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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
How the war in Ukraine has reshaped Asian foreign policy
The war in Ukraine and Russia has affected East Asian foreign policy in more ways than you might expect. We explore North and South Korea’s involvement in the conflict with former UK ambassador John Everard, China’s watchful eye with Oriana Skylar Mastro and the pivotal forthcoming elections in Japan with…
Explainer 440: Why don’t Australians care about King Charles III?
Andrew Mueller explains why Charles III’s first visit to Australia as king has drawn the support of some, the ire of others and indifference from most.
Artificial intelligence: Scourge or saviour?
We explore the effects of artificial intelligence and the governments that are desperately trying to keep up with the technology. Are we all doomed or is there hope for mankind? Andrew Mueller speaks with Slovenia’s president, Natasa Pirc-Musar; Digital Europe director-general Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl; and CEO of Mission Control AI, Ramsay…
Explainer 439: Why can’t UNIFIL keep the peace in Lebanon?
Following attacks by Israeli troops and the discovery of a Hezbollah tunnel close to its base, the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, is under scrutiny. Andrew Mueller explains why this nearly 50-year long deployment has failed to reduce tensions between Israel and Lebanon.
Strange borders
With arbitrary borders and conflicts becoming more fashionable of late, we explore three of the world’s stranger borders: Norway-Russia, Spain-Gibraltar and the Beaufort Sea between the US and Canada. Plus: Jonn Elledge author of ‘A History of The World in 47 Borders: The Stories Behind The Lines On Our Maps’
Explainer 438: Is Russia and Ukraine’s gas deal about to blow?
Despite many countries backing out of energy deals with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some remaining contracts have required Ukraine to maintain the pipeline between Russia and Europe. Andrew Mueller explains how this surreal business arrangement is funding both sides of the conflict, at least for the time…
Reflections on 7 October and the future
We look back on Hamas’s brutal attack, Israel’s deadly retaliation and the international community’s hopeless response. One year on, do we have any idea how this ends? Andrew Mueller speaks with Mairav Zonszein in Tel Aviv and Mina Al-Oraibi of ‘The National’ in Abu Dhabi. Plus: a roundtable with two…
Explainer 437: Is Austria ‘Back to the Future’?
Although they have not achieved a majority, Austria’s Nazi-linked FPÖ party claimed victory after receiving the highest amount of votes at the weekend’s election. Andrew Mueller explains the group’s past and what we may learn for the present.
Where does Hezbollah go from here?
The Foreign Desk is live in the immediate hours after Israel announced the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Andrew Mueller speaks with David Wood of the International Crisis Group in Beirut, and analysts Lina Khatib and Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House. Plus: we hear from Hezbollah scholar Aurélie Daher.
Explainer 436: Sri Lanka’s new president
Andrew Mueller explores the reasons why Sri Lankans ditched their traditional leaders and plumped for Anura Kumara Dissanayake instead.
