Independent Thinking

This week on Independent Thinking, we explore the growing battle for influence in Latin America between the U.S. and China. In just two decades, China has gone from a minor player in the region to a dominant force—challenging the US. How is President Trump's government responding and could his policies actually give Beijing more room to expand? Guest host Chris Sabatini is joined by Yu Jie , Rober...

President Trump has unveiled sweeping new trade tariffs—but what happens next? Bronwen Maddox explores the global reaction, the economic fallout, and whether this marks the beginning of the end for globalization.  She's joined by Jason Furman , former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama, alongside Dame DeAnne Julius and David Lubin from Chatham House's Global Eco...

In this week's episode of Independent Thinking, Bronwen Maddox discusses whether Europe can take up the mantle of the US, and lead the world as an economic and political powerhouse. Can Europe can fill the vacuum caused by America's shifting foreign policy, and in doing so, become more of an economic force? Bronwen explores this topic with three Chatham House experts - Creon Butler , Director of t...

This week on Independent Thinking, three Chatham House experts look at the view from China now that Donald Trump is in charge. Ben Bland speaks to Yu Jie , William Matthews and   David Lubin , about how China is repositioning itself on the world stage, viewing its own security and preparing for a potential trade war.  We'll also explore what the Chinese Communist Party is really thinking, what har...

In this week's episode  Haid Haid , Rim Turkmani , and Lina Khatib discuss the recent developments in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.  We delve into the country's economic struggles, the rise of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the resurgence of sectarian violence, and the challenges facing Syria's path to democracy. It also explores the roles of regional and international...

With the UK pledging to increase defence spending to levels not seen since the Cold War, what does the future of British defence look like? In this episode, we discuss the evolving nature of warfare, the impact of technology on modern battlefields, and whether Britain is truly prepared for the next conflict. Joining  Bronwen Maddox are Sir John Sawers , former head of MI6; James Heappey, former Ar...

As Donald Trump moves to reshape America's foreign policy, we discuss what this means for the allies in Europe. Can the the United Kingdom, France and Germany forge a new path or is transatlantic unity fading fast?  Bronwen Maddox is joined by the Chair of Chatham House Sir Simon Fraser , former Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Gerard Baker , Marion Messmer , a senior research fellow with our I...

Ties between the US and Ukraine have soured with Donald Trump calling Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy a 'dictator' in a public war of words. Meanwhile US and Russian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine's future without representatives from Kyiv or Europe. Should the continent be preparing for a future without the US as an ally? Bronwen Maddox is joined by historian and author Timothy Ga...

Sixty countries signed a declaration on 'inclusive' artificial intelligence at a global summit in Paris this week, but the UK and US refused. What was agreed at the summit, why did London and Washington decline to sign and what comes next? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Professor Birgitte Andersen from Birkbeck Business School, Lord Tim Clement-Jones , Co-Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group...

President Trump has threatened to put tariffs on Mexico and Canada and imposed them on China, fuelling fears of a looming global trade war. With the European Union likely next in his sights – what is the US president trying to achieve with these tactics? And what are the consequences? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Creon Butler , the director of our Global Economy and Finance programme, economist Lin...

President Trump wants a peace deal in Ukraine and has signalled he's willing to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to achieve it. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also appears more open to a deal – if there is a guarantee for Ukraine's security. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Mark Landler , London Bureau Chief of the New York Times, The Telegraph 's Francis Dearnley who hosts the award-winning podcast Ukraine: The La...

Donald Trump has signed a wave of executive orders in his first days as America's 47th President. The panel discuss the president's changes to US foreign policy and their potential impact on America and the world. Guest host Mike Higgins , editor of The World Today magazine, is joined by Leslie Vinjamuri , the director of our US and the Americas Programme, Samir Puri , the director of our Centre f...

A fragile ceasefire and hostage deal has been agreed between Israel and Hamas to end 15 months of war and suffering. Chatham House experts discuss the timing of the deal, whether it can hold and what comes next. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Sanam Vakil , the director of our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) programme, Leslie Vinjamuri , the director of our US and Americas programme, and Amjad Ira...

From the devastating wars in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza to Donald Trump's threats over Greenland and the Panama Canal, what are the places to watch this year? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Gideon Rachman , the FT's chief foreign affairs commentator, Leslie Vinjamuri, the director of our US and America's programme and Renad Mansour , a senior fellow for our Middle East and North Africa programme. Read o...

Does Bashar al-Assad's removal offer a renewed chance for peace in Syria, or is his fall the start of a new phase of conflict in the Middle East? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Gideon Rachman , the FT's chief foreign affairs commentator, former BBC Persia journalist Rana Rahimpour and Haid Haid , a senior consulting fellow for our Middle East and North Africa programme. Read our latest: The fall of A...

Five months in, has Sir Keir Starmer's foreign policy been a success? The UK-EU relationship remains a major challenge for 2025, as does the prospect of a new US president. How will Starmer respond, and will the recent Chagos Islands deal impact the UK's international standing? Bronwen Maddox is joined the BBC's diplomatic editor James Landale , Professor Anand Menon , the director of UK in a Chan...

Europe is contending with a stagnating economy, political dysfunction in Germany and France, and Russia's relentless attacks on Ukraine, all while it looks to the return of Donald Trump. Will the continent's democracies hold together in the face of such challenges? Bronwen Maddox is joined by journalist and historian Timothy Garton Ash , Mujtaba Rahman , Europe Managing Director at the Eurasia Gro...

The panel discuss whether the COP29 climate summit delivered anything meaningful and what Donald Trump's election means for combating climate change. As the world moves closer to crossing the 1.5 degree threshold, Bronwen Maddox is joined by former BBC journalist Roger Harrabin and Maria Netto , executive director of the Institute for Climate and Society in Brazil. Also with them from COP29 in Bak...

The re-election of Donald Trump has major consequences for America's relations with China. The panel discuss how the US-China relationship might change under the next president. Guest host Ben Bland is joined by historian and political scientist Professor Rana Mitter , the FT's US-China correspondent, Demetri Sevastopulo and Dr Yu Jie , a senior research fellow with our Asia-Pacific programme.  Re...

Donald Trump has decisively defeated Kamala Harris in the US presidential election. What does his return to the White House mean for America and the world? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Edward Luce , the FT's North America editor, Gerald Seib , the former Washington bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal and Leslie Vinjamuri , the head of our US and Americas programme. Read our latest: The election...

North Korea is sending troops to Russia, but what is Kim Jong Un hoping to get from Vladmir Putin for military assistance against Ukraine? The panel also discuss the role military conscription plays in Israel, South Korea and Ukraine. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Edward Howell , the Korea Foundation fellow at Chatham House, Orysia Lutsevych , the head of our Ukraine Forum and Yossi Mekelberg , a se...

Ahead of a crucial budget by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the UK's national debt is at almost 100 per cent of GDP - and it's not alone. Many G7 economies face massive debt levels, restricting ambitions when it comes to foreign policy and global engagement. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Patrick Wintour , the Guardian's Diplomatic Editor and Ranil Dissanayake , a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for...

France is facing political turmoil. The survival of Michel Barnier's new government rests on whether he can pass a controversial budget intended to rescue the country from its huge fiscal deficit. Bronwen Maddox is joined by Sophie Pedder , the Paris Bureau Chief of The Economist, Shahin Vallée , a former advisor to Emmanuel Macron and Armida van Rij , the head of our Europe programme. Episode inc...

Sanctions regimes are intended to be preferable to military force as a tool of foreign policy, but do they work to change behaviour or end up hurting ordinary people?  With  Bronwen Maddox is Daniel W Drezner , Professor of International Politics at Tufts University, Allie Renison , Associate Director at SEC Newgate, and Chris Sabatini , Senior Research Fellow for Latin America with our US and Ame...

On the first anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, we discuss the possible pathways for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  Bronwen Maddox is joined by Daniel Levy, the president of the US/Middle East Project. With them are Sanam Vakil , director of our Middle East and North Africa programme (MENAP) and Amjad Iraqi , a MENAP associate fellow. Read our latest: Israel needs a strategy fo...