The Foreign Desk

Monocle

​Presented by ​Andrew Mueller, Monocle’s flagship global-affairs show features​ expert guests ​and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Nominated for ‘Best Current Affairs’ show and the ‘Spotlight Award’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards. 

  • 6 minutes 3 seconds
    Explainer 444: Why are New Zealand’s Maori protesting? 

    Andrew Mueller explains the origin of the controversial bill New Zealand’s Maori are protesting against. 

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    20 November 2024, 5:47 pm
  • 41 minutes 12 seconds
    Trump’s doctrine: the sequel

    Following Trump’s first cabinet appointments, we consider what his second term might mean for tensions between international powers. Andrew Mueller speaks with Amy Mackinnon, national security reporter for ‘Foreign Policy’; John Herbst, former US ambassador to Ukraine; Stephen Young, former ambassador to China; and Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator.

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    16 November 2024, 2:11 pm
  • 7 minutes 30 seconds
    Explainer 443: The motives behind Equatorial Guinea’s sex scandal

    African social media has been awash with scandalous videos of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, head of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, filmed by the man himself, in his own office. Andrew Mueller explains the Shakespearian motives behind the leak and what it could mean for nation’s higher office. 

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    13 November 2024, 7:00 pm
  • 44 minutes 15 seconds
    Trump returns: what now?

    As the dust settles on what was a shocking election result for some, we ask how Trump’s decisive victory happened and what it means for the US and the world. Andrew Mueller speaks to ‘The Atlantic’ staff writer Tom Nichols, the US’s former deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, Heather Conley, and co-director of the UCL Centre on US Politics, Julie Norman. 

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    9 November 2024, 1:32 pm
  • 6 minutes 26 seconds
    Explainer 442: The election result making Europe breathe a sigh of relief

    While we take stock of what Trump’s victory means for the world, one country’s election result has had a more reassuring effect, at least for the EU. This week, Moldova reelected president Maia Sandu. Andrew Mueller explains what it means beyond the country’s borders and why it matters. 

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    6 November 2024, 6:14 pm
  • 45 minutes 43 seconds
    US election counterintuitives

    Trump the peacemaker, Obama the deporter, George W Bush the foreign aider. Ahead of the election, we interrogate the counterintuitive positions candidates have taken against their party’s (and their own) image, once in office. Why do so many US presidents campaign in one direction and govern in another? Andrew Mueller speaks with former USAID administrator Andrew Natsios. Plus: a roundtable with Leslie Vinjamuri of the US and the Americas programme at Chatham House and Charles Hecker of geopolitical risk consultancy, Control Risks. 

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    2 November 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 7 minutes 23 seconds
    Explainer 441: In celebration of Uruguay’s drama-free election

    As the US braces itself for next week’s anxiety-inducing vote and Georgians reel at their own controversial ballot result, Andrew Mueller explains why Uruguay has enjoyed a sublimely excitement-free election. 

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    30 October 2024, 6:30 pm
  • 40 minutes 46 seconds
    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 James D Brown. 

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    26 October 2024, 11:00 am
  • 6 minutes 36 seconds
    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.

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    23 October 2024, 5:31 pm
  • 38 minutes 53 seconds
    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 Brown.



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    19 October 2024, 11:00 am
  • 7 minutes 26 seconds
    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.

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    16 October 2024, 5:55 pm
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