For the first time since the onset of the Cold War, the entire Eastern Mediterranean appears to be unstable and geopolitically contested. Russia casts a deep shadow, as the Syrian conflict clearly shows. At the same time, the aftermath of the Arab Spring and the refugee crisis delineate the volatile posture of the Arab countries involved and showcase how Turkey, Greece, Italy and Cyprus are deeply affected by the shifting geopolitical tectonic plates. Finally, there are question marks about the influence of NATO and the EU across the Eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, the exploitation of newly discovered energy resources in the region could either ease relations or further complicate them. The presentations by our two speakers will highlight these dynamics, emphasizing the mechanisms linking domestic politics and foreign policy within Eastern Mediterranean countries.