International relations podcasts

The major Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s northeast is not just a public health emergency in an already impoverished and violence-beset region.

Almost exactly ten years since Britain’s seismic vote to leave the EU, the debate reopens thanks to early skirmishes in the fight for leadership of the Labour Party and thus the prime ministership.

Our experts analyse the two superpowers’ aims as President Trump meets President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Is the initiative on the Ukraine war slipping out of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s hands? And how has the US-Israel war on Iran affected Moscow?

What is the state of US relations with the UK and the rest of NATO? And what political and military decisions lie ahead for European leaders?

EU expansion, energy shocks, and uneasy alliances: will the conflict in the Gulf – and other crises – force a more unified European strategy?

From Hormuz to Hungary and the Vatican to the Federal Reserve, it has been an unusually contentious week for the White House, even by the standards of President Trump’s second administration.

Whatever the eventual outcome of the US-Israel war on Iran, the geopolitical aftershocks will reverberate across Asia for years, and perhaps decades, to come.

As the Iran war pushes energy costs to the front of everyone’s mind, Bronwen Maddox and Sir Dieter Helm discuss what the UK government should do.

David Lubin and Grégoire Roos join the podcast to discuss the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and the impact of the Iran war on the global economy.

The US-Israel war on Iran is straining Trump’s alliances, at home and abroad.

Our experts discuss what the US government’s feud with AI firm Anthropic tells us about governance and competition in the AI race.

What does President Trump hope to achieve in Iran – a quick show of force, or long-term regime change?

The US Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump on his first justification for tariffs, but he says he will push them through by other means.

Chatham House analysts discuss the state of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks, and whether Europe will step up to provide the weapons and military support that Ukraine needs. They also examine how the Russia-Ukraine conflict fits into the wider superpower competition between the US, Russia and China.

In a special edition of Chatham House’s Independent Thinking podcast recorded at the Munich Security Conference 2026 over the weekend, Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox and Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes, unpack the key issues that emerged from this year’s forum.

Our analysts discuss the challenges facing Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

After the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, our analysts discuss where in the Western Hemisphere US President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio may turn their attention to next.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Beijing this week, determined to defrost the relationship that he says has gone from a ‘golden age to an ice age’. He left hailing progress made with Xi, but this was swiftly followed by a warning from Trump that closer engagement is ‘very dangerous’.

President Trump proclaimed US strength and denigrated Europeans. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged smaller nations to adapt to the ‘new reality’ by building coalitions with partners who share values.

President Trump has said the United States must have Greenland ‘one way or the other,’ brushing aside its status as part of Denmark. After his attack on Venezuela and his renewed focus on Iran, the world is watching to see what he does next.

Chatham House’s leading experts in international law, US affairs and South America discuss what President Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro mean for the global order as we – used to – know it.

Editors of The World Today, the international affairs magazine of Chatham House, discuss with experts from across the institute the global trends, looming flashpoints and potential areas for dialogue that may lie ahead in 2026.

Tariffs, technological competition and a US drive to carve out hemispheres of influence between the US and China marked the opening months of President Donald Trump’s second term.

A special edition of Chatham House’s international affairs podcast, recorded at the Doha Forum 2025 in Qatar.

Grégoire Roos, Natalie Sabanadze and Jaroslava Barbieri join the podcast to discuss Europe’s response to being left out of US–Russia talks on Ukraine.

Olivia O’Sullivan, Sébastien Maillard and James Kynge join the podcast to discuss Rachel Reeves’s budget this week, and how the UK is facing its major economic challenges in comparison to other European and Asian countries.

Experts examine the human toll of the war in Sudan, and the dynamics of a war fuelled by regional powers and their proxies seeking to control Sudan’s territory, natural resources, and access to key waterways.

Ukrainian officials and analysts discuss the state of the war in Ukraine and the cost it has inflicted on the country almost four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in New York’s mayoral race this week – and other electoral successes – energized Democrats in the US and left-wing parties worldwide. Our experts assess the significance of the first major elections of Trump’s second term.

Guests discuss the vital role Sudan Emergency Response Rooms play in the humanitarian response to the ongoing war – particularly the less documented contributions of Sudanese women.

Christian-Géraud Neema and Joshua Walker discuss how the short and long-term implications of the DRC’s pivot to the US are affecting its strategic autonomy, mining sovereignty, and what it means for President Tshisekedi’s political options.

Following a panel event on West African security with foreign ministers of Ghana and Nigeria at Chatham House, Paul Ejime and Paul Melly join the podcast to discuss the ministers’ call for local security solutions in the region.

Ambassador Philip Thigo and Hon. Neema Lugangira discuss how digitalization in Africa can be harnessed to drive inclusive growth, strengthen institutions, and ensure that innovation translates into sustainable development outcomes.

Carlos Lopes reflects on what lies ahead for the African Union, the tests facing its leadership, and how Africa can navigate through changes in the global order.

In this episode, guests discuss solutions to Africa’s debt challenges, innovative financing mechanisms, and strategies for ensuring long-term economic sustainability and growth.

Experts discuss what makes African peace processes stick.

This episode discusses the lead-up to Tanzania’s election and the long-term future for the country.

In this episode, Dr Jean Kaseya discusses how Africa CDC public health initiatives strengthen the capacity of health institutions across the African continent to deal with growing disease threats.

In this episode, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye shares his vision for a more peaceful and secure Africa.

In this episode, Tim Eaton and Lubna Yousef discuss their research on conflict in Libya and the transnational expansion of human smuggling.

In this episode, Professor Carlos Lopes discusses what the African Union’s G20 membership means for Africa’s economic and geopolitical influence on the global stage.

In this episode, Khalid Omer Yousif discusses how Sudan’s broadest anti-war, pro-democracy coalition, Tagadom, aims to bring civilian voices to the fore in a war dictated by military powers, and their plans to the end of Sudan’s war despite mounting atrocities engulfing the country.

In this episode, guests discuss ways to turn Somalia’s climate vulnerability to climate resilience.

In this episode, recorded to mark the African Union’s African Anti-Corruption Day, the panel discusses Chatham House’s Social Norms and Accountable Governance (SNAG) research project supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

In this episode, Wenjie Chen of the International Monetary Fund’s African Department discusses the IMF regional economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa.

In this episode, HE Timothy Musa Kabba, Foreign Affairs Minister for Sierra Leone, shares insights into his country’s key priorities during its tenure on the Security Council.

In this episode, guests discuss gold’s connection to the current war and transnational dynamics.

This episode discusses transnational links between the movement of people and armed conflict – from Edo State in Nigeria, through Niger, to Libya.

Martin Fayulu, opposition leader and former presidential candidate in the DRC, on the challenges for achieving free and fair elections in 2023, the security crisis in eastern DRC, and his vision for the country’s regional identity and future global role.

Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, discusses the response to the coup in Niger, and outlines the organization’s strategic vision.

H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), highlights efforts by the regional body to improve stability and further integration.

Nancy Karigithu, Kenyan candidate for secretary general of the IMO, outlines how regional collaboration can enhance maritime security, infrastructure and connectivity.

Dr Comfort Ero discusses the challenges and innovations that emerged from the interlinked peace processes in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

This episode features a conversation with Hon. Celso Ismael Correia on the challenges facing the agricultural sector in Mozambique.

A special episode with HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS).

This episode examines the violence and harm caused by these illicit practices, and the international responses to them as part of an XCEPT project mini-series.

This episode examines relations between Ethiopia and Sudan as part of an XCEPT project mini-series.

African countries face collective climate and job creation-related challenges, yet policymaking often remains regionally siloed.

Listen to the second episode of #NigeriaDecides, a special mini-series focused on upcoming elections in Nigeria.

Anna and Bhargabi speak to Boris Gamazaychikov (CEO and Co-Founder of the Sustainable AI Group) and Chatham House’s Rowan Wilkinson to discuss AI’s environmental impacts and the urgent need for better governance.

Anna and Bhargabi speak with Robin Mills (Qamar Energy), Jessica Obeid (New Energy Consult) and Neil Quilliam about how the countries around the Gulf are approaching – and may be impacted by – the energy transition.

Anna and Elizabeth speak to Jocelyn Blériot (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) and Dr Patrick Schröder about what needs to happen, nationally and internationally, to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

Anna and Bhargabi are joined by Professor Paul Stevens to discuss how oil and gas have shaped the politics, economies and geopolitical influence of the countries in the region.

Anna and Bhargabi are joined by three experts to explore the links between climate change, energy and geopolitics.

Anna speaks to James Kynge and Lauri Myllyvirta (CREA) about what the plan reveals about China’s climate and clean tech ambitions, as well as it’s broader geopolitical goals.

Chris Aylett speaks with Laurence Tubiana about the current state of climate diplomacy and what needs to happen next.

Anna speaks to Dr Isaac Kardon (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) and Meredith Schwartz (Centre for Strategic and International Studies) about how the race to source critical raw materials from the ocean floor is impacting geopolitics.

Anna speaks to three experts about the implications of the EU’s CBAM for countries in the Global South: What are their main concerns, and what could be done to mitigate negative impacts?

Anna and Bhargabi speak to former National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy about how the first year of Trump 2.0 has impacted global efforts to address climate change.

Anna and Tim Lenton discuss the potentially disastrous impacts of crossing ‘climate tipping points’, and how the triggering of such tipping points can be avoided.

Anna speaks to climate experts Jennifer Morgan and David Waskow about what the conference in Belém achieved and what needs to happen next.

Anna speaks to three Chatham House colleagues – Nick Bridge, Ana Yang and Bernice Lee – about what to expect from the UN climate conference in Belém.

Anna and Bhargabi speak to Dan Ioschpe, Climate High-Level Champion for COP30, about how the COPs are moving from ‘negotiation’ to ‘implementation’.

Anna and Bhargabi speak to Kim-See Lim from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Hans Peter Lankes from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) about what role the AIIB does and can play in addressing climate change.

Anna and Bhargabi speak to Mauricio Voivodic, Executive Director of WWF-Brazil, and Edward Davey, Head of the UK Office of the World Resources Institute, about how COP30 can advance the forest agenda.

The team are joined by Ben Backwell, CEO of the Global Wind Energy Council, to discuss the challenges facing the renewable energy industry in the US.

Anna and Bhargabi explore what lessons can be drawn from the history of climate negotiations with long-time COP researcher Dr Joanna Depledge, and discuss why the global plastics treaty is important with Chatham House’s Dr Patrick Schröder.

Ruth Townend and Bhargabi Bharadwaj speak to the former lead of the UK’s UNFCCC negotiations about the future of climate diplomacy.

Anna Åberg and Ruth Townend speak to Joe Thwaites and Tom Evans to explore the most important questions and issues around climate finance.

Anna Åberg and Ruth Townend are joined by Alden Meyer and Catherine Abreu to assess the outcomes of the June climate meetings in Bonn.

Anna Åberg and Ruth Townend talk to Joana Setzer about the growth in climate litigation and what to expect in the future.

As Nice welcomes delegates from across the world to the UN Ocean Conference, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Ambassador Peter Thomson, discusses what needs to be done to save the world’s seas.

Anna Åberg and Ruth Townend interview thought leader Simon Sharpe in the first of a mini-series on what climate diplomacy should look during US President Donald Trump’s second term.

Hosts Anna Åberg and Ruth Townend are joined by Emma Williams and Richard King to discuss how food systems can be transformed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, the executive director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, discusses what progress has been made and what lies ahead for the fund.

Discussing the interplay between critical raw materials and geopolitics – and the challenges associated with extraction.

What are the aims of COP30, and what does Brazil’s diplomatic strategy look like?

Discussing the role of China in international climate negotiations and the production of green technologies.

Former US Climate Envoy Todd Stern joins a conversation about prospects for climate action in 2025.