Chatham House

In this week's episode Haid Haid, Rim Turkmani, and Lina Khatib discuss the recent developments in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

We delve into the country's economic struggles, the rise of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the resurgence of sectarian violence, and the challenges facing Syria's path to democracy. It also explores the roles of regional and international players, including Turkey, Israel, and Iran, in shaping Syria’s future.

With the UK pledging to increase defence spending to levels not seen since the Cold War, what does the future of British defence look like?

In this episode, we discuss the evolving nature of warfare, the impact of technology on modern battlefields, and whether Britain is truly prepared for the next conflict. Joining Bronwen Maddox are Sir John Sawers, former head of MI6; James Heappey, former Armed Forces Minister; and Chatham House experts Dr. Samir Puri and Olivia O’Sullivan.

As Donald Trump moves to reshape America’s foreign policy, we discuss what this means for the allies in Europe. Can the the United Kingdom, France and Germany forge a new path or is transatlantic unity fading fast?

Bronwen Maddox is joined by the Chair of Chatham House Sir Simon Fraser, former Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Gerard Baker, Marion Messmer, a senior research fellow with our International Security programme and Sebastian Maillard, an associate fellow with our Europe programme.

Ties between the US and Ukraine have soured with Donald Trump calling Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ in a public war of words. Meanwhile US and Russian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine’s future without representatives from Kyiv or Europe. Should the continent be preparing for a future without the US as an ally?

Bronwen Maddox is joined by historian and author Timothy Garton Ash, Georgina Wright, visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund and Orysia Lutsevych, deputy director for Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Programme.

Sixty countries signed a declaration on 'inclusive' artificial intelligence at a global summit in Paris this week, but the UK and US refused. What was agreed at the summit, why did London and Washington decline to sign and what comes next?

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Professor Birgitte Andersen from Birkbeck Business School, Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Co-Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI and Alex Krasodomski, Programme Director, for Chatham House’s Digital Society Programme.

In this episode, Tim Eaton and Lubna Yousef discuss their latest research on how transnational human smuggling has fuelled conflict in Libya through a systems analysis of three key transit cities – Kufra, Sebha and Zawiya. Using this approach, their research examines the roles played by conflict and social dynamics in the expansion of human smuggling and trafficking – thus helping uncover critical gaps in policies aimed at addressing the rapid rise of migration.

This episode was produced with support from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy, and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by UK International Development.

President Trump has threatened to put tariffs on Mexico and Canada and imposed them on China, fuelling fears of a looming global trade war. With the European Union likely next in his sights – what is the US president trying to achieve with these tactics? And what are the consequences?

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Creon Butler, the director of our Global Economy and Finance programme, economist Linda Yueh and ambassador Julian Ventura, both associate fellows with our US and Americas programme.

President Trump has threatened to put tariffs on Mexico and Canada and imposed them on China, fuelling fears of a looming global trade war. With the European Union likely next in his sights – what is the US president trying to achieve with these tactics? And what are the consequences?

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Creon Butler, the director of our Global Economy and Finance programme, economist Linda Yueh and ambassador Julian Ventura, both associate fellows with our US and Americas programme.

President Trump wants a peace deal in Ukraine and has signalled he’s willing to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to achieve it. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also appears more open to a deal – if there is a guarantee for Ukraine’s security.

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Mark Landler, London Bureau Chief of the New York Times, The Telegraph’s Francis Dearnley who hosts the award-winning podcast Ukraine: The Latest and Orysia Lutsevych, the deputy director of our Russia and Eurasia programme.

Donald Trump has signed a wave of executive orders in his first days as America’s 47th President. The panel discuss the president’s changes to US foreign policy and their potential impact on America and the world. Guest host , editor of magazine, is joined by , the director of our US and the Americas Programme, , the director of our Centre for Global Governance and Security, and , a staff writer with The New Yorker. Read our latest: Presented by Mike Higgins. Produced by .   🎧  🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.