The Foreign Desk

After Brexit, coronavirus and other shocks, how long can the United Kingdom hold together? Is momentum for Scottish independence accelerating? Where is Wales heading? Might Northern Ireland want to join the Republic of Ireland after all? And what would it all mean for an England left on its own? Andrew Mueller asks Quentin Peel, Laura McAllister, Chris Deerin and Katy Hayward.

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Andrew Mueller explains why the who, what, how and why of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s assassination – and why it depends on who you ask.

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As the latest issue of Monocle hits newsstands, we take a close look at the magazine’s annual Soft Power Survey, which considers how well countries project themselves abroad. Andrew Mueller is joined by Megan Gibson, Chiara Rimella and Fernando Augusto Pacheco. Plus: a conversation with Enna Park, South Korea’s ambassador to the UK.

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As Joe Biden unveils his first cabinet picks, Andrew Mueller talks us through the candidates and explains what it tells us about Biden’s plans for the US’s role in the world.

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Last week, Peru’s former president Martín Vizcarra was impeached. His replacement Manuel Merino resigned a few days later after police killed two protesters. Can Merino’s successor, Francisco Sagasti, calm the political turmoil? Andrew Mueller is joined by Maria Luisa Puig, Simeon Tegel and Natalia Sobrevilla Perea.

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Arguably the biggest trade deal in the world, the RCEP will bring together 15 countries in and around Asia in a bid to encourage production and cooperation. Andrew Mueller explains why this is a significant leap for China.

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It’s barely a year since Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Prize for Peace. Now, his country is – at the very least – on the verge of civil war. Why has he chosen military force to resolve his dispute with Tigray? Andrew Mueller speaks to Mary Harper, Adem Kassie Abebe and William Davison.

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Saudi Arabia will host a new Grand Prix for Formula 1, a clear soft-power move from the country. Andrew Mueller explains that the roar of the engines might not be loud enough to drown out the voices decrying human-rights offences.

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Andrew Mueller is joined by Jeffrey Howard and Amy Pope to discuss what a Biden presidency might look like, how he’ll bring a divided nation together and the challenges ahead. Plus: the future of Trumpism with Nicholas Lemann.

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Ivory Coast’s president, Alassane Ouattara, was re-elected to a third term at the weekend despite the constitution stipulating a two-term limit. Andrew Mueller explains how Ouattara has, so far, gotten away with it.

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