Independent Thinking

King Charles in Washington: Did the royal visit save the 'special relationship'?

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

King Charles III's state visit to the US won acclaim as the monarch charmed President Donald Trump. But can it really rescue US-UK relations from thei...

Is the shock of the US-Iran war helping Europe come together?

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

EU expansion, energy shocks, and uneasy alliances: will the conflict in the Gulf – and other crises – force a more unified European strategy?   T...

Iran, Pope, Economy: How many battles can Trump fight at once?

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From Hormuz to Hungary and the Vatican to the Federal Reserve, it has been an unusually contentious week for the White House, even by the standards of...

What lessons will China, India and other Asian nations draw from the Iran war?

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

China prepared in advance for a US attack on Iran. But many of its Asian neighbours have been hit hard because their economies were heavily reliant on...

Why are UK energy costs so high? And how to bring them down

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

An earlier than usual episode of the Independent Thinking podcast, ahead of the Easter break. In a one-on-one conversation, Chatham House Director Br...

Iran war: regional shock or global crisis?

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One month on from the start of the US and Israeli war on Iran, governments worldwide are trying to assess the scale of its long-term impact on the glo...

Is Iran one crisis too many for Trump?

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US-Israel war on Iran is straining Trump's alliances, at home and abroad. Three weeks into exactly the kind of war of choice that he spent years d...

AI wars: Anthropic battles the Pentagon as China plans ahead

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US military's AI provider Anthropic is feuding with the Pentagon after the company tried to impose 'red lines' over the use of its artificial inte...

Iran: Will Trump declare early victory and risk leaving hardliners in charge?

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What does President Trump hope to achieve in Iran – a quick show of force, or long-term regime change?  The US and Israel's long-threatened air str...

Trump's tariffs: Are they here to stay?

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The US Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump on his first justification for tariffs, but he says he will push them through by other means...

As Ukraine peace talks stall, can Europe step up in its defence? Independent Thinking podcast

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war do not appear to have made significant progress. In the meantime, the focus of US President Donald Trump's ...

Rubio to Europe: A softer tone than Vance. But same message?

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In a special edition of Chatham House's Independent Thinking podcast recorded at the Munich Security Conference 2026 over the weekend, Chatham House D...

As the UK lurches from crisis to crisis, is it becoming ungovernable?

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer ploughs through crisis after crisis, his Labour Party faces multiple threats in upcoming local elections. Our...

Oil, regime change, and what's next in Trump's MAGA playbook?

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, our analysts discuss where in the Western Hemisphere US President Trump and Secretary of...

UK in China: Hard choices between rival superpowers

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Ben Bland, head of our Asia-Pacific Programme, and Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China. They discuss the oppor...

Trump vs Carney at Davos - One summit, two visions

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox joins the Independent Thinking podcast from the World Economic Forum in Davos. In London are guest host David Lu...

Greenland in the cross hairs of Trump's bid for hemispheric dominance

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Host Bronwen Maddox is joined in the studio by Laurel Rapp, Director of Chatham House's US and North America Programme; Marc Weller, Director of the ...

Does Venezuela usher in an era of might is right?

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Marc Weller, Director of Chatham House's International Law Programme; Laurel Rapp, Director of the US and North America P...

Trump Year One – China's economic rivalry with the US is here to stay

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the last Independent Thinking podcast of 2025, host Bronwen Maddox is joined by David Lubin, Senior Research Fellow with Chatham House's Global Eco...

What does Trump's National Security Strategy mean for Europe, China and Middle East?

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is a special edition of Chatham House's Independent Thinking international affairs podcast, recorded at the Doha Forum 2025 over the weekend.  M...

Europe scrambles to avoid being sidelined on Ukraine

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How are Europe and Ukraine reacting after the US and Russia sought to strike their own deal, and Putin warned that Moscow – while not planning for w...

Britain's budget – a recipe for growth or decline?

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves published her – widely leaked – budget this week. How does it leave her ruling Labour Party po...

Sudan – the internal and external forces tearing it apart

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After the North Darfur capital El Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces, aid agencies and survivors talk of civilians being massacred in the streets...

What does Ukraine need to get through the winter?

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian officials and analysts look at the prospects for a ceasefire, and at the military, ec...

Mamdani won in New York. For Trump, was it a setback or backlash?

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York's mayoral race this week – and other electoral successes – energized Democrats in the US and left-wing partie...

Europe after the Dutch elections. Goodbye far right? Not so fast.

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders suffered a setback on Wednesday's elections, with centrists poised to take back power.   Rob Jetten, 38, leader ...

AI Plus. Generals purged. China's leaders plan for 2030

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

China's ruling Communist Party leadership met in Beijing to frame the next five-year-plan. Amid a trade war with the United States, they set prioriti...

How to advance Trump's Gaza plan from magical thinking to lasting peace

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Beset by early ceasefire disputes between Israel and Hamas, international backers of President Trump's Mideast project must move quickly to elevate it...

Trump, Gaza and shutdown

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At home the US is mired in domestic dysfunction with a government shutdown now in its second week. But abroad, President Trump has brokered a deal tha...

In UK politics is Reform now the party to beat?

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's party conference season in Britain. Both ruling Labour and opposition Conservatives are nervous about the rise of Nigel Farage's right-wing Refor...

The UN must adapt to the Trump era. How?

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The United Nations is a guardian of international law, its leader assured member states this week. But President Trump questioned the point of the UN....

Trump's UK state visit sealed deals, but at what cost?

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump brought AI and tech CEOs on his second state visit for a deal pledging £31 billion in investment for the UK.  Olivia O'Sulli...

Will China lead a post-American world?

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are we moving into a post-American world and if so will China try to lead and set the rules for it? In the face of American withdrawal, China senses a...

Trump’s tools – Tariffs and sanctions

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How much of Donald Trump’s sanctions strategy is substance — and how much is performance? In this episode of Independent Thinking, Chatham House e...

Will Trump deliver for Ukraine?

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does President Donald Trump’s promise of Patriot missiles for Ukraine — and a 50-day tariff ultimatum to Putin — really mean for Ukraine an...

Gaza: What next after Trump-Netanyahu talks?

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House mean for the likelihood of a Gaza ceasefire? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Stephen Farrell, Yo...

One year hard Labour: Why is the UK so difficult to govern?

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After a crisis week for Britain’s ruling Labour Party, host Bronwen Maddox and Chatham House’s Olivia Sullivan are joined by economist Professor S...

Iran's nuclear programme: destroyed, damaged or intact?

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Did US strikes cripple Iran’s nuclear programme — or just set the stage for the next crisis? Bronwen Maddox hosts from Jordan, joined by internati...

What does the Iran-Israel war mean for the region and the world?

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following Israel’s strikes on Iran on 13 June, and the subsequent sequence of retaliation and counter retaliation, fears are rising that the conflic...

Can Britain be great again?

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is Britain chasing faded glory or forging a credible future? As the government lays out its latest spending review, Bronwen Maddox is joined by Jerem...

War plan or wish list - The UK Strategic Defence Review

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Drones, AI, cyber warfare and nuclear weapons are a key part of the UK’s new Strategic Defence Review, along with conventional weapons. Chatham Hou...

What's the future for Gaza?

31 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Gaza reels from staggering humanitarian devastation, Bronwen Maddox speaks with Yossi Mekelberg, Stephen Farrell, and Julie Norman to unpack the p...

Is Brexit finally done?

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nine years after the Brexit vote, a new UK–EU deal promises smoother trade and deeper cooperation — but is it the end of the Brexit saga or just ...

Can the UK take on the EU, US and China?

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As trade tensions, security concerns, and diplomatic crossroads converge, the UK’s bid for economic growth faces hard choices on the global stage. ...

Can India and Pakistan step back from the brink?

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tensions between India and Pakistan have surged following a deadly attack in Kashmir and air strikes by India inside Pakistan. With nuclear risks, re...

Ukraine’s impossible choice

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As Donald Trump floats a controversial peace deal that could leave Ukraine facing territorial losses and NATO exclusion, Kyiv is forced to weigh an i...

Is the US dollar losing its dominance?

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the IMF Spring Meetings unfold in Washington DC, Bronwen Maddox asks whether we are witnessing the twilight of the US dollar’s global dominance....

How can Nigeria tackle corruption?

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Independent Thinking, we explore the root causes of corruption in Nigeria, its impact on everyday life, and potential solutions fo...

Is the US confronting China in Latin America?

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, Chin...

Are Donald Trump's tariffs the end of globalization?

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump has unveiled sweeping new trade tariffs—but what happens next? Bronwen Maddox explores the global reaction, the economic fallout, a...

Can Europe replace the US as a global power?

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How closely is China watching the US?

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Will Syria’s new leader rescue or destroy the country?

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 regi...

Is the UK military strong enough?

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ep...

Can the UK, France and Germany forge a new transatlantic path?

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Should Europe start planning for the worst?

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ties between the US and Ukraine have soured with Donald Trump calling Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’ in a public war of words. Meanw...

After Paris: Are the US and UK leaving Europe behind on AI?

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How dangerous are Trump’s trade threats?

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 E...

Can Donald Trump end the war in Ukraine?

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 al...

What did we learn from Donald Trump's first days?

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Will the Israel-Hamas ceasefire hold?

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

What will be the flashpoints of 2025?

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 thi...

What next for Syria and the Middle East after Assad?

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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? Br...

Europe, Trump and Chagos: What will UK foreign policy look like in 2025?

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Is Europe falling apart?

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Europe is contending with a stagnating economy, political dysfunction in Germany and France, and Russia's relentless attacks on Ukraine, all while it ...

Has COP29 made a difference on climate change?

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The panel discuss whether the COP29 climate summit delivered anything meaningful and what Donald Trump's election means for combating climate change. ...

How will China respond to Donald Trump 2.0?

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The re-election of Donald Trump has major consequences for America’s relations with China. The panel discuss how the US-China relationship might cha...

What does Donald Trump's re-election mean for the world?

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 w...

Why is North Korea sending troops to Russia?

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Will debt constrain Western foreign policy?

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 econom...

How can France survive its budget crisis?

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

France is facing political turmoil. The survival of Michel Barnier’s new government rests on whether he can pass a controversial budget intended to ...

Do sanctions work?

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Can there be peace for Israelis and Palestinians after 7 October?

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the first anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, we discuss the possible pathways for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Bronwen Maddox...

Why is Israel striking Hezbollah now?

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the Israeli military launching sustained attacks across Lebanon against Hezbollah, we explore why Israel has decided to ramp up strikes on Hezbol...

Missile diplomacy: What is a winning strategy in Ukraine?

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As Ukraine waits to hear if it can use Western missiles to strike deep into Russia, we explore the current state of the Kursk offensive and the front...

Trump vs Harris: Did the debate change the race?

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tuesday’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump brought fierce exchanges over immigration, abortion and foreign policy, and showed that Amer...

Are autocracies at war with democracy?

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To kick off the third series of the podcast, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anne Applebaum joins Bronwen Maddox to discuss the network of autocraci...

Venezuela's stolen election: Will Nicolás Maduro retain power?

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Venezuelans are protesting against Nicolás Maduro’s claim to have won the presidential election. Bronwen Maddox is joined from Caracas by journalis...

What would a Harris presidency mean for the world?

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Democratic big hitters have coalesced around Kamala Harris as the Party’s new nominee, but what do we know about her world view, especially on Gaza,...

Will MAGA redefine America's foreign policy?

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Republican National Convention is underway in Wisconsin just days after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Bronwen Maddox is joined by j...

What more can NATO do for Ukraine?

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

NATO’s Washington summit takes place amid growing uncertainty about US leadership, and some of Russia’s heaviest missile attacks on Ukraine since ...

Independent Thinking: UK election reaction special

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this recording of a Chatham House event, Bronwen Maddox is joined by an expert panel on the morning of Labour’s landslide win in the UK general ...

Is the South China Sea the world’s next flashpoint?

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On 17 June China’s coastguard clashed violently with the Philippines near an isolated coral reef in the South China Sea. Tensions are running high b...

Is America turning its back on the world it helped to build?

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joining Bronwen Maddox this week is Fareed Zakaria, the host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN. Recorded at our 2024 London Conference, they discuss the c...

Has the world forgotten the women of Afghanistan?

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With Bronwen Maddox this week is Shaharzad Akbar, the former chair of Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission and an Academy Associate at Ch...

Is the far-right a threat to the European Union?

07 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With Bronwen Maddox this week is Suzanne Lynch, the Global Playbook author and Associate Editor at POLITICO Europe. Joining them are Armida van Rij, ...

What's next for Israel after events at the ICC and ICJ?

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Philippe Sands, a barrister specialising in international law and a Professor of the Public Understanding of Law at Unive...

How will foreign affairs shape the UK election?

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rishi Sunak called a 4 July election saying the world is more dangerous than at any time since the end of the Cold War. Bronwen Maddox discusses tho...

What choices will the next UK Foreign Secretary face?

17 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Shashank Joshi, defence editor of The Economist and historian and commentator Helene von Bismarck to discuss what the nex...

Will the US continue to support Israel?

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, Bronwen Maddox interviews a key figure in US foreign policy to the Middle East for over a decade, Ambassador Dennis Ross. Amb...

Which country is next to go nuclear?

03 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Bronwen Maddox discusses whether we are seeing a resurgence of the threat posed by nuclear weapons, given recent events in the Middle East...

Is time running out for Ukraine?

25 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by journalist Oz Katerji and Phillips P. O’Brien, a Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrew...

Are Israel and Iran on the brink of all out war?

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Sanam Vakil, the director of our Middle East programme to discuss Iran's missile attack on Israel and the possib...

Has the world forgotten Sudan?

12 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Mohammed al-Ta’ishi, a civilian member of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council - where he served as the chief negoti...

Has Turkey turned against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan?

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined by Soli Özel, a Professor of International Relations at Istanbul Kadir Has University, and Hürcan Aslı Aksoy, the Head of ...

Can Germany lead in a divided Europe?

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined this week by Mujtaba Rahman, the Managing Director Europe of the Eurasia Group and Georgina Wright, a Senior Fellow with Ins...

Senegal, Nigeria and the Sahel: can democracy deliver in West Africa?

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined from Dakar, Senegal by Gilles Yabi, the founder and CEO of WATHI, the West Africa Citizen Think Tank and Idayat Hassan, a Sen...

China's National People's Congress: the view from Japan

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is in Japan this week, and is joined from Taipei by journalist Bethany Allen to discuss China's National People's Congress and the pol...

Has Donald Trump changed US foreign policy forever?

08 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Guest host Leslie Vinjamuri is joined on the podcast this week by Ben Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of Semafor News and Professor Jennifer M Lind – ...

Iran’s elections: What’s at stake for the Middle East?

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bronwen Maddox is joined on the podcast this week by Gregg Carlstrom, the Middle East correspondent for The Economist, Siavash Ardalan from BBC Persi...