• Why is North Korea sending troops to Russia?
    Nov 1 2024

    North Korea is sending troops to Russia, but what is Kim Jong Un hoping to get from Vladmir Putin for military assistance against Ukraine? The panel also discuss the role military conscription plays in Israel, South Korea and Ukraine.

    Bronwen Maddox is joined by Edward Howell, the Korea Foundation fellow at Chatham House, Orysia Lutsevych, the head of our Ukraine Forum and Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow with our Middle East and North Africa Programme.

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    As the ruling party claims victory in Georgia’s disputed election, Western condemnation is no longer enough

    Watch: 2024 US election: What will America choose?

    Watch: Is the world ready for the next pandemic?

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    35 mins
  • Will debt constrain Western foreign policy?
    Oct 25 2024

    Ahead of a crucial budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the UK’s national debt is at almost 100 per cent of GDP - and it's not alone. Many G7 economies face massive debt levels, restricting ambitions when it comes to foreign policy and global engagement. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s Diplomatic Editor and Ranil Dissanayake, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Global Development. With them are Olivia O’Sullivan and David Lubin from Chatham House.

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    Trust in US democracy is at stake in this election

    US election rhetoric on migration undermines Washington’s soft power in Latin America

    Azerbaijan’s climate leadership challenge

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    36 mins
  • How can France survive its budget crisis?
    Oct 18 2024

    France is facing political turmoil. The survival of Michel Barnier’s new government rests on whether he can pass a controversial budget intended to rescue the country from its huge fiscal deficit. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Sophie Pedder, the Paris Bureau Chief of The Economist, Shahin Vallée, a former advisor to Emmanuel Macron and Armida van Rij, the head of our Europe programme.

    Episode includes a clip of Nancy Pelosi at Chatham House.

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    Four scenarios for the end of the war in Ukraine

    Moldova and Georgia face crucial elections – and diverging paths

    How Beijing is closing surveillance gaps in the South China Sea

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    37 mins
  • Do sanctions work?
    Oct 11 2024

    Sanctions regimes are intended to be preferable to military force as a tool of foreign policy, but do they work to change behaviour or end up hurting ordinary people? With Bronwen Maddox is Daniel W Drezner, Professor of International Politics at Tufts University, Allie Renison, Associate Director at SEC Newgate, and Chris Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America with our US and Americas Programme.

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    How not to sanction | International Affairs journal

    Why the US–India relationship needs a healthy dose of realism

    What the US election means for trade policy

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    31 mins
  • Can there be peace for Israelis and Palestinians after 7 October?
    Oct 6 2024

    On the first anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, we discuss the possible pathways for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Daniel Levy, the president of the US/Middle East Project. With them are Sanam Vakil, director of our Middle East and North Africa programme (MENAP) and Amjad Iraqi, a MENAP associate fellow.

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    Israel needs a strategy for its place in the region that is not just attacks on current threats

    Israel’s wars have sustained the destructive leadership which brought it to this crisis

    Palestinians must be given the space to reorganize their political agency

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    35 mins
  • Why is Israel striking Hezbollah now?
    Sep 27 2024

    With the Israeli military launching sustained attacks across Lebanon against Hezbollah, we explore why Israel has decided to ramp up strikes on Hezbollah now, even as the war in Gaza rages on and tensions continue to rise in the West Bank. Bronwen Maddox is joined by The Economist’s Middle East correspondent, Gregg Carlstrom. With them are Lina Khatib and Yossi Mekelberg, associate fellows with our Middle East and North Africa Programme.

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    Could Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah open the way to a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities?

    Illicit gold is exacerbating Ethiopia’s conflicts

    The three key priorities new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte must get right

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    36 mins
  • Missile diplomacy: What is a winning strategy in Ukraine?
    Sep 20 2024

    As Ukraine waits to hear if it can use Western missiles to strike deep into Russia, we explore the current state of the Kursk offensive and the front lines in Donbas, and ask what if any strategy might change the course of the war into 2025. Guest host James Nixey is joined by the FT’s Christopher Miller and military analyst Michael Kofman. With them is Olga Tokariuk, the OSUN academy fellow with our Ukraine Forum.

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    Attacks on Hezbollah pagers will not improve Israel’s situation on its border with Lebanon

    The war in Sudan is intensifying. Coordinated pressure is needed to prevent the country’s fragmentation

    Austerity measures are on trial in Sri Lanka’s first election since its economic collapse

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    37 mins
  • Trump vs Harris: Did the debate change the race?
    Sep 13 2024

    Tuesday’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump brought fierce exchanges over immigration, abortion and foreign policy, and showed that America's global role matters in this election. Bronwen Maddox is joined by David Weigel from Semafor and Clare Malone from the New Yorker to discuss what we learned and what to watch in the rest of the race. With them is Heather Hurlburt, associate fellow of our US and Americas programme.

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    The Harris–Trump debate showed US foreign policy matters in this election

    The US election will take place in a polluted information space

    US dollar dominance is both a cause and a consequence of US power

    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.

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    Audio clip credit: ABC News Presidential Debate: Race for the White House

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    43 mins