The Middle East Conflict, Risk and Resilience: Lord Sedwill

Hosted by Sam Gyimah

In this episode of The Geopolitics of Business, Lord Sedwill — former Cabinet Secretary, National Security Adviser, and now Chair Rothschild & Co Saudi Arabia, examines how conflict in the Gulf is reshaping capital flows, supply chains, defence priorities and long-term business resilience.

Drawing on experience at the highest levels of UK government and global finance, Lord Sedwill explains why geopolitics only becomes truly relevant to business when it hits geoeconomics. He argues that the current Gulf conflict is different from many previous geopolitical shocks because it directly affects confidence, trade routes, energy prices and inflation.

The conversation explores why Gulf states are accelerating diversification away from oil, how sovereign wealth funds are shifting from exporters to importers of capital, and where reconstruction, AI infrastructure and defence innovation may create major investment opportunities. Lord Sedwill also sets out why boards need to move beyond abstract risk registers towards war gaming, contingency planning and genuine supply-chain visibility.

For business leaders, the core message is clear: resilience is no longer the opposite of returns. It is the foundation of long-term value creation.

Host: Sam Gyimah, Founder and CEO of SG& Capital Partners

Producers: Clare Williamson and Duncan Williamson for TGOB Media Ltd in partnership with SG& Capital Partners Ltd

Music composed by: Sophie Sirota

For listener questions or business enquiries please email info@thegeopoliticsofbusiness.com, and to contact SG& Capital Partners please email info@sgand.com

You can find a summary of the key points in this episode in The Geopolitics of Business Newsletter

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