India recently declared that the semi-autonomous regions of Jammu and Kashmir

are now “part of the union,” a move that Pakistan, with which India has repeatedly

fought over this mountainous northern region, has denounced. Muslim-majority

Kashmir and Jammu have not only lost their semi-autonomy, but also India has

changed regulations to allow Indians to buy property there, a move seen by critics

as a means of turning the population of Jammu and Kashmir more Hindu. On this

edition of Encounter, guest host Jeffrey Young discusses the implications of India’s

actions with Atlantic Council South Asia Director Irfan Nooruddin and Foreign Policy

Magazine Managing Editor Ravi Agrawal.

Judd Devermont, Director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Joshua Meservey, Senior Policy analyst for Africa and the Middle East at the Heritage Foundation, talk with host Carol Castiel about the deteriorating political and economic conditions in Liberia and reasons behind and implications of growing extremism in northern Mozambique, home to one of the world’s largest natural gas deposits.  We also preview national/local elections in the former Portuguese-colony, slated for October.

Judd Devermont, Director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Joshua Meservey, Senior Policy analyst for Africa and the Middle East at the Heritage Foundation, talk with host Carol Castiel about the deteriorating political and economic conditions in Liberia and reasons behind and implications of growing extremism in northern Mozambique, home to one of the world’s largest natural gas deposits.  We also preview national/local elections in the former Portuguese-colony, slated for October.

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivered his long-awaited testimony on July 24 about his report on Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and any links between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees. Allan Lichtman, Distinguished Professor of History at American University, and Mark Simakovsky, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Eurasia Center, discuss with host Carol Castiel the highlights and implications of Robert Mueller recent testimony and whether it provides impetus to an impeachment inquiry, which is gaining increasing support among Democratic lawmakers.

The economic and political turmoil in Venezuela continues, as does the humanitarian crisis, despite international efforts to support interim president Juan Guaido against strongman Nicolas Maduro. Eric Farnsworth, Vice President of the Council of the Americas and the Americas Society, and Mark Feierstein, former Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs on National Security Council under the Obama administration, tell host Carol Castiel that a combination of pressure on senior military leaders to defect from Maduro and EU-sponsored negotiations in Barbados, are critical to ending the stalemate. They also speak of the devastating impact that an influx of Venezuelan migrants fleeing dire conditions is having on neighboring countries.

The economic and political turmoil in Venezuela continues, as does the humanitarian crisis, despite international efforts to support interim president Juan Guaido against strongman Nicolas Maduro. Eric Farnsworth, Vice President of the Council of the Americas and the Americas Society, and Mark Feierstein, former Director of Western Hemisphere Affairs on National Security Council under the Obama administration, tell host Carol Castiel that a combination of pressure on senior military leaders to defect from Maduro and EU-sponsored negotiations in Barbados, are critical to ending the stalemate. They also speak of the devastating impact that an influx of Venezuelan migrants fleeing dire conditions is having on neighboring countries.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi wins a landslide victory in India’s recent parliamentary elections, earning a second term in office. As the leader of the Hindu Nationalist BJP, what does his victory mean for India’s Muslims and other minorities? How will India and the region change under his continued leadership? Michael Kugelman, Deputy Director of the Asia Program at the Wilson Center, and Nidhi Upadhyaya, Associate Director of the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council talk with host Carol Castiel about the regional and global implications of Modi’s victory.