Bronwen Maddox speaks with Ambassador  Roya Rahmani,  Shaharzad Akbar and Tobias Ellwood MP about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, and whether the West should engage with the Taliban. Read our expertise: Seizing MENA’s moment Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Alex Moyler.

Should we talk to the Taliban?

Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues.

Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.

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Rishi Sunak called a 4 July election saying the world is more dangerous than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Bronwen Maddox discusses those threats with Chatham House experts Olivia O’Sullivan, director of our UK in the World; David Lubin, our Michael Klein Senior Research Fellow in our Global Economy and Finance Programme; and Tim Eaton, senior research fellow in our Middle East and North Africa Programme. Read our latest: An election for ‘dangerous times’  Three foreign policy priorities for the next UK government  Is the Kremlin behind Georgia’s foreign agents law?  Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.    Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 

How will foreign affairs shape the UK election?

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Shashank Joshi, defence editor of The Economist and historian and commentator Helene von Bismarck to discuss what the next government must prioritize in the UK's foreign policy. With them is Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of our UK in the World programme and co-author of the report:  Three foreign policy priorities for the next UK government.  Read our latest:  UK parties are pitching a ‘pragmatic’ foreign policy, but can a new government make the necessary hard choices?  A Gaza ceasefire rests on preventing a full-scale Israeli offensive in Rafah  Russia is using the Soviet playbook in the Global South to challenge the West – and it is working  Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.    Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 

What choices will the next UK Foreign Secretary face?

In this special episode, Bronwen Maddox interviews a key figure in US foreign policy to the Middle East for over a decade, Ambassador Dennis Ross. Ambassador Ross engaged directly with both Israeli and Palestinian parties in peace negotiations under multiple US presidents, and was instrumental in brokering agreements between them, including the ‘Oslo II’ accord of 1995 and the 1997 Hebron Accord. They discuss topics including the US-Israel relationship, what pressure President Biden can exert on Benjamin Netanyahu over a possible invasion of Rafah, global protests against Israeli action in Gaza and whether any hope remains for a deal to end the conflict. Read our latest:  Xi Jinping hopes to improve EU–China relations – and drive a wedge between Europe and the US  Vietnam’s political turmoil reveals a turn towards China – and away from the West  The UK should not rule out sending troops to Ukraine – despite Putin’s nuclear threats  Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.    Take part in The World Today's Reader Survey✏️    Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 

Will the US continue to support Israel?

This week,  Bronwen Maddox discusses whether we are seeing a resurgence of the threat posed by nuclear weapons, given recent events in the Middle East and rhetoric from world leaders. She is joined by  Robert E Kelly, Professor of Political Science at Pusan National University, Dr Hanna Notte, Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Dr Patricia Lewis, Director of the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Read our latest:  The UK defence budget increase is welcome but defers tough choices | Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank  Confiscation of immobilized Russian state assets is moral and vital | Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank  Confiscating sanctioned Russian state assets should be the last resort | Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank  Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock.    Take part in The World Today's Reader Survey✏️    Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 

Which country is next to go nuclear?

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist Oz Katerji and Phillips P. O’Brien, a Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews. Joining them both in the studio is Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk, the OSUN Academy Fellow in the Ukraine Forum at Chatham House. Read our latest:  The US aid package to Ukraine will help. But a better strategy is urgently needed  As yet another UN Libya envoy quits, his successor must be bolder  The Baltic Sea is far from a ‘NATO lake’ – the alliance must strengthen its defences Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Take part in The World Today's Reader Survey✏️  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 

Should we talk to the Taliban?

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