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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
Korea opportunities
As the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics draw to a close, Andrew Mueller asks if the cross-border goodwill between North and South Korea can last.
Explainer 103: Why are Portugal and Angola arguing again?
Angola’s recent corruption purge, after a 38-year rule by José Eduardo dos Santos, should have led to even better relations between the country and its former coloniser, Portugal. But, as Monocle’s Carlota Rebelo explains, one trial that should have been simple has had ramifications on both sides. The full episode…
South Africa after Zuma – what next?
After Jacob Zuma was eased out of office by his own increasingly embarrassed party, is President Cyril Ramaphosa the right person to rebuild the African National Congress and revive South Africa? Andrew Mueller is joined by Desné Masie, Martin Plaut and former ANC MP Melanie Verwoerd.
Explainer 102: Why is US infrastructure in such a mess?
Donald Trump announced this week he wants Congress to authorise $200bn (€161bn) to spend on roads, highways, ports and airports. New York bureau chief Ed Stocker asks how US infrastructure got into this mess and if president Trump’s plans are really going to solve the problem. The full episode of…
Whose side is Turkey on?
In the past week Turkey has returned to war in Syria, using tanks furnished by one Nato ally to fight the allies of another, while allying in turn with Nato’s main rival, Russia. Elsewhere, Turkey – which once aspired to join the EU – has frozen relations with the Netherlands.…
Explainer 101: Sporting unity
As we head towards the opening of the Winter Olympics, Monocle’s Asia bureau chief asks if combining the North and South Korean women’s hockey team is something to be celebrated or just a sacrifice for political gain. The full episode of The Foreign Desk is back on Saturday – this…
Fighting season
In spring, as the weather heats up in Afghanistan, so does the fighting. In a country that has been home to foreign forces and UN troops for more than 16 years, it’s a time to assess how far the country has come since the US invaded back in 2001. How…
Explainer 100: How should we speak of the unspeakable?
Poland’s government wants to extend its laws against Holocaust denial to include suggestions of Polish complicity. Andrew Mueller asks if this will really prompt constructive discussion? The full episode of ‘The Foreign Desk’ is back on Saturday – this week we’re assessing the US’s 16-year military involvement in Afghanistan. Be…
Citizenship for sale
Andrew Mueller looks at the theory and practice of buying and selling passports: how it works, who does it, whether we should be worried about it and how it might change our ideas of what nationality means. Andrew is joined by joined by [Atossa Araxia Abrahamian](https://www.amazon.com/Cosmopolites-Coming-Citizen-Columbia-Reports/dp/099097636X), Julia Rushchenko and Sandeep…
Explainer 99: Call it a day?
As we approach Australia Day, large numbers of Australians are wondering what exactly there is to celebrate on 26 January. The full episode of The Foreign Desk is back on Saturday – be sure to subscribe to get each new episode.
