The Foreign Desk
Monocle’s global-affairs show with Andrew Mueller. Expert guests, in-depth analysis, and sharp commentary on major geopolitical issues.
Latest Episodes
Power dressing
From Nelson Mandela’s colourful shirts to Madeleine Albright’s glitzy brooches, fashion has been used as a powerful tool to communicate messages on the world stage. What role does fashion play in diplomacy? Andrew Mueller…
Power chords: music, diplomacy and geopolitics
Throughout history, music has served as an instrument of soft power, transcending divides and even catalysing the downfall of regimes. How does music shape geopolitics and international diplomacy? Andrew Mueller speaks to Reiland Rabaka,…
Could Venezuela really invade Guyana?
Tensions rose between Venezuela and Guyana this week after Nicolas Maduro boasted an “overwhelming” people’s mandate for Caracas to exploit oil deposits in the disputed Essequibo region. What happens now? Andrew Mueller speaks to…
The best of enemies
The long-running battle for the Parthenon Marbles erupted again this week between Greece and the UK. In this special episode, we explore some of the bitterest and most bizarre diplomatic disputes between otherwise amicable…
What next for Argentina after Javier Milei’s victory?
Javier Milei shocked Argentina – and the world – after winning the country’s presidential election. So, who is Milei and what does the future hold for Argentina under an eccentric and unpredictable new leader?…
What could peace look like for Israel and Palestine?
It is six weeks since Hamas’s attack on southern Israel, which indiscriminately and cruelly killed about 1,200 people and prompted a brutal and unrelenting retaliatory ground insurgency led by the Israeli Defence Force. The…
Who speaks for the Arctic?
The Arctic is not simply a forbidding and fragile environment. It is a home to millions, many of whom hail from indigenous communities who have harmoniously worked with the land and sea for generations.…
Is Arctic exceptionalism on thin ice?
Frozen and remote, the Arctic has long been a region of relative peace and stability. Russia’s war in Ukraine, however, has significantly altered Arctic security. What are Vladimir Putin’s polar ambitions and is the…
Arctic Circle Assembly special edition
In this special episode, recorded at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík, Andrew Mueller sits down with the president of Iceland, Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, US senator for Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, and Mads Qvist Frederiksen,…
What is feminist foreign policy?
Feminist foreign policy is gaining traction around the world. How does it work in practice – and what is the role of women in promoting peace? Andrew Mueller speaks to Sweden’s former foreign minister,…
