The Foreign Desk

China is fast becoming, if it isn’t already, the world’s next superpower. But how questionable are the methods it’s using to sustain its influence over those it seeks to control, and does it really want to be leader of the not-so-free world? Andrew Mueller is joined by Isabel Hilton, Steve Tsang and Karen Middleton.

Apec, Brics, EEC, Saarc – the list goes on, and you’d be forgiven for finding the abundance of international summit acronyms overwhelming. Our Hong Kong bureau chief thinks it’s time for a spring clean.

The Shi’a militia Hezbollah and its allies did well in Lebanon’s overdue parliamentary election. But what does it mean for the future of the movement – and what might that mean for the wider Middle East? Andrew Mueller is joined by Lina Khatib, Habib Battah and David Patrikarakos.

Malaysia’s recent general election left plenty to be desired. But with more young voters than ever before, Andrew Mueller asks why the country has been forced to choose between the scandal-plagued incumbent and his nonagenarian former mentor.

The Iran nuclear deal is under scrutiny yet again, and not just from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. But what are the alternatives? And what would an end to the deal mean for Iran, as well as the wider region? Andrew Mueller is joined by Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Jacob Parakilas and Anshel Pfeffer.

When the Dominican Republic announced this week that it was establishing diplomatic ties with China, Taiwan lost yet another ally. However, most countries made the switch in 1971, so what has taken the Dominican Republic so long and, as Andrew Mueller explains, what’s in it for those that still side with China’s little brother?

For a centrist, Emmanuel Macron has divided opinions and/or confirmed that you can’t please of all of the people all of the time. But it doesn’t seem to be deterring him, a year into his presidency, from attempting to reform French institutions and make his mark internationally. But what else does he have planned for France at home and abroad? And are the French – and the world - ready to welcome it?

After almost two weeks of protests, Armenia’s most powerful politician has stepped down as prime minister after only five days in the job. But, as Andrew Mueller explains, the transition – so far, at least – seems more peaceful than might have been expected.

When the US, the UK and France decided last week to launch airstrikes in Syria reactions were predictably divided. But has the idea that we shouldn’t intervene in other countries’ problems actually made them worse? Andrew Mueller is joined by Haid Haid, Simon Adams and Leslie Vinjamuri.

The meetings wrapped up last weekend – but there was a certain leader noticeably missing from the attendees. Monocle's Toronto bureau chief Tomos Lewis asks if the lack of US involvement has left the door open for others to take the lead in the region.