Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

The Australian Signals Directorate is one of Australia's most secretive agencies, responsible for decoding enemy messages, protecting us from cyber threats and collaborating with allied intelligence services.  Rachel Noble knows how the machine works, as the former head of ASD she helped shape Australia's role in the Five Eyes alliance.  Now, with Trump's return and Signal-gate leaks, can Australi...

As the world awaits the sitting of the conclave and the appointment of a new Pope, Geraldine sits down with the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher in the Apostolic Palace. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The Australian election campaign was rocked by allegations that Moscow had requested access to an Indonesian air base for use by long-range Russian military planes. Russia and Indonesia have a long and deep history of cooperation and trade going back to Indonesian independence, which appears to be strengthening under President Prabowo Subianto. Does Australia have reason to be concerned? Guest: Dr...

There are two states that have the most to gain, and the most to lose, when it comes to AUKUS: South Australia and Western Australia. In the final episode of AUKUS Investigated Hamish and Geraldine speak to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas about why he thinks the rest of the country needs to come to the AUKUS party.  NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024. GET IN TOUCH...

A great re-balancing is underway from the Western world to a much more diverse future. As developing nations rise up with greater wealth, military power, demographic heft and cultural influence, will Western nations give up their privileged positions willingly? Guest: Dr Samir Puri, author of Westlessness: The great global rebalancing; Director, Global Governance and Security Centre at Chatham Hou...

AUKUS doesn't only affect us. From the time that it was announced there were mixed reactions from our neighbours - some who wanted in, and some who thought it unwise and provocative. A big part of the fear - both regionally and within Australia - concerns the nuclear question. As the first non-nuclear country to ever acquire a conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine, can we be confident of...

The death of Pope Francis closes the door on a papacy that was focused on the plight of migrants and other vulnerable groups.  In this emergency episode, what was the Pontiff's contribution to global politics and who might come after him? Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Election day is looming at a time when events beyond our borders are shaping the debate as much as the politicians are.  The major parties have avoided discussion of foreign policy, despite the need for new policies and partnerships for this uncertain time.  With no scheduled debate on foreign policy, we discuss some of the key questions confronting the nation with: Tim Watts, the Assistant Minist...

Palau is a tiny Pacific nation located in one of the hottest geo-strategic areas on Earth.  They are highly dependent on the US for finance and defence but subject to Chinese pressure to revoke their formal recognition of Taiwan.  Despite these challenges, Palau's greatest concern is actually the threat of climate change making parts of their country uninhabitable. Guest: President of Palau Surang...

Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs are laser-focused on Southeast Asia, with manufacturing countries singled out for the highest tax rates. Australia has got off lightly, but can we avoid the blow back when our region is under pressure? Where do Australia's best interests really lie? Guest: Dr Joseph Liow, author of Navigating Uncertainty: Our Region in an Age of Flux; Tan Kah Kee Chair in in...

What is Beijing thinking as it watches Western governments grapple with the chaos created by the US? Does China view the fracturing of long-standing US alliances and trading relationships as an opportunity, or do they share the concerns about what is coming? Guest: Zhou Bo, Senior Colonel (Retired) in the People’s Liberation Army, author of Should the World Fear China? Senior fellow at Tsinghua Un...

Donald Trump's strategy on tariffs is inspired by the 'Gilded Age' of US history, when the federal government drew most of its income from taxes on foreign imports.  Now some of America's closest allies have been slapped with tariffs and there are growing risks of a trade war. Guest: Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University...

The Irish rockstar is fired up as he claims his life's work is being ripped apart by the new US administration.  In this passionate and surprising conversation Sir Bob discusses cuts to aid budgets in the US and UK, what Australia should be doing to stand up to Donald Trump and why he no longer listens to music.   Guest: Bob Geldof, musician and co-founder of the Band Aid Charitable Trust Recommen...

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has said of AUKUS that "we don't need to be a pair of shoes hanging out of America's backside". Is that a fair characterisation of Australia's position vis a vis AUKUS? Are we getting the short end of the stick with this deal, and sacrificing our sovereignty to boot?  NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024. GUESTS: Sam Roggeveen - Director of t...

There was jubilation in Syria last year when Bashar Al-Assad fled the country after 14 years of civil war. But peace won't come easy and the country's new rulers face a host of hurdles as they try to bring order to a country riven by years of conflict. GUEST: Heidi Pett - Freelance producer, journalist and videographer. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.a...

The United States is tearing down the foundations that have underpinned the west since the end of the second world war. Traditional alliances have been turned on their head, and Australia is not immune. Should we go it alone without our biggest ally, and are Australia's future leaders ready for the job ahead? Guests: Latika Bourke - Writer at Large, The Nightly and an Expert Associate at the ANU’s...

In this episode Hamish and Geraldine examine the strategic thinking behind AUKUS. If China has undertaken the most rapid military expansion of any country since WWII, how does the AUKUS pact factor into Beijing's thinking? And does a plan that ties us more closely to the United States make us more or less safe? NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024. GUESTS: Zhou Bo – Senior Col...

As talk of American isolationism under Donald Trump grows louder, big questions are being asked about the future of the US-Australia alliance. How should Australia see its place in the Indo-Pacific if China ultimately takes control of east Asia? Guest: Hugh White - Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. Recommendations: Geraldine: Spielberg Hamish: Deal With...

Hamish and Geraldine react to the showdown in Washington DC as Donald Trump seemingly all but abandons support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.  Guest: Nick Bryant - Host of Saturday Extra and former Washington correspondent for the BBC. Get in touch:   We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Australia's top spy sits down for a candid conversation with Hamish and Geraldine about the modern art of spycraft and the current threats - foreign and domestic - facing Australia. Guest: Mike Burgess - Director-General of Security in charge of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Recommendations: Geraldine: The Rest is Politics: Leading - The new President of Syria Hamish: There's...

The plan for us to acquire nuclear submarines has been dubbed the 'Optimal Pathway', but achieving it will be no mean feat. In this episode we explore what the scheme involves, what the key challenges are to making it work, and we get some cold hard facts about what it is really going to cost us.  NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024. GUESTS: Jennifer Parker - expert associate...

If you think political shifts in Germany don't effect the rest of the world, think again. The country has been rocked by the interference of American Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, who are openly backing the far-right, and the security of Europe may hang on whoever takes power next.  Guest: Dr Constanze Stelzenmüller - Director of the Center on the United States and Europe and the inaugura...

In a special mini-series, Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald get the answers to all your burning questions about AUKUS.  In this first episode, we investigate how AUKUS came about - who spoke to who, what the true motivation was for going nuclear and whether the total secrecy around the deal was justified.  NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024. GUESTS:  Andrew Fowler - inve...

We've handed over $798 million to the US, but can we really be sure that President Trump is as 'supportive' of AUKUS as we've been told? It's just one of the burning questions you've been sending us about AUKUS, that we'll be answering in this special Q&A episode of Global Roaming.  Guests:  Jennifer Parker - Expert Associate at ANU’s National Security College, wo has over 20 years of service...

Canada has a lot going on right now. It's facing a potential trade war with the United States, President Trump wants it to become the 51st US state and its long-standing leader Justin Trudeau is set to depart in March, ahead of a general election where a Conservative victory looks likely. Former leader of Canada's Liberal Party Michael Ignatieff joins Geraldine and Hamish to discuss why he is taki...