President Trump’s Iran statements ‘a deadly game of brinkmanship’, Lord Robertson tells London Conference

Former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson discusses issues including the Israel–Iran war and the UK’s Strategic Defence Review.

Fading trust in international rules-based order was a common point of discussion at annual conference with the theme ‘Rewriting the rules of the world’.

China and other BRICS nations have a golden opportunity to take control where the US retreats. But a more fragmented and uncertain world looks more likely.

Other western leaders need to respond to the reality that the United States under President Trump no longer wishes to work collaboratively with them on many of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

European and regional powers largely approve of efforts to prevent an Iranian bomb. So too do Israelis. But without US support to finish the job, the long-term prospects for that support look shaky.

Under Muhammad Yunus, Dhaka is turning towards Beijing and other new partners, helping to redraw regional alliances.

Jeremy Hunt and Samir Puri join the podcast this week to discuss the UK spending review and what is needed for the UK to regain its economic dynamism.

Many in Tehran will urge a redoubled effort to develop nuclear weapons, after Israel’s attacks once again exposed the weakness of Iran’s conventional deterrence.

Chatham House experts offer immediate reaction following Israeli strikes against the Iranian military and nuclear facilities. How will Iran, the US, the UK and Iranian allies respond?

Republicans are navigating challenging internal dynamics to reach agreement on a bill that could swell the national debt, worry international investors, and impede energy progress.

Venezuela’s oil exports held steady in May, despite re-imposed US sanctions. Chatham House research suggests that’s unlikely to change.

The EU’s embrace of both a central bank digital currency and private cryptocurrencies could be a more promising strategy than either China’s or the US’s exclusive focus on one or the other.

Geopolitical fragmentation is making conflict harder to resolve. Policy interventions must adapt to a world in which the political allegiances of conflict actors are seldom absolute.

During an event at Chatham House, the Chief Adviser of the interim government discussed the difficulties in supporting Rohingya refugees following USAID withdrawal. He also outlined the challenges in holding new elections.

The event explored how to ensure positive, secure resource governance in Africa. 

The crucial conference in France comes after Trump ordered the US to pursue deep-sea mining with potentially damaging consequences. A moratorium is needed.

Rewarding Moscow with Crimea would become a template for future violations of sovereignty and a precedent for states with similar aims – notably China.

Washington and its allies want to deepen ties with New Delhi, but first they must realize how much India depends on and shares with China, writes Chietigj Bajpaee.

Fiona Bowler tells of the health problems faced by her grandfather and other servicemen who were exposed to radiation on Christmas Island, and their struggle for compensation.

Britain’s nuclear capability depends on the US and France reserves its for national defence. How might they cooperate to bolster NATO’s ultimate ability to defend itself?

A tougher, more joined-up approach to foreign aid is needed so that left-behind communities in donor countries also feel its benefit, argues Justine Greening.

The system that prevailed before the recent shocks is gone forever. A new vision for world trade is possible, but it will require fresh thinking and collective leadership from the European Union and others, says Creon Butler.

Interview: Ahmed Soliman tells Sara Seth how the United Arab Emirates and other regional powers are benefitting from Sudan’s illicit, cross-border gold trade and how that might be stopped.

A potted selection of reviews from our sister journal ‘International Affairs’, by its book reviews editor Mariana Vieira.

President Trump’s ambivalence about the alliance’s all-important Article 5 may increase European defence budgets, but could have unintended consequences at home, warns Andrew Dorman.

The outgoing director of Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Programme reflects on Russia’s anti-democratic history, paying attention to its neighbours and his 25 years of service.

From the US to Hungary, from Iraq to Ghana, new erosions of minority rights are a warning of democratic backsliding. To fight back this Pride month, new alliances must be formed, says Ari Shaw.

Allies are less certain of the US’s ‘extended deterrence’ and some are pondering their own options. Ankit Panda explains the escalating dangers of a ‘third nuclear age’ – and how they might be avoided.

Residents of Estonia’s border city have strong but complicated ties to their Russian neighbours. Photojournalist Mario Heller meets some of them to discuss identity, language and Russian expansion.

Almost a million of Russia’s brightest have fled home since 2022. Ekaterina Sachkova spoke to some of them about the dilemmas and distrust they face – and why the West might be missing an opportunity.