RAIA(ffairs)

In this episode, our host, Elisa De Angelis, sits down with Bryan Thorne to discuss Modi's successful semiconductor reform, which has attracted significant foreign investment and its overall ties to his 'Self-Reliant India' campaign. We look at how global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Modi's semiconductor reform, what political value semiconductors represent, and how these unfat...

In this episode, RAIA(ffairs) spoke with Beatriz Ledo Tonin to discuss the Kaitasi Treaty signed in late 2025 between Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Feleti Teo and Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te. The discussion examines Taiwan’s shrinking diplomatic space, China’s influence in the Pacific, and the existential question of what happens to a state when climate change threatens its physical territory. Reme...

In this episode, we spoke with Nicolás de Miguel Castillo to discuss the problems facing First Minister John Swinney and the Scottish National Party (SNP) ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections. We delve into the structural issues that influence Swinney's current COLD status, how his plan to achieve Scottish independence is constrained by the electoral system and who, if any, opposition parties are...

In this episode, we sat down with Finja Ullrich and Aleksej Obradovic to examine the climate leadership of King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Under his reign, Morocco has launched some of the most ambitious environmental policies on the African continent, including the Green Morocco Plan, a national strategy for renewable energy, and the country’s first adaptation plan. We discuss how Morocco’s environm...

In this episode, we sat down with Luiza da Costa Carvalho Melo and Sara Tobar Herrera to explore the career of Anthony Nyong, one of Africa’s most prominent climate advocates and a key figure in shaping the continent’s response to climate change. From his role as a lead author in the IPCC’s landmark 2007 report to his leadership at the African Development Bank and the African Carbon Markets Initia...

In this episode, we sat down with Lilli-Sage Bayes to talk about the conflict in the DRC and the escalating tensions between President Félix Tshisekedi and Sultani Makenga, leader of the M23 rebel group. We explore how renewed violence in the eastern provinces is reshaping the country’s political and military landscape. Don’t forget to read Lilli's article here: https://raiagroup.org/hostilities-t...

In this episode, we sat down with Pilar Gonzalez and Gaspard Brabant to explore the climate leadership of Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment. From championing the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to implementing carbon taxes and food resilience strategies, Fu has positioned herself at the center of one of the world’s most ambitious urban sustainability agendas. We discu...

In this episode, we sat down with Giulio Guiducci and Jayveer Gautam to delve into the legacy of Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most influential environmental communicators. Through decades of groundbreaking documentaries, global campaigns like Our Planet and A Life on Our Planet , and initiatives such as The People’s Seat and Save Our Wild Isles , Attenborough has reshaped how million...

In this episode, we sat down with Alice Girotto and Bryan Thorne to explore the urban climate leadership of Anne Hidalgo, the long-serving Mayor of Paris. Known for her bold policies to reshape the French capital, from low-emission zones and car-free initiatives to green urban planning and energy-efficient housing, Hidalgo has positioned herself as a global voice for sustainable cities. We discuss...

In this episode, we sat down with Josip Biondic and Manuela Altes Alcaraz to unpack the climate legacy of Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s new president and former Mayor of Mexico City. With a background in physics and a PhD in energy engineering, Sheinbaum has brought scientific rigor and political ambition to some of Mexico’s most pressing environmental challenges. From transforming public transporta...

In this episode, we sat down with Sofia Ena to unpack the leadership of General Abdourahmane Tchiani one year after his coup in Niger. We explore how the junta’s pivot away from Western alliances — and withdrawal from ECOWAS — has deepened insecurity, fueled economic turmoil, and reshaped the region’s geopolitical landscape. From the rise in jihadist attacks and Niger’s growing ties with Russia, t...

In this episode, we sat down with Ángel Rodríguez Moreno to explore how shifting international dynamics have frozen UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s landmark deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Originally framed as a bold step in reshaping British foreign policy and addressing colonial injustices, the agreement now faces major obstacles after Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidenc...

In this episode, we’re joined by Elisa De Angelis to unpack the political crisis facing French President Emmanuel Macron after the 2024 snap elections. Intended to stabilize France’s political landscape, the vote instead deepened divisions, collapsed coalitions, and triggered widespread unrest. We explore how Macron’s leadership is being tested — from controversial immigration reforms to the use o...

In this episode, we sat down with Lilli-Sage Bayes to dive into the political turmoil surrounding Kenyan President William Ruto’s controversial 2023 Finance Bill. What began as an attempt to tackle Kenya’s mounting debt through tax hikes quickly sparked nationwide protests, judicial opposition, and public backlash. We explore how these events have weakened Ruto’s political leadership and cast doub...

In this special episode, we sat down with RAIA's director and co-founder, Dario Hasenstab, for an insightful conversation about the origins, evolution, and future of RAIA. We talked about the history of the organization, the idea behind it, as well as its vision and mission in international affairs. Don't forget to check out our new articles at RAIAGroup.org and to follow us on social media to rec...

In this episode, we sat down with Francisco Jeldres and Valeria Flores Siles to explore the groundbreaking work of Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, a three-time Costa Rican Minister of Environment and Energy and current CEO of the Global Environment Facility. Rodríguez’s innovative Pago por Servicios Ambientales (PSA) program has revolutionized conservation efforts in Costa Rica, increasing forest cover,...

In this episode, we sat down with Mariana Gamez and Aimée Wolff to explore the nuanced climate leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh. While celebrated internationally for initiatives like co-founding the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and implementing the Energy Efficiency Conservation Master Plan (EECMP), her leadership faces challenges at home. We discuss her efforts...

In this episode, we sat down with Ángel Rodríguez Moreno to discuss the political turmoil in Somaliland as President Muse Bihi faces mounting opposition to a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia. The deal, which promises Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometer shoreline in exchange for recognition, has sparked protests, political resignations, and questions about Bihi’s leadersh...

In this episode, we sat down with Chiara Ausenda to analyze Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s environmental policy, particularly his ambitious deforestation agenda. Despite significant progress, including a 50% reduction in Amazon deforestation, political obstacles such as state corruption, underfunded agencies, and a resistant Congress have hindered his efforts. We discuss how Lula’...

In this episode, we sat down with Nicola Minnaja to unpack Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s new foreign policy initiative, the Mattei Plan. Designed to reshape Italy’s engagement with Africa, this ambitious strategy aims to strengthen energy ties, combat irregular migration, and establish Italy as a pivotal player in the Mediterranean. We explore how Meloni has gained support from key EU fi...

In this episode, we sat down with Africa Romero Rodriguez and Sofia Damasio Figueiredo to explore the bold climate leadership of Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, whose implementation of green economy policies is setting a global example. With initiatives like the Blue Economy Strategy and the Roof to Reefs resilience plan, Mottley is transforming Barbados into a sustainable powerhouse, addres...

In this episode, we sat down with Lucinda Schüler and Matilde Romagnoli to explore the passionate activism of Nemonte Nenquimo, a Waorani leader from the Ecuadorian Amazon, who has risen to global prominence in her fight to protect both the rainforest and the rights of indigenous communities. Nenquimo’s landmark legal victory against the Ecuadorian government, preventing oil drilling on native lan...

In this episode, we sat down with Clara Chikuse and Maja Prokopiuk to explore Hage Geingob’s ambitious pursuit of transforming Namibia into a global leader in green hydrogen production. Geingob’s vision centered around harnessing Namibia’s natural resources to fuel sustainable economic growth and energy self-sufficiency. We delve into the Namibia Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy, the challe...

In this episode, we sat down with Maria de la Paz Gonzalez and Sophia Rathleff to delve into the groundbreaking work of Sonam Phuntsho Wangdi, Bhutan's Secretary of the National Environment Commission, as he spearheads efforts to keep Bhutan carbon-neutral and globally recognized for its environmental strategies. We explore Wangdi's rapid rise in climate policy, his efforts to balance economic gro...

In this episode, we sat down with Roxane de Bergevin to explore the intensifying conflict between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame as the M23 rebels advance in Eastern DRC. Tshisekedi accuses Kagame of supporting the M23, leading to destabilization and resource exploitation in the region. We discuss the recent attacks in North Kivu, the displacement of civilians, an...