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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
Muqtada al-Sadr and the future of Iraq
Last week Iraq held a parliamentary election several months early, with Shia cleric and militia commander Muqtada al-Sadr emerging as the winner. What kind of Iraq does al-Sadr want? Andrew Mueller is joined by Sofia Nitti, Jane Arraf and Renad Mansour.
Explainer 287: Nordic Council of Ministers series, part six – Sustainable food choices
Many of us want to make more sustainable choices when we shop for food but Nordic governments are going a step further and integrating climate issues into their official dietary suggestions. As the region awaits the new, updated Nordic Nutrition Recommendations next year, drawn up by the Nordic Council of…
Nearly 10 years of ‘The Foreign Desk’
In this special edition of ‘The Foreign Desk’, Andrew Mueller and the team look back at some highlights of the show’s contribution to Monocle 24’s first decade.
Explainer 286: A curveball for Cuba
At least nine Cuban baseball players have defected during a tournament in Mexico. Andrew Mueller reflects on history’s most notable examples.
Coalition politics: the highs and lows
Germany faces months of tough negotiations to form a coalition government following the country’s federal election on Sunday. As the intense process of horse-trading and manifesto-trimming gets underway, we examine the strengths and weaknesses of coalition-building. When are coalitions effective? What are the secrets to making one work? And what’s…
Explainer 285: Is France back on top?
A week after the AUKUS fallout, France has confirmed a defence deal with Greece, providing the latter with warships and combat aircraft. The timing couldn’t be better and, as Andrew Mueller explains, this long-awaited pact might provide President Macron with more than just money.
Total Recall: What happens when diplomatic relations turn sour?
France has recalled its ambassadors to the US and Australia as a response to the new AUKUS deal and Australia’s cancellation of a French submarine contract. But what do such gestures really mean? Do some countries just want to make a scene? How does a diplomatic spat actually work? Andrew…
Why is populism all the rage?
Police have increased security around the US Capitol ahead of a planned pro-Trump rally on 18 September. The expected demonstrations have brought a new wave of concern about the rise of populist anger. What is fuelling this resentment? Is far-left and far-right populism growing in Europe? And what does all…
Nicaragua: How to write yourself into exile
Once a good friend and political ally of Nicaragua’s president Daniel Ortega, novelist Sergio Ramírez finds himself an enemy of the state. Andrew Mueller explains how this plot developed.
Did we win the war on terrorism?
As the US commemorates the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Taliban are back in power in Afghanistan. How has the threat of terrorism changed in the two decades since the beginning of the War on Terror? Andrew Mueller speaks to Nathan Sales, David Kilcullen and Farah Pandith.
