In this week’s episode of Independent Thinking, Bronwen Maddox discusses whether Europe can take up the mantle of the US, and lead the world as an economic and political powerhouse.

Can Europe can fill the vacuum caused by America’s shifting foreign policy, and in doing so, become more of an economic force?

Bronwen explores this topic with three Chatham House experts - Creon Butler, Director of the Global Economy and Finance Programme, Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of the UK in the World Programme, and Nicolai von Ondarza, an Associate Fellow in our Europe Programme.

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Europe must forge a new role in the global economy

China’s military build-up indicates it is serious about taking Taiwan

Competing visions of international order

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Jonathan Coates. Executive Producer - John Pollock. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media production for Chatham House.

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This week on Independent Thinking, three Chatham House experts look at the view from China now that Donald Trump is in charge.

Ben Bland speaks to Yu Jie, William Matthews and  David Lubin, about how China is repositioning itself on the world stage, viewing its own security and preparing for a potential trade war. 

We’ll also explore what the Chinese Communist Party is really thinking, what harm tariffs are doing and what the AI battle could mean for the world.

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New US attacks on the Houthis will not bring Iran to the negotiating table – but could provoke worse violence

The US and Iran are on the road to escalation. Europe can and should create an off-ramp

Taking action against corruption in Nigeria

Presented by Ben Bland. Produced by Jonathan Coates. Executive Producer - John Pollock. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media production for Chatham House.

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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.

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Ukraine enters a perilous phase of fighting and talking with no assured end in sight

France should join NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements to strengthen European deterrence

China’s ‘two sessions’: What did we learn about the Chinese economy?

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Jonathan Coates. Executive Producer: John Pollock. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media production for Chatham House.

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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 Samir Puri and Olivia O’Sullivan.

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Picking up the pieces after the Trump–Zelenskyy summit: Europe has mobilized, but the road will be bumpy

What Ukraine can teach Europe and the world about innovation in modern warfare

Europe must take the gamble and engage with China on Ukraine

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock with Indio Media.

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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 Sebastien Maillard, an associate fellow with our Europe programme.

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It’s not too late for the US to back Ukraine – for its own benefit

After German election win, can Merz deliver leadership at home and in Europe?

Trump is pushing Europe and China closer together. Europe should tread carefully

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock with Indio Media.

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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.

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What the UK should do in defence of Ukraine and Europe

Europe needs to make its own plan for peace in Ukraine – and rouse its people to the threat from Russia

German election: Far-right firewall weakens as immigration concerns take centre stage

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock with Indio Media.

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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.

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Events in the DRC show a new realpolitik is emerging in Africa – one that is fraught with danger

Modi’s Washington visit highlights India’s importance to the US, but will not resolve long-term challenges

The international trading system needs urgent support to survive

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock with Indio Media.

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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.

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Trump’s tariffs are delayed but they have already done long-term damage to US–Canada relations

Event | The rewriting of North America: How are Canada and Mexico adapting to Trump?

Warming India–Indonesia rhetoric belies challenges of Global South leadership

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock with Indio Media.

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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.

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Can the international order survive Trump 2.0?

The world should take the prospect of Chinese tech dominance seriously, and start preparing now

South Africa’s G20 presidency is a chance for the West to engage with Global South priorities

The Trump administration’s sanctions policy could matter more than its use of tariffs

Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock with Indio Media.

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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 Mike Higgins, editor of The World Today magazine, is joined by Leslie Vinjamuri, the director of our US and the Americas Programme, Samir Puri, the director of our Centre for Global Governance and Security, and Susan Glasser, a staff writer with The New Yorker.

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Amid soaring US debt, can Trump balance fiscal challenges with campaign promises?

Trump’s energy policies ignore the urgent lessons of the California fires

The Trump administration should build on Biden’s sanctions to disrupt the networks feeding the war in Sudan

Presented by Mike Higgins. Produced by John Pollock.

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