Around the World with Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo unpack the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the Trump administration and Iran, examining what it signals for U.S.-Iran negotiations, regional dynamics, and the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship. They also discuss the political upheaval in the United Kingdom following PM Keir Starmer’s resignation,...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo discuss ongoing developments in the Middle East conflict, focusing on recent military escalations, ceasefire efforts, and the broader economic and political implications of the conflict for the United States, Europe, and the Global South. They also examine the growing geopolitical significance of artificial intel...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , Veda Vaidyanathan, Fellow in Foreign Policy and Security Studies at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, joins hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo to break down the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda — highlighting its implications for health governance and evolving India-Africa ties, as well as the rec...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo unpack the high-stakes summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, outlining what each side is hoping to secure amid rising tensions over tariffs, critical minerals, Taiwan, and the conflict in Iran. The episode then turns to Europe’s mounting security dilemmas, from the future of...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, President and CEO of the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), joins hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo to discuss Africa’s shifting economic landscape, from declining global aid and greater domestic resource mobilization to expanding opportunities with non-traditional partners. They also recap recent developments...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo break down a last-minute ceasefire between the United States and Iran, exploring what drove the sudden de-escalation and what to watch as negotiations unfold. They then turn to the recent launch of the Artemis II mission and the broader revival of the global space race, before wrapping up with a preview of Hungar...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo deliver updates on the growing uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, discussing whether a ceasefire is within reach and how the crisis is shaping perceptions in Washington, Tehran, and across Europe. They also recap Myanmar’s recent election and its contentious results, as Tatmadaw chief Min Aung...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo explore the recent disruptions in global energy markets following the Strait of Hormuz closure, examining its impact on oil prices and the steps countries have taken to mitigate the effects. They also continue the conversation on the Middle East conflict, delving into the debate over potential U.S. troop deployme...

In this week’s episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo zero in on the escalating conflict in the Middle East, unpacking the U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s retaliation against military bases and critical infrastructures in the Gulf. They explore Israel’s push for regime change, the impact on U.S. domestic politics, and...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo recap a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down President Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose global tariffs, exploring its implications for current trade deals and future negotiations. They then pivot to Trump’s State of the Union address, highlighting his claims of economic revival and conflic...

In this week’s episode of Around the World , Amlan Mohanty, Technology and Society Fellow at Carnegie India, joins hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo to discuss India’s upcoming AI Impact Summit, which will take place in New Delhi and feature global leaders and CEOs from companies like Nvidia, OpenAI, and Microsoft. They explore the Summit’s implications for global AI governance, India’s rol...

In this week’s episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo break down a major shift in U.S.-India relations after U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a trade deal earlier this week. They explore what’s driving the breakthrough, what remains unclear, and whether this deal will put the bilateral relationship back on steadier ground....

In this week’s episode of Around the World , hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo examine Trump’s Board of Peace, a multilateral initiative originally aimed at overseeing the Gaza ceasefire — and the questions around its membership, funding, and Trump’s ongoing role. They also assess the Department of War’s newly released National Defense Strategy and its priorities for U.S. security, as well...

In this week’s episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo are joined by Garima Mohan, Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund, to discuss the growing momentum in EU-India relations ahead of an upcoming summit and potential trade agreement. Dhruva and Rachel also dig into the latest developments between Trump and Greenland, as well as the sudden resurrection of the U.K....

In this week’s episode of Around the World , Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo dive into the resurgence of protests in Iran and what it means for the country’s economic and political future. They also unpack German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India and the growing tensions between the Trump administration and the U.S. Federal Reserve. Image: Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia...

To kick off Season 2 of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo recap what went down in Venezuela and the U.S. military’s capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They also discuss the revived tensions between the United States and Greenland, and touch on Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.  Image: SWinxy, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

In this week's episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo break down the newly released U.S. National Security Strategy, highlighting its differences from past strategies in terms of structure and priorities. They also touch on renewed tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, exploring the historical roots of the border dispute, domestic political drivers in both coun...

In this week's episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo discuss the latest status of the Ukraine negotiations, which have been revised from a 28-point plan to a 19-point plan. They also touch on Putin’s visit to India and its impact on the future of India-Russia relations, as well as Trump’s influence in the recent Honduras elections. 

In this week's episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo speak with Neil Thomas, Chinese Politics Fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, who breaks down China's domestic politics and Xi Jinping's consolidation of power. Later on, Dhruva and Rachel discuss Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's recent visit to the White...

In this week's episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo recap the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and its implications for both domestic and international politics. They also cover Pakistan's passing of its 27th constitutional amendment — effectively boosting Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir’s power — as well as Syria’s future with its new leader, Ahm...

In this week's episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo unpack Sudan’s escalating civil war and its geopolitical implications for nations such as Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somaliland. They also recap the Netherlands’ latest elections and the potential return to nuclear testing following Trump’s recent announcement.

In this week's episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo cover Trump's Asia tour, the complexities surrounding frozen Russian assets in Europe, and the escalating situation in Venezuela amidst recent U.S. involvement.

In this week's episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo delve into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent visit to D.C. and Putin-Trump talks. They also cover the recent election of Japan's first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and U.S.-Australia relations with focuses on rare earth agreements and the AU...

In the premiere episode of Around the World, hosts Dhruva Jaishankar and Rachel Rizzo discuss Trump's recent trip to the Middle East and the recent ceasefire agreement, U.S.-China trade tensions, and political instability in France. For more of ORF America's analysis and events, visit orfamerica.org .