Britain Debrief with Ben Judah: Recent Episodes
Ben Judah
Britain Debrief is a new series of short interviews on Britain in the world brought to you by Ben Judah, a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, in Washington DC. Every week Ben interviews a leading politician, thinker or analyst to work out Britain's place post-Brexit from all sides of the political field.
Can Europe catch up in the EV race?
As the EU works to implement its new green industrial strategy, I spoke with Elettra Ardissino, Senior Europe Analyst at Greenmantle, to discuss how China’s dramatic surge in electric vehicle production is reshaping world markets.
How is electrification changing the global car market? How did EU policies accidentally encourage more China-based EV manufacturing? Should Europe lower its targets for domestic manufacture of key green goods?
Thumbnail image is a modified version of a photo originally created by Julian Herzog, available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Car2Go_Charging_Station_Stuttgart_2013_01.jpg.
Does Europe end or fade away?
Following the release of his book Homelands: A Personal History of Europe, I spoke with Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies in the University of Oxford, on his European journey, the limits of Europe, and the place of Britain, Russia and Ukraine.
Is migration changing the very essence of Europe? Could the European Union become the tool of right-wing populists? Is it possible for Britain to rejoin the European Union under a future Labour government?
The thumbnail was modified from a picture taken by Sue Ream. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BerlinWall-BrandenburgGate.jpg
Are we thinking about climate breakdown in the wrong way?
As we face the concurrent threats of pandemics, climate change, and other existential threats, I spoke with Dougald Hine, author of "At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Place in the Time of Science, Climate Change, Pandemics and All Other Emergencies," to discuss how perceptions are changing in response to these challenges.
Did we become overly reliant on a science-based solutionist paradigm to conceptualise these crises? Is modernity itself in crisis? Are local activist groups like Extinction Rebellion able to take the lead on climate mitigation?
The thumbnail was modified from a picture taken by David Holt available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:London_November_23_2018_(19)_Extinction_Rebellion_Protest_Tower_Hill.jpg
What does it now mean to call yourself European?
Who makes up this population of some 750 million, sprawled from Ireland to Ukraine, from Sweden to Turkey? Who has always called it home, and who has newly arrived from elsewhere? Who are the people who drive our long-distance lorries, steward our criss-crossing planes, lovingly craft our legacy wines, fish our depleted waters, and risk life itself in search of safety and a new start? In a series of vivid, ambitious, darkly visceral but always empathetic portraits of other people’s lives, journalist Ben Judah invites us to meet them. Drawn from hours of painstaking interviews, these vital stories reveal a frenetic and vibrant continent which has been transformed by diversity, migration, the internet, climate change, Covid, war and the quest for freedom. Laid dramatically bare, it may not always be a Europe we recognize – but this is Europe. REVIEWS: "Imagine Ballard and Houellebecq teaming up on a Grand Tour, and you will have some idea of just how vivid, urgent and unsettling this superbly written book is." ― Tom Holland "Thrilling, first-hand tales that explore the danger and ambitions of life in Europe." ― The Financial Times "Unflinching . . . a powerful piece of reportage." ― The Guardian "Makes you expand the boundaries of your sympathies and your understanding. It’s an astonishing achievement." ― Evening Standard "An extraordinary series of interviews" ― Rory Stewart ― The Rest Is Politics "Brilliantly vivid." ― Daily Mail "Illuminating . . . a bold literary and journalistic experiment. Judah knows how to tell a story and does so with panache." ― The Spectator "Superb . . . a compelling read." ― The New European "A hallucinatory tour de force . . . life affirming." ― The Jewish Chronicle "Brilliantly told . . . highly readable" ― The Times "Such an ambitious project it automatically deserves applause . . . reminds us that below every system and conflict there are human beings." ― Irish Times "A singular journalistic achievement." ― The Fence
What kind of diplomat is Rishi Sunak? Following Sunak’s first visit to DC since becoming PM, I spoke with Lucy Fisher, the Whitehall Editor of the Financial Times, on the biggest takeaways from Sunak’s first visit to DC and what it means for him domestically.
How does Sunak’s diplomacy differ from that of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss? Have Sunak’s diplomatic successes, like the Windsor Framework, impacted his popularity at home? Is a visit to DC as important for Britain as it is for other European countries?
Will Charles III be a radical king? As his coronation ceremony approaches, I spoke with Will Lloyd, Commissioning Editor and Writer at the New Statesman, to discuss his recent cover article about the King’s views and his relationship with the UK public at large.
Is Charles a modernizing figure for the monarchy? Why have Charles III’s philanthropic ventures gone largely unnoticed? Is it fair to say that Charles III even likes Britain?
Thumbnail modified from a photo taken by fergusburnett.com. Original available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/foreignoffice/52368400337.
Is the Windsor Framework a game-changer for UK-EU relations?
Following the announcement of the Windsor Framework by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, I spoke with Simon Hoare MP, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Committee in the UK Parliament, on how the Framework will impact UK-EU relations and the future of unionism.
How will the Stormont Brake operate as a part of the Framework? How likely is it for the UK parliament to pass it? Will Northern Ireland's political status within the union change due to the Framework?
How does Europe act in the world?
The European Union is an evolving actor on the world stage and now being reshaped by Russia’s war in Ukraine. To get a sense of how, I spoke with Baroness Catherine Ashton, the bloc’s first and former high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and Slater Family Distinguished Fellow at the Wilson Center about her new book And Then What? Stories Of 21st Century Diplomacy.
Has the Commission become stronger relative to EU member states since she took office? Where is EU foreign policy headed? Did Brussels miss the long-term warning signs of war in Ukraine?
What are the geopolitics of the EU's trade?
Following Sweden's assumption of the EU Council Presidency, I spoke with Dr. Cecilia Malmström, who served as the European Commissioner for Trade and Home Affairs and Sweden's Minister for EU affairs, on the EU's geopolitics of European trade. Dr. Malmström is currently a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute.
How has the EU Commission grown stronger during and since Malmström's tenure as commissioner? How will Biden's Inflation Reduction Act impact the EU? What is the future of EU-China trade relations? What are the risks for global trade if the WTO order breaks down?
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How will Ukraine, Putin, Xi and closer to home Silicon Valley and Ron DeSantis shape the future of liberal democracy?
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches its first anniversary, I spoke with Dr. Frank Fukuyama, author of the End of History and the Last Man and the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies of Stanford University, about what these all mean for the future of liberal democracy.
How has technology like AI impacted democracies? Will the Republican Party's popularity recover under a potential DeSantis administration? Can Western liberal democracies face foreign authoritarian threats like those presented by Xi Jinping's China and Vladimir Putin's Russia?
What future for Ukraine in Europe?
Ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,I spoke with Europe Center Distinguished Fellow Gérard Araud on the relationship between the EU and Ukraine for a special Debrief.
What role will there be for the European Political Community in Ukraine's plan to join the European Union? How would existing EU policies, particularly those in agriculture, be impacted by Ukraine's accession? Can we expect Ukraine's accession to the EU anytime soon? Who is opposed to Ukraine's accession?
How grave is Britain's stagnation?
As Britain faces a historical rupture from its historical trend with flatlining productivity growth, I spoke with Professor Adam Tooze, Director of the European Institute and Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History at Columbia University on how this crisis looks from a historical perspective.
Why does the economic data suggest this is more serious than previous moments of feared decline? How does this stagnation compare to previous instances in the 1930s and 1970s? What impact has Brexit had on this trend? Would a Labour government under Keir Starmer be able to turn this around?
How does the Western price cap on oil work?
As the G7 and European Union implement their new restrictions on Russian oil and gas exports, I spoke with Eddie Fishman, Senior Policy Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University for #BritainDebrief, to discuss the price cap.
Has the price cap already had an impact on Russian oil exports at this early stage? Is the price cap a new tool of economic statecraft? And can the price cap be used in a way to accelerate ongoing efforts to improve renewable energy infrastructure?
How do historians view the long road to war in Ukraine?
As Russian state channels claim that Vladimir Putin’s invasion is meant to right historical wrongs from the end of the Cold War, I spoke with Dr. Mary Elise Sarotte, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Distinguished Professor of Historical Studies at Johns Hopkins University SAIS, about the historical turning points that led to the war in Ukraine.
How did decisions in Moscow close down alternatives to NATO expansion? What consequences did the alliance’s expansion have on European security? Why has Ukraine become such a flashpoint?
Is Britain's government broken?
As Liz Truss's new government continues to struggle with economic policy and sinking poll numbers, I spoke to Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor at the Sunday Times, on how Britain got to this point.'
Why did Liz Truss insist on maintaining unpopular economic policies despite rising popular resentment? Is Labour benefitting from the fall in popularity of Truss's government? Does Truss retain support among the Conservative party base?
What was the Queen’s diplomacy?
As the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II draws to a close, I spoke with Professor Philip Murray, Director of History and Policy at the Institute for Historical Research, to discuss the legacy she leaves behind.
What role did the Queen play in the end of the British Empire? How did the Queen's involvement shape the Commonwealth of Nations? What can we expect from King Charles III and his relationship with the Commonwealth?
What was the Queen’s diplomacy?
As the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II draws to a close, I spoke with Professor Philip Murray, Director of History and Policy at the Institute for Historical Research, to discuss the legacy she leaves behind.
What role did the Queen play in the end of the British Empire? How did the Queen's involvement shape the Commonwealth of Nations? What can we expect from King Charles III and his relationship with the Commonwealth?
What did Gorbachev believe?
Following Gorbachev's passing, I spoke with Vladislav Zubok, Professor of International History at LSE and author of Collapse, on how Gorbachev saw Lenin, Europe and Ukraine.
Did Gorbachev look to Lenin for inspiration? Was the Soviet collapse inevitable because Gorbachev was simply too naïve about economic management? What did Gorbachev feel about Ukraine and Putin’s foreign policy towards Kyiv?
What did Gorbachev believe?
Following Gorbachev's passing, I spoke with Vladislav Zubok, Professor of International History at LSE and author of Collapse, on how Gorbachev saw Lenin, Europe and Ukraine.
Did Gorbachev look to Lenin for inspiration? Was the Soviet collapse inevitable because Gorbachev was simply too naïve about economic management? What did Gorbachev feel about Ukraine and Putin’s foreign policy towards Kyiv?
What are the origins of Europe’s energy crisis?
As concerns continue to grow over Europe's capacity to endure a winter with less Russian natural gas, I spoke with Dr. Helen Thompson, Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University, on Europe’s energy, climate and geopolitical reckoning.
What are the historical origins of Europe’s predicament? Is the current crisis only caused by war in Ukraine? Why have Western Europe politicians become more "energy illiterate" when describing policy objectives? Is this a geopolitical and climate-related reckoning for Europe, in addition to it being an energy security-related reckoning?
What future for the Scottish Lib Dems?
As Nicola Sturgeon recently declared her intention to hold a second independence referendum without Westminster's consent, I spoke with Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, to discuss the future of the union.
Can the Scottish Lib Dems benefit from the recent wins that their English counterparts have had lately? How will the Scottish Lib Dems tailor their electoral strategy under a Truss premiership?
What future for Hong Kong?
As the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong is marked by the ascension of John Lee to the position of Chief Executive, I interviewed Nathan Law, a Hong Kong democracy activist currently in exile in London.
Was the current repression in Hong Kong inevitable under the Chinese Communist Party, or under Xi? How have Britain and the United States aid in the plight of Hong Kong against this repression? How has the UK’s visa offer to the majority of the population benefited Hong Kongers' attempts to flee the territory?
What does the Tory leadership contest say about race in Britain?
The candidacies of Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Suella Braverman, and Kemi Badenoch for the leadership of the UK Conservative Party (and the UK premiership by extension) have demonstrated the potential for ethnic minority politicians to break "the glass ceiling" of political leadership. To understand these dynamics further, I spoke with Tomiwa Owolade, contributing writer to the New Statesman magazine, on how the political advancement of ethnic minority politicians reflects on British society at large.
Are American ideological frames on race misapplied to British realities? Why is a party of social conservatism open to the possibility of an ethnic minority leader? Will there be an ethnic minority prime minister in the near future?
As Boris Johnson announces his resignation from the premiership, the question on everyone's mind is: now what? To get to the potential outcomes of Johnson's departure from No 10, I interviewed Tom McTague, Staff Writer at The Atlantic, to discuss what to watch out for in both the Conservative Party and British politics in the near future.
Who are the frontrunners to replace Johnson? Will the Conservative party retain its Johnsonian inertia? Will Labour benefit from dysfunction in the Conservative party? What does it say about Britain and its post-Brexit trajectory?
Is this a new 1914?
As Western alliances have broadened and deepened, with quasi alliances like that with Ukraine and Taiwan proliferating, I interview Dr. Bruno Tertrais, Deputy Director of the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris, on his new paper for the Atlantic Council on whether there is a risk or a new 1914.
How are alliances different today than at the outbreak of the First World War? Are alliances heightening or reducing the risk of war?
What future for Australian foreign policy under the Albanese government?
As the Albanese government approaches its first month in office, I interviewed Hervé Lemahieu, Director of Research at the Lowy Institute, Susannah Patton, Research Fellow and Project Director, Power and Diplomacy Program at the Lowy Institute, and Ashley Townshend, Senior Fellow at the Asia Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss how Australian foreign policy may evolve under the Albanese government.
Are there major divergences between the Coalition and Labor party on Australian foreign policy? Will AUKUS remain an important factor in Australia's regional strength in the Indo-Pacific? Will Australia deepen its cooperation with France in the Indo-Pacific now that the fallout from AUKUS has settled? How is Australia working to counter-balance growing Chinese influence in the region? Does Australia view China as a potential aggressor against Taiwan following the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
What is Britain trying to achieve with the Northern Ireland protocol?
As the EU launches a legal challenge to Britain for alleged violations of post-Brexit trade agreements, I spoke with the Rt. Hon. Conor Burns, Minister of State for Northern Ireland, on what Britain's goals are in renegotiating the Northern Ireland protocol.
Is Britain breaking international law over the Northern Ireland protocol? Is there popular support for the Northern Ireland protocol in Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom?
What future for the United States and Northern Ireland? As the US Congressional delegation to Northern Ireland works to end the ongoing political crisis in Stormont, I spoke with US Representative Brendan Boyle to discuss what the United States can do in a mediator role between the Unionists and Irish Nationalists and also what future exists for Irish unification.
What has the United States done historically in relation to lowering tensions in Northern Ireland? What can the United States do to assuage the worries of unionists who feel threatened by Irish nationalism?
What future for Finland in NATO? As Finland continues its accession process into NATO, I interview Satu Hassi, Chair of the Grand Committee in the Finnish Parliament, to discuss Finland's new security position.
What role is the UK's new security pact with Finland playing in its accession to NATO? How is Turkey's opposition to Finland's accession impacting the rest of NATO?
What future for Northern Ireland?
As Stormont remains paralyzed by the Democratic Unionist Party's refusal to nominate a new speaker, I spoke with Kellie Armstrong, Alliance MLA for Strangford, to discuss how the crisis may be defused.
How has Northern Irish society changed since the Troubles? Is a more liberal Northern Ireland emerging?
Which Western leaders have done enough for Ukraine? As international support for Ukraine remains steady in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, I interviewed Kira Rudik, member of the Ukrainian Parliament and leader of the Voice Party, about which of Ukraine's allies have helped the most.
Why does Ukraine view British Prime Minister Boris Johnson so positively? Why isn't US President Joe Biden viewed as favourably in Ukraine despite consistent US military aid to Ukraine? How does Ukraine view French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz?
Are sanctions on Russia working?As the chances of Europe imposing a full oil and gas embargo on Russia are becoming increasingly likely, I interviewed Ambassador Daniel Fried, former US Coordinator for Sanctions Policy (2013-2017) for #BritainDebrief on how sanctions on Russia are impacting the Kremlin’s war chest, the Russian economy and third countries.How unprecedented is targeting the Russian central bank? What is the long view on Russia sanctions?
What's at stake in France's Presidential Election? As French President Emmanuel Macron maintains a lead ahead of his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen, I interview Ambassador Gérard Araud, former French Ambassador to the US, for #BritainDebrief to discuss how this election will impact France.
What is France's role in NATO? What will happen to the European Union and France-Russia relations if Le Pen wins the election?
What world order comes after Ukraine? As military aid to Ukraine increases from NATO and major US allies, I interviewed Patrick Porter, Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for #BritainDebrief to learn more about how modern alliances will change following the Russia's invasion.
What will happen to Ukraine's neutrality? What dense web of complexity exists for alliances and sub-alliances in global security?
What's the Future of Russia and its War? As the Russian invasion of Ukraine settles into a costly stalemate for the Russian military, I interview Dmitri Alperovitch, Chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator think tank and the Co-Founder of Crowdstrike, to learn more about under what circumstances Russia would retreat from Ukraine.
How will the Russian political system change in response to a retreat? Would Putin's rule be threatened by a tactical defeat in Ukraine?
Can the West Airlift Ukrainian Refugees to Safety? With estimates of up to 3.5 million refugees flooding out of Ukraine following the Russian military's invasion, I interviewed Gerald Knaus, Chair of the European Stability Initiative, on the feasibility of an airlift of Ukrainian refugees from Poland, Hungary, and Moldova to other parts of Europe and the United States to enable burden sharing.
How many refugees will need to be airlifted by the end of the month? How will the Ukrainian refugee crisis look in 6 months?
How can Britain fix its corruption problem?
With the passing of the Economic Crime Bill in the UK, I interview Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax, to discuss what Britain's next steps are in tackling Russian corruption overseas.
What exactly does the Economic Crime Bill do? What reforms are needed for British law enforcement to go after economic crime?
How will the war in Ukraine end? As the Russian military advance continues to stall, I interviewed Rob Lee, FPRI Senior Fellow, for today's #BritainDebrief.
How have lethal British military aid, like anti-tank MLAWs, performed so far? Can Ukraine continue to hold out against Russia? How real is the threat of Russian chemical weapon attacks in Ukraine?
Can decarbonization disarm Putin’s war machine?
As European countries have reluctantly started to announce programs to be less reliant on Russian oil and gas, I interviewed Laurie Laybourn, Visiting Fellow at the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator for today's #BritainDebrief.
What have the UK and Europe announced so far in addressing their reliance on Russian oil and gas? How can the UK and Europe face the new "petro-aggression" from Russia? What long-term steps must be taken in encouraging sustainability to prevent more petro-aggression in the future?
What impact are British and allied sanctions having on Russia?
As Britain joins the global anti-invasion coalition to take increasingly assertive economic actions against Russia, Ben Judah interviews Dr. Maria Shagina, visiting fellow at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs' Center on US Politics and Power, for today's #BritainDebrief. How has British sanctions policy on Russia looked since Brexit? What new leverage can Britain and its allies apply against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine?
Is this economic war with Russia? As a newly-formed anti-invasion coalition forms in the international community and takes increasingly severe economic actions against Russia, I interviewed Edward Fishman, former Russia and Europe Lead in the State Department’s Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation, for today's #BritainDebrief.
What's the strategic thinking behind these heavy sanctions against the Russian central bank? Do the sanctions prevent Russia from continuing the invasion?
What can we do to help Ukraine? As Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I spoke with Tom Tugendhat, MP, Chair of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee, on what Britain and its allies can do for a special emergency #BritainDebrief.
Is this a major turning point in European history? What does Tugendhat think of Boris Johnson's new sanctions package on Russia? Will the capital fall to the Russian onslaught, and if yes, what happens next?
How is Western intelligence responding to the Ukraine crisis? Given the unprecedented interventions British and American intelligence agencies have regularly made throughout the crisis in Ukraine, I interviewed Sir John Sawers, former Chief of MI6, for this week’s #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
Why are Western intelligence agencies making such stark interventions? Is the risk of a full scale invasion exaggerated? Is Putin aiming to manipulate NATO without actually invading?
How have Germany-Russia relations changed since Angela Merkel's departure?
As concerns about Germany’s support for Ukraine continue to rise, especially in Britain, I interviewed Mathieu von Rohr, the foreign editor of Der Spiegel, for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
What does Chancellor Olaf Scholz want to change in Germany's relations with Russia, and does that match with what the SPD wants? How is Britain coordinating with Germany in aiding Ukraine?
If Russia invades Ukraine, what about the refugees?
As last minute negotiations between NATO and Russia continue, I interviewed Gerald Knaus, founding chairman of the European Stability Initiative, for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
If Russia invades, is it possible to predict how large the refugee wave may be? Can Germany and Poland handle a potential wave? How would Ukraine's existing 90-day visa free travel arrangement with the EU but not the UK impact a potential refugee crisis? How can London help?
What is going in Kyiv, and will there be war in Europe? As the crisis at the Ukrainian border continues to grow, I interviewed Tom Tugendhat, MP, Chairman of the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee, for this week's #BritanDebrief for the Atlantic Council. What role is the UK playing in this crisis? Is the UK playing enough of a role in supporting Ukraine? What warning does Tom Tugendhat, MP, have for the United States if it does not support Ukraine? If Russia invades, what will happen in Ukraine, Europe, and the rest of the world?
What should the UK Labour Party's policy towards the European Union be if it returns to power?
As polls continue to show a potential lead for Labour, I interviewed Luke Cooper, an LSE Associate Researcher, convenor of the Another Europe campaign, and author of the new book Authoritarian Contagion; The Global Threat to Democracy, for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
How has Labour Leader Keir Starmer's views on Brexit changed? What is the debate on Brexit in the Labour party? What Brexit priorities does Labour need to balance for its platform?
Why should the UK consider corruption a national security threat?
With an epidemic of fraud hitting the UK during the pandemic, and corruption a matter of daily concern in Westminster, I interviewed Helena Wood, a Senior Fellow at RUSI's Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
How does fraud fall within the "crime–terror continuum"? What is Britain currently doing to address illicit finance more effectively? What does the UK government need to do to address corruption in Britain?
What is Macron's grand strategy?
As the 2022 French presidential election approaches, I interviewed Michel Duclos, Special Advisor for Geopolitics at the Institut Montaigne and former French Ambassador to Syria and Switzerland, for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council. The interview draws on his new book "France in Global Upheaval."
How is Macron a reaction to his predecessors? How has Macron approached the neo-authoritarians? Has their been a militarization of French foreign policy? How successful has Macron been on pushing for European strategic autonomy? How does Macron view Britain and the United States?
What can Britain do if Russia invades Ukraine?
As a major war scare between Russian and Ukraine develops, I interviewed Dr. Maryna Vorotnyuk, a Russia and Eurasia Research Fellow at RUSI for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
What does this crisis between Russia and Ukraine mean for Britain? What security relationship has Britain had with Ukraine since 2014?
Can Britain and France get on?
How does the French establishment feel about UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson? Which of France's main foreign policy objectives currently match those of the UK? Does Brexit still cast a shadow of UK-European relations?
To get a broader perspective, I interviewed Georgina Wright, a Senior Fellow and Director of the Paris-based Institut Montaigne's Europe Center for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
Why did Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron's relationship deteriorate so much? Could track II negotiations between the UK and France be the first step in mending their relations?
What is Britain’s place in a populist age?
Is Anglo-American democracy decaying? Has politics become over-personalized around populist leaders? What does this mean as war scares impact Eastern Europe?
To better understand the security implications of this, I spoke with Dr. Fiona Hill, a Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Brooking Institution and who served in the National Security Council of the Trump administration for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council. She is the author most recently of There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century, a memoir of her life and time in government.
How did serving in the Trump administration change her view of US politics? Has UK foreign policy become overly-personalized?
What does the Northern Ireland Protocol and the threat of the UK triggering Article 16 mean for Northern Ireland?
The United Kingdom is threatening to use Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which suspends the agreement either in part or as a whole, amid tough talks with Brussels. I wanted to understand what this meant for the different communities affected by it. To find out, I interviewed Matthew O'Toole, Member of the Northern Irish Assembly for South Belfast, who is the Social Democratic and Labour Party's Spokesperson on the Economy and Brexit for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
What does the protocol mean to the communities in Northern Ireland? How is the UK government impacting the region? What can be done to help moderate unionists support the continuation of the protocol?"
What does AUKUS mean for Britain?
The new pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States has grabbed headlines because of French disgruntlement over it triggering a cancelled a submarine deal. But what does the agreement mean for Britain? To find out I spoke to Dr. Euan Graham, Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Singapore for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
Why did Australia choose to push for it? How has it been received in the region? And is there a chance Britain will be disappointed?
Can anti-kleptocracy win in London?
Edward Lucas, a columnist at the Times, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) and formerly a senior editor at The Economist is one of Britain's best known critics of Russian kleptocrats and his enablers. Now he's making the jump into politics as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Cities of London and Westminster for the Liberal Democrats. I wanted to find out why he was standing for this week's #BritainDebrief from the Atlantic Council.
What needs to change to stop the City of London enabling kleptocracy? What platform is Lucas standing on? And what are his chances?
Did corruption lose the war in Afghanistan?
In the aftermath of the humiliating collapse of the Afghan government, I wanted to find out for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council why that government collapsed like a house of cards. I interviewed Sarah Chayes, who served for a decade in Afghanistan including as special assistant on corruption to Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as having advised David McKiernan and Stanley McChrystal, commanders of the International Security Assistant Force.
Was the Afghan government a vertically integrated criminal enterprise? Why did Washington turn a blind eye to corruption? What could the US and the UK have been done differently? And is America in danger of succumbing to its own corruption?
What went wrong for the British Army?
On the eve of twenty years since 9/11, I wanted to find out what went wrong in Iraq and Afghanistan for what used to call itself "the best little army in the world." To find out I spoke to Simon Akam for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic, the author of the recently published "The Changing Of the Guard: The British Army since 9/11."
Why did the British lose control of Basra and then Helmand? How has a culture of no resignation unaccountability taken hold at the top? And why have former military politicians and public figures reacted so vociferously to Biden ending a war the British lost on the ground?
What does the collapse of American Afghanistan mean for Britain? As horrific scenes unfold at Kabul airport with the Taliban now in control of Kabul, I wanted to find out what this means for Afghanistan, American credibility and British foreign policy for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council so I spoke Tom Tugendhat, MP, chair of the UK Parliament's foreign affairs select committee. What does this expose about British weakness and dependence? How has Boris Johnson's government handled the situation? What has this done for American geopolitical standing? And what can the UK now do about refugees?
What is the mood in Kabul?
After the fall of Herat, much of the north and the Taliban's occupation of Kabul and Kandahar seen to be only a matter of time, I wanted to find out for a special edition of #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council what this means and what this reveals about British and European diplomacy. To find out IO spoke to Bruno Macaes the author of most recently "Geopolitics for the End Times: From The Pandemic To The Climate Crisis" and the former Portuguse Secretary of State for European Affairs.
Is the fall of Kabul the real end of American hegemony? Has it exposed European states weakness and dependency? And what does it expose about the viability of projects of nation building, development and aid so central for twenty years to our foreign policies?
Is Biden making a terrible mistake in Afghanistan?
With the United States withdrawing and cities falling to the Taliban in Afghanistan, I wanted to found out for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council what Rory Stewart, former MP and Secretary of State for International Development thought about the crisis.
What does the Taliban takeover mean for Afghanistan? What does it mean for Britain and other NATO allies? And is the United States making a terrible mistake? Stewart, a former resident of Kabul where he pioneered the work of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, who vocally opposed the Obama-era "surge" in Afghanistan, thinks yes.
Have American culture wars come to Britain?
For the second in a series for #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council asking foreign correspondents based in the UK about the country's predicament, I spoke to Yasmeen Serhan, a London-based Staff Writer at The Atlantic. Yasmeen is the author of a recently acclaimed piece "What Euro 2020 has revealed about Englishness" and covers populism and nationalism.
Are US-style culture wars changing Britain? Does US media impose a narrative on the UK? How are issues of race and identity similar but different on both sides of the Atlantic. And what's the right word for the Special Relationship between both countries, given Boris Johnson reportedly doesn't like the term?
A Foreign Correspondent's View: Is British democracy at risk?
In the first of a new series interviewing foreign correspondents based in Britain on their views on the country's predicament, I spoke to Annette Dittert, Senior Correspondent and Bureau Chief of Germany's ARD, who is the author of a viral piece published in English in the New Statesman "The Politics of Lies" on covering what she sees as an erosion of the rule of law.
Is the situation similar to that of Poland and Hungary a decade ago? What makes Johnson's " the politics of lies"? And how does this shape Britain's image in Germany and Europe more widely?
Britain vs. Disinformation: a crisis or an exaggeration?
From vaccines and Brexit to foreign ops, the subject of disinformation and how to handle it is constantly invoked in the UK debate. But how much of the threat is this really? To find out I spoke to David Patrikarakos, journalist and author of "War in 140 Characters: How Social Media is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century" for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
What has the UK done right? And what is the UK doing wrong faced with this problem? And is the issue really the content?
How the England Team look from Europe?
With England in the finals of UEFA Euro 2020 this weekend I wanted to find out how Gareth Southgate's team and all the feelings and questions about national identity accompanying them look from Europe. To find out for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council, I spoke to Benjamin Haddad, Director of the Europe Centre at the Atlantic Council.
What do the cheers for England, not Britain, look like from the EU? How does Britain's identity issues around football, from taking the knee, to a boycotting MP look from the continent? How does this compare to France's great footballing moments, where the national team has been seen as the carrier of great multicultural hopes and the subject of very bitter controversies?
And is it ever just football?
What does a new Sino-American cold war mean for Britain?
As discussion mounts in Washington DC of a new cold war between China and the United States, I wanted to work out if this was really the case and what it means for Britain. To find out for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council, I spoke to author and China expert James Palmer, deputy editor of Foreign Policy magazine.
What future for Asia with Quad geopolitics? What should Britain be doing in the Indo-Pacific? Can Britain stop itself being sucked into a new cold war?
How did Britain fare in Biden's summitry?
After the G7, NATO and US-EU summits launching Biden's high-level engagement with Europe I wanted to find out how the UK had fared for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council. To find out I spoke to Julia Friedlander, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, deputy director of our GeoEconomics Centre and formerly a CIA analyst and Director for the European Union, Southern Europe and Economic Affairs at the National Security Council.
Was the G7 a success? How did the UK fare as host? What kind of world order is emerging from these summits and is it favorable to London?
Is Britain acting globally important for Biden's foreign policy?
For today's G7 Special of #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council I wanted to find out whether or not America actually needs a Global Britain? To answer the question I spoke to Emily Tamkin, US Editor of the New Statesman, based in Washington DC.
Why does America need allies? Does America have any healthy alliances? What cost would an Britain that gave up global ambitions have on the US?
How does the British army see a climate change world?
With a growing debate about climate crisis globally how does the British army see this? To find out I spoke to General Richard Nugee of the Ministry of Defence for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
What national security crises are we likely to see facing Britain? How can the British army adapt and plan for a more chaotic climate? What aspects of naval technology and army equipment face breakdown in a hotter world? And what is its role in cutting emissions?
How can Britain support Biden's war on kleptocracy?
After a dramatic announcement in Washington kicking off Joe Biden's war on international kleptocracy, what can Britain do to support that battle? For this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council, I spoke to Nate Sibley from the Hudson Institute's Kleptocracy Initiative to find out.
What is the state of play of America's campaign on corruption? What is the situation in the United Kingdom? What could both powers do together at the upcoming G7 and at the planned Summit For Democracy? What would a truly ambitious and effective Special Relationship committed to fighting illicit finance look like?
How has UK engagement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict changed since Tony Blair's premiership?
It it an arc of decreasing relevance and investment? To find out I spoke to John Lyndon, Executive Director at the Alliance for Middle East Peace about Britain's assets and changing approach.
How did the Brown, Cameron, May and now Johnson governments approach the issue? Are there any lessons that can be drawn from peace-building in Northern Ireland?
How would Scottish independence impact the UK as a global actor?
With the Scottish National Party and the Greens having won a pro-independence majority in Edinburgh the question of a renewed independence referendum is back on the table. But what impact would this have on UK foreign policy? To find out I spoke to Emma Ashford, Senior Fellow at the Scowcroft Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington DC and a columnist at Foreign Policy.
What would it mean for Trident? For Britain's relationship with the United States? And for the overall Atlantic alliance?
Can Britain help Alexey Navalny?
With the UK acting as a major platform for the wealth of the Kremlin elite can Britain help the jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny? Is it in its interests to do so? And what might it do? To answer this questions I spoke to Vladimir Ashurkov, one the Navalny's closest allies and the director of his organization, the Anticorruption Foundation.
What anticorruption measures could the UK be taking? How can Britain stay as open as possible while clamping down on illicit wealth?
How serious is Britain as a climate actor?
With the UK hosting COP-26 in Glasgow later this year and promoting a new round of climate diplomacy how serious is the UK as a carbon actor? To find out I spoke to Tim Sahay of the Green New Deal Network.
What is the big picture of the UK as a carbon actor? What is London's contribution? Are Britain's biggest oil companies really going to change?
How has Ireland shaped Washington's approach to Britain?
How has the US-UK relationship been shaped by Ireland, both before and after Brexit? And what role will American investment in the Good Friday Agreement have in shaping its future? To answer these questions and more I spoke to Tom Wright, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, for this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council.
How will the UK, Ireland, American triangle shape the UK, EU, US triangle more broadly in the years ahead?
What future for Britain and Germany?
Are Britain and Germany doomed to be good neighbors but not good friends? Is Britain's image in crisis in Germany? And how can London reboot its relationship with Berlin? To find out the answers to this and more I spoke to Sophia Besch, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform, in Berlin, and a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, in Washington DC.
Will Britain emerge, as Angela Merkel suggested, as a "potential competitor" to Germany or are their ways to avoid this?
What would Scottish foreign policy be?
With a new referendum a very serious possibility I wanted to find out what the foreign policy of an independent Scotland would like.
I spoke to Alyn Smith MP, the SNP shadow foreign secretary and Stewart McDonald MP, the SNP defence spokesman and member of the Foreign Affairs select committee.
What would an independent Edinburgh's policy be towards the EU, NATO, the United States and the remains of the UK?
How can Britain get Asia right?
What does the UK look like as an actor from Singapore? What would the right policy mix be for Britain in Asia? To answer these questions and more I spoke to James Crabtree, the new Executive Director of IISS-Asia, based in Singapore. How is the evolution of China as a power shaping attitudes towards postcolonial states like Britain in the region? Where is Britain absent in the region where it could be more involved? And what are the risks?
What are Europe's geopolitics after Brexit?
How has the balance of power between countries and between institutions been changed by Britain's departure? To find out I spoke to the historian and political philosopher Luuk Van Middelaar, the former adviser to the first full time President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy.
After Britain, and with the United States now competing with China, is the EU becoming a Eurasian power?
How does India see Britain's ambitions to play a role in the Indo-Pacific?
To find out I spoke to Tanvi Madan, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of "Fateful Triangle: How China Shaped U.S.-India relations in the Cold War." Does India expect Britain to play a greater role in the region? Is it desired? Could or should the UK join the Quad with India, Australia, Japan and the United States? How will the geopolitics of the region impact Britain?
For the Atlantic Council's #BritainDebrief I spoke to Torrey Taussig, Research Director at Harvard Kennedy School about why she is "bullish" on the special relationship when it comes to cooperation four key US strategic interests: Russia, China, climate change and COVID recovery.
What would a Labour take on the Special Relationship be?
For this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council I spoke to Catherine West MP, shadow minister for Europe and the Americas, on what the Labour Party would do about relations with the United States, Europe, Ireland, kleptocracy back in the UK and a the thorny question of a US-UK free trade deal.
How is Britain doing at the UN?
It was widely predicted that Britain would see its influence fade in international organizations post-Brexit. But is that actually happening?
For a a special issue of #BritainDebrief to mark the end of the UK's chairmanship of the UN Security Council I spoke to Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group about why he thinks Britain is doing better than expected in New York.
How has Brexit transformed the Tory party and how will historians view Brexit?
For this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council I spoke to Nick Timothy, former joint chief of staff to Prime Minister Theresa May and columnist at the Daily Telegraph, about what he sees as the realignment taking place in British politics, what Brexit taught him about Britain, how he thinks May's government will be remembered and what are the risks to Tory hegemony going forward.
What would a realist British foreign policy look like?
For this week's #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council I spoke to Patrick Porter, Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham, about the weakness of UK grand strategy, strategic sloganeering, the "two Boris Johnsons" in foreign policy and the dangers of seeking to be a "global" Britain.
This week the UK government launched it's long awaited Integrated Review.
In the first of two interviews for #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council on how the government's long awaited outline for Global Britain went down in DC, I spoke to Dr. Kori Schake, the director of foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute and a former State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council Official.
What does Washington think of the document? How does she rate Boris Johnson's foreign policy? What was missing from the Integrated Review? And what does the administration expect from future UK ties with the EU? Kori unpacked this and more for #BritainDebrief.
This week the UK government launched it's long awaited Integrated Review.
In the second of two interviews for #BritainDebrief for the Atlantic Council on how the government's long awaited outline for Global Britain went down in DC, I spoke to Damon Wilson, Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Council and a former National Security Council official.
What did Washington make of its "total strategy" approach? Has the Integrated Review put the Brexit debate behind us in Washington? What should Britain do now to demonstrate seriousness and intent? Damon laid out his view on the Integrated Review and post-Brexit Britain in the world for #BritainDebrief.
Where is Britain in its economic history?
How has the country risen or fallen in the hierarchy of states since the end of the Cold War? What economic and sociological megatrends have shaped the politics of Brexit? And what role has the Bank of England played shaping the country's recent political economy?
To answer these questions and more I spoke to Professor Adam Tooze of Columbia University, where he is director of the European Institute and author most recently of "Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World" for this week's #BritainDebrief.