The Great British Foreign Affairs Podcast Anna-Joy Rickard

In this episode I chat to Hannah Methven, a sustainability specialist at Explore, the adventure travel company, about falling in love again with train travel. The episode is packed full of inspiration, tricks and tips for exploring the world by train.

In this episode I discuss Argentina with Emmanuel Artusa-Barrell, an Argentinian living in London. Manu has a background in political risk management and is a former advisor to embassies in Argentina and the UK.

Summary

Emmanuel Artusa-Barrell discusses Argentina's food, culture, and geography, highlighting its melting pot of communities who immigrated from Europe and its diverse wildlife. He also explains Argentina's place in Latin America and the recent political upset in the country. The conversation delves into the economic challenges Argentina has faced, including the 2001 crash and cyclical crises. The resilience and adaptability of the Argentine people is explored, as well as the country's role in the changing geopolitical landscape. The conversation continues with a discussion on the legacy of the military dictatorship and the importance of defending human and civil liberties. This conversation explores the historical and current relationship between Argentina and the UK, covering the Falklands/ Malvinas War, and the opportunities for collaboration between the two countries. It also discusses the UK's approach to Latin America, and gains Emmanuel’s insights, as an Argentinian living in London, about the role of the UK in the world.

Takeaways


Argentina is a diverse country with a rich culture, delicious food, and stunning geography.
The country has a history of political and economic challenges, including cyclical crises and a recent political upset.
The Argentine people have shown resilience and adaptability in the face of economic hardships.
Argentina's role in the changing geopolitical landscape and its relationships with other countries is evolving.
The legacy of the military dictatorship still influences the country's consciousness, and the defense of human and civil liberties remains important. The Mothers and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo played a significant role in Argentina's history, searching for their missing loved ones and advocating for human rights.
The Falklands/Malvinas War was a tragic event that still has emotional significance for both Argentina and the UK. While there are differing opinions on the sovereignty of the islands, both sides recognize the need for dialogue and friendship.
There are numerous opportunities for collaboration between Argentina and the UK, including trade, investment, and resource-sharing. Both countries have valuable resources and expertise that can benefit each other.
The UK should pay attention to Latin America and strengthen its relationships in the region. Latin America offers stability, educated populations, and economic opportunities.
The UK has significant strengths, including soft power, economic and military strength, and historical ties. However, it needs to use its power strategically and learn from past mistakes to navigate the changing world effectively.

In this episode I talk to Emma Ruiters, an economist from South Africa, and we hear about the elections this year, how South Africa’s history shapes the country it is today and about the role it is playing on the world stage

In this episode I’m welcoming back author and Reuters foreign affairs columnist, Peter Apps to talk about his new book 'Deterring Armageddon: A biography of NATO'. On the second year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and with a potential return of Trump to the White House this year, it is all eyes on NATO. Here we discuss its history, stories and lessons alongside its current debates and concerns, including what they mean for the UK military.

This podcast episode is Part Two of my conversation with David Lawrence. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode on China yet, that’s definitely one to listen to! Here in this episode we discuss the geopolitics of artificial intelligence drawing on his work at Chatham House and wider thought leadership on this issue.

In this episode I talk to David Lawrence about China, drawing on his professional work at Chatham House but also his experience growing up as a child there. This is part 1 of our conversation and in Part 2 - coming up in our next podcast episode - we focus on an equally meaty topic of the geopolitics of AI, so look out for that one too.