučić, Student Protests and Brussels
50:00 – Bosnia, Milorad Dodik and Lobbying in Trump's Washington
55:00 – Russia's Influence and the Risk of Renewed Balkan Instability
60:00 – Ukraine, Kosovo and the Moral Case for EU Enlargement
65:00 – EU Institutions, European Democracy and the Next Generation
70:00 – The Vision of a Larger EU and Closing Remarks
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8 Oct 2026
Hezbollah, Syria and Israel: The New Middle East Taking Shape - Ahmad Sharawi & Günther Fehlinger
Ahmad Sharawi is a Senior Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), focusing on Syria, Hezbollah, Jordan, and the broader Levant. In this conversation, he discusses the future of Syria under Ahmed al-Sharaa, the challenge of integrating Syria’s minorities, Hezbollah’s position in Lebanon, Turkish and Russian influence, and the prospects for Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese security arrangements. The discussion also examines whether Syria can build inclusive political institutions after the Assad regime and what role the United States and Europe should play in stabilizing the region.
Guest:
Ahmad Sharawi – FDD (https://www.fdd.org/team/ahmad-sharawi/)
Ahmad Sharawi on X (https://x.com/AhmadA_Sharawi)
Ahmad Sharawi on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmad-adam-s-9226721bb/)
Timestamps – estimated:
00:00 – Introduction and Ahmad Sharawi’s Background
05:00 – Jordan, Israel and Regional Security Cooperation
10:00 – Lebanon and the Challenge of Disarming Hezbollah
15:00 – Should Western Aid to Lebanon Come With Conditions?
20:00 – How Much Has Israel Weakened Hezbollah?
25:00 – Can Lebanon and Israel Reach an Agreement?
30:00 – Iran’s Funding of Hezbollah and Its Global Networks
35:00 – Syria After the Fall of Assad
40:00 – Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syria’s New Political System
45:00 – Druze, Alawites and Minority Rights
50:00 – The Kurds and Integration of the SDF
55:00 – Turkey’s Military and Political Influence in Syria
60:00 – Russia’s Remaining Presence in Syria
65:00 – U.S. Policy and Ambassador Tom Barrack
70:00 – Can Syria Become Stable and Democratic?
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Natalie Ecanow is a Senior Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), focusing on Middle East issues as well as Qatari investments and activities in the United States, Europe, and the broader region. In this conversation, she discusses Qatar’s massive foreign investments, political influence, relations with Hamas, Iran, and Israel, and its role as a partner of the United States. Natalie Ecanow and Gunther Fehlinger also examine whether Qatar should be viewed as an ally, an adversary, or rather a “frenemy” of the West.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalieecanow/https://x.com/NatalieEcanowhttps://www.fdd.org/team/natalie-ecanow/
Timestamps – estimated:
00:00 – Introduction and Natalie Ecanow’s Background
05:00 – How Large Are Qatar’s Investments in the United States?
10:00 – Investment or Political Influence?
15:00 – Volkswagen, Europe and Strategic Industry
20:00 – Qatar and Conservative U.S. Media
25:00 – Lobbying, Influencers and Political Networks
30:00 – Universities, Antisemitism and Qatari Funding
35:00 – Qatar, Israel and Hamas
40:00 – Terror Financing and Qatar’s Role as a U.S. Partner
45:00 – Qatargate, Corruption and Influence in Europe
50:00 – Qatar’s Political System and Human Rights
55:00 – Iran, Natural Gas and Qatar’s Strategic Interests
60:00 – Is Qatar an Ally, Enemy or “Frenemy”?
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
4.5 / 5
31 ratings
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