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
Explainer 137: Who will run against Trump in 2020?
The US midterms are only a few weeks away but Democrats seem just as concerned about who could go head to head with Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. What’s certain is that local media is enjoying the guessing game. Ed Stocker, our Americas editor at large, asks who…
Can Brexit be stopped?
Time is running out to reach a deal on what will happen when the UK leaves the EU in March – but as negotiators get ready for the next set of talks this week, campaigners are calling for another referendum. Can – and should – Brexit be stopped? We’re joined…
Explainer 136: Why did Nikki Haley resign?
The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, quit this week in what was, to many, a shock announcement. Along with speculation as to why, the question of who will replace her remains unanswered. Andrew Mueller gazes into his crystal ball.
Iraq: is the future here at last?
Just over 15 years since the US and UK invaded Iraq with a promise to remove Saddam Hussein and install democracy, the country is still struggling. Internal divisions and external interference aren’t making things any easier – but can a newly agreed government lead Iraq towards a thriving future? Andrew…
Explainer 135: How is Canada pushing its feminist foreign policy?
In Montréal at the end of last month, Canada’s foreign minister Chrystia Freeland and the EU’s commissioner of foreign affairs Federica Mogherini co-hosted a meeting of the world’s women foreign ministers – the first meeting of its kind to have been held for 20 years. Monocle’s Toronto bureau chief, Tomos…
The war on drugs: time to surrender?
Canada will shortly become the next of only a handful of countries to legalise recreational marijuana. How will this affect the illegal drug traders who remain untouchable to the governments trying to stop them? Andrew Mueller is joined by Misha Glenny, Lizzie Porter and Jodie Emery.
Explainer 134: Naming Macedonia
After more than 30 years the naming dispute between Macedonia and Greece could finally be over. But, as Monocle’s news editor Peter Firth explains, the final hurdle – a referendum this weekend – could send the whole process back to the start.
Autonomous weapons and the future of war
Advances in military technology pose profound questions of morality and law – as well as opportunity on the battlefield. But what happens when (and the time is not far off) weapons can think for themselves? Andrew Mueller is joined by former fighter pilot Missy Cummings, philosopher of technology Peter Asaro…
Explainer 133: What is the significance of Mexico City’s mariachi murders?
Five people were killed after three men dressed as mariachi musicians started shooting in a busy tourist area in Mexico City. The capital has largely escaped the violence of other regions but is this changing? And will president-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador be able to bring the spike in violent…
Brazil’s baffling ballot
The lead-up to next month’s elections has been nothing short of extraordinary, even by Brazilian standards. But the results should not be overlooked given that the victor will take charge of South America’s biggest economy. Who will win – and can they clean up Brazil’s politics?
