What Just Happened?

In this episode of What Just Happened?, Marco Giannangeli is joined by Principal Analyst for North America Claire Brady and Lead Asia-Pacific Analyst Aédán Mordecai to examine the outcomes and implications of the recent Beijing Summit. They explore the current state of US-China relations, ongoing trade tensions and the strategic calculations shaping diplomatic engagement between the two powers. Th...

On this episode, Sub-Saharan Africa analyst Edward Bach joins Samuel McVicar to discuss the recent attacks across Mali by al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in collaboration with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA; an ethnic-Tuareg secessionist group). These parties' capture of Kidal, their expanding control of northern Mali and the ongoing enforcement of a blockade around...

In this episode of What Just Happened?, Marco Giannangeli is joined by Lead Europe Analyst Alexander Lord and Rear Admiral Chris Parry to examine the growing threat to critical national infrastructure beneath the sea. They explore the recent increase in Russian naval activity and the expanding use of civilian vessels for strategic purposes. The discussion focuses on the vulnerability of undersea c...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by intelligence analyst Inigo Camilleri De Castanedo to unpack Peru’s chaotic election cycle and the growing tensions surrounding the country’s political future. They discuss delayed vote counting, allegations of fraud and why a deeply fragmented electoral field has created uncertainty following Peru’s recent elections. They also assess the regional implic...

In this episode, Sibylline Media Editor Marco Giannangeli is joined by Lead Americas Analyst Lewis Galvin and Professor Alessio Patalano of King’s College London to examine global tensions stemming from the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. They explore the strategic and legal realities of disrupting shipping through the Strait, including what it would take t...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Sub-Saharan Africa Analyst Edward Bach to examine the rapidly escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. They unpack the resurgence of the M23 militia, its backing from Rwanda and how recent territorial gains are shifting the balance on the ground. The discussion explores the deeper drivers of the conflict, from resource competition to...

In this episode, Marco Giannangeli speaks to Sibylline’s Chief Analyst Sam Olsen and Dean Cheng, Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, about what that means in practice — and why Washington may face a stark choice between a long war and risking its credibility.   Join the Sibylline Media mailing list https://mailchi.mp/sibylline.co.uk/sibyllinemedia   If you enjoyed this episo...

A major geopolitical test case is unfolding just off the US coastline. Fuel shortages, blackouts, and tightening sanctions are pushing a Caribbean state towards a critical breaking point — after the collapse of Venezuelan oil supplies and renewed US pressure. In this episode, Lead Americas Analyst, Lewis Galvin, joins his colleagues from the Americas desk, Azul Hidalgo Solá and Inigo Camilleri, to...

In this episode, Sibylline Media Editor Marco Giannangeli is joined by maritime expert Tom Sharpe OBE and Russia expert Keir Giles to examine the growing threat posed by Russian cyber and physical operations targeting European infrastructure. The conversation explores recent incidents involving sabotage and suspected GRU-linked activities and highlights key vulnerabilities across the UK's critical...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Lead Asia-Pacific Analyst Aédán Mordecai to examine how the ongoing US–Israeli bombing campaign in Iran could trigger a major energy shock across Asia. With around 60% of Asia’s crude oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the region is highly exposed to disruptions in global energy markets. They explore how countries across Asia are preparing for po...

In this episode, Sibylline Media's Editor Marco Giannangeli hosts a panel discussion with Principal Middle East & Africa Analyst Megan Sutcliffe and Lead Americas Analyst Lewis Galvin to examine the rapidly unfolding situation in Iran following US and Israeli airstrikes. They explore the implications of reported strikes on key strategic facilities and the alleged death of Supreme Leader Ali Kh...

In this episode, Rafael Saliés is joined by Alex Marciniak, Latin Americas intelligence analyst, to examine the uncertainty surrounding the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) following the death of the former leader, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes AKA 'El Mencho'. The discussion unpacks the CJNG’s operational scale, internal factions, and the regions most at risk, including Michoacán and Tamau...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by regional experts Megan Sutcliffe and Claire Brady to assess rising tensions between the United States and Iran as the region remains on high alert ahead of ongoing negotiations. They examine how military build-ups, political pressures, and fragile negotiations could either trigger wider regional conflict or open a path to de-escalation. Check out Megan'...

In this episode, Marco Giannangeli, Editor for Sibylline Media, sits down with Denise Schipani, Cyber and Geopolitical Intelligence Analyst, to explore the evolving landscape of cyber threats, with a particular focus on the vulnerability of critical national infrastructure in the UK. They discuss how Russian cyber operations are increasingly targeting operational technology — including water syste...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Lead Middle East and Africa Analyst, Ben Manzin, to examine Ethiopia’s fragile 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement amid mounting clashes and rising geopolitical tensions in Tigray. They unpack how internal power struggles, shifting regional alliances, and decades-old ethnic disputes threaten to unravel years of diplomacy — and what that could mean for million...

In this special Sibylline Podcast, Lead Europe-Eurasia analyst, Alexander Lord, is joined by Elizabeth Bullock, who shares her firsthand experiences of Russia's modern war. Elizabeth discusses her journey from a technology startup background to operating on the front lines in Ukraine for 3 years, offering a rare perspective on how Russia's war unfolded in its early stages and how daily life has be...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Sibylline's Chief Analyst, Sam Olsen, to explore the concept of the 'polycrisis' — the convergence of geopolitical, technological, and economic risks threatening global stability in the coming years. Sam Olsen explains China’s growing assertiveness, Taiwan’s strategic vulnerabilities, and the critical importance of semiconductors and AI in shaping futur...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Lead Americas analyst Lewis Galvin to unpack President Trump’s recent announcement regarding a potential deal involving Greenland. They explore the military and economic implications of the proposal, assess the fragility of the agreement, and examine sovereignty concerns for both Denmark and Greenland. The discussion also covers NATO’s response, the str...

Lead Americas Analyst Lewis Galvin is joined by Claire Brady, Principal Analyst for North America, and Alex Marciniak, Intelligence Analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean at Sibylline, to discuss the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela.  They explore the strategic implications of the operation, the geopolitical tensions surrounding U.S. foreign policy, and review the broader impact on...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Karan Vassil, Intelligence Analyst on the Eurasia desk here at Sibylline, to explain the recent Russian Oreshnik missile strike against Lviv in western Ukraine. They explore the strategic implications of the Oreshnik missile strike, discuss the geopolitical tensions surrounding NATO borders, and review the broader progress of the war throughout 2025.  ...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst for the Middle East and Africa to take a look at the ongoing protests in Iran, driven by economic frustrations amid broader geopolitical tensions. They discuss the government's response, including internet blackouts, and explore the potential for escalation and regional implications.    What Just Happened is now on You...

In this episode, Samuel McVicar is joined by the former host of What Just Happened to say farewell and discuss the recent US military operation in Venezuela, known as Operation Absolute Resolve. Together, they explore the strategic implications of the operation, the historical context of the Maduro regime crisis, and the potential future scenarios for Venezuela's political landscape.   If you enjo...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst for the Middle East and Africa. Together, they delve into the recent altercation in Tigray between the Tigray Defence Forces and the Tigray Interim Administration. They discuss the strategic interests of the involved parties, the implications of the Pretoria Agreement, and the complex international dynamics at play. Megan pro...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Layla Guest, an intelligence analyst for Eurasia here at Sibylline. Together, they look into the recent peace process negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia, focusing on the 28-point peace plan and its revisions. They discuss the strategic interests of the involved parties, the proposed territorial concessions, and the international reactions. Layla...

In this episode, Ignacio is joined by Megan Sutcliffe, Principal Analyst for the Middle East and Africa. Together, they delve into the ongoing conflict in Sudan, focusing on the recent developments in the Darfur region. They discuss the strategic manoeuvres of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), highlighting the humanitarian crisis and international reactions. Megan...