Independent Thinking

Chatham House
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Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues. Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    As Ukraine peace talks stall, can Europe step up in its defence? Independent Thinking podcast

    Negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war do not appear to have made significant progress. In the meantime, the focus of US President Donald Trump's 'lighthouse diplomacy' appears to have switched to Iran. Chatham House analysts discuss the state of the talks, and whether Europe will step up to provide the weapons and military support that Ukraine needs. They also examine how the Russia-Ukraine conflict fits into the wider superpower competition between the US, Russia and China. Joining host Bronwen Maddox are Grégoire Roos, director of Chatham House's Europe, Russia and Eurasia programmes; Orysia Lutsevych, head of the Ukraine Forum; and Natalie Sabanadze, Senior Research Fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme.   This episode comes as we look ahead to two major upcoming Chatham House events: a conversation with General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, marking four years since Russia's full-scale invasion, and our annual Security and Defence conference. Both events are now fully booked for in-person attendance, but audiences will be able to watch General Zaluzhnyi's appearance and some of the defence conference events online. Full details are available on our website: https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/upcoming   Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell and Sara Seth. Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts.

    37 min

  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Rubio to Europe: A softer tone than Vance. But same message?

    In a special edition of Chatham House's Independent Thinking podcast recorded at the Munich Security Conference 2026 over the weekend, Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox and Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes, unpack the key issues that emerged from this year's forum. The main speaker, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adopted a different tone from Vice President JD Vance, who shocked many in the audience last year when he delivered a verbal broadside against Europe at the same conference. But does it signify a shift in the Trump administration's newly assertive stance, or was it the same message in a different wrapping? In a recording session in a side room amid the hustle and flow of the conference, they also discuss innovations in defence technology and drone development, the resilience of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, what level of support Ukraine can expect from Europe, and whether European companies and policymakers will respond effectively in the face of increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers.   Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts.    Read our latest: Comment | The West vs the West at the Munich Security Conference Comment | Climate security should be a bigger priority at the Munich Security Conference Comment | What should a more European NATO look like? The US and Europe disagree Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧

    14 min

  3. 13 FEB

    As the UK lurches from crisis to crisis, is it becoming ungovernable?

    As Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer ploughs through crisis after crisis, his Labour Party faces multiple threats in upcoming local elections. Our Chatham House analysts examine whether having six prime ministers in a decade is a sign that Britain, like some of its neighbours, has more fundamental underlying problems that make it increasingly hard to govern. Host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Olivia O'Sullivan, Director of the UK in the World Programme at Chatham House and Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes.   Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell and Sara Seth. Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts   Read our latest: Comment | The AU summit is an opportunity for decisive action to end the war in Sudan Comment | Why a resurgent Japan is good for Asia Comment | What recent developments in Syria mean for the Kurds Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧

    30 min

  4. 6 FEB

    Oil, regime change, and what's next in Trump's MAGA playbook?

    After the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, our analysts discuss where in the Western Hemisphere US President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio may turn their attention to next. Host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Laurel Rapp, director of Chatham House's US and North America Programme, and Dr Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America. They dissect the so-called 'Donroe Doctrine', Marco Rubio's project to reform Cuba's regime, Haiti, and why oil is central to the MAGA playbook. Read Dr Sabatini's full research paper 'A roadmap for security and governance reform in Haiti'.   Read our latest: Comment | Haiti's vicious circle: Funding is needed to end the violence. But the violence means funding doesn't come. Event | The new threat? An imperial America News release | Chatham House fellow gives evidence on Venezuela to UK Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee   Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧    Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Sara Seth and Stephen Farrell. Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts.

    32 min

  5. 30 JAN

    UK in China: Hard choices between rival superpowers

    Host Bronwen Maddox is joined by Ben Bland, head of our Asia-Pacific Programme, and Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China. They discuss the opportunities and risks of closer engagement between the UK and China, and why the opacity of Chinese elite politics makes them an unpredictable security actor. Read our latest: EU leaders echo de Gaulle, saying Europe must depend on no-one. But where should autonomy begin? UK ratification of the Chagos Archipelago treaty will not violate international law The US and Russia's nuclear weapons treaty is set to expire. Here's what's at stake Myanmar 'election' shows the military regime is here to stay. How should the world respond? Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell and Sara Seth.  Read the Winter issue of The World Today. Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

    36 min

  6. 23 JAN

    Trump vs Carney at Davos - One summit, two visions

    Chatham House Director Bronwen Maddox joins the Independent Thinking podcast from the World Economic Forum in Davos. In London are guest host David Lubin, a Senior Research Fellow in Chatham House's Global Economy and Finance Programme; and Grégoire Roos, Director of the Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes.  They examine the implications of President Trump's speech for Greenland, NATO, Europe, China and others after Trump pulled back from using force in Greenland, but left allies with a loss of trust in US intentions. Our analysts also discuss the impact of the address by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former President of Chatham House, who laid out his alternative vision for middle powers to cooperate when faced with what he called 'a rupture' in the world order.  Read our latest: Trump's Davos speech backed off escalation in Greenland. That will not prevent an EU rush for strategic autonomy Trump, Diego Garcia and the 'Donroe Doctrine' in the Indian Ocean Trump's Greenland tariffs show the UK must prepare for a new era of economic coercion A roadmap for security and governance reform in Haiti Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell. Read the Winter issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

    35 min

  7. 16 JAN

    Greenland in the cross hairs of Trump's bid for hemispheric dominance

    Host Bronwen Maddox is joined in the studio by Laurel Rapp, Director of Chatham House's US and North America Programme; Marc Weller, Director of the International Law Programme and down the line by Juno Berthelsen, of Greenland's opposition Naleraq party, which favours independence.  Read our latest: Who owns Greenland? As Carney visits China to diversify Canada's trade, the 'Donroe Doctrine' further strains US relations US intentions towards Greenland threaten NATO's future. But European countries are not helpless Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell. Read the Winter issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

    28 min

  8. 7 JAN

    Does Venezuela usher in an era of might is right?

    Bronwen Maddox is joined by Marc Weller, Director of Chatham House's International Law Programme; Laurel Rapp, Director of the US and North America Programme; and Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America. They discuss the failure of regional diplomacy that preceded the 3 January 2026 attack by the US on Venezuela, the tentative response of the international community in its aftermath, the domestic impact on American politics, historic precedents like the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and how it is likely to influence Russia and China's actions in their regions. Read our latest: The US capture of President Nicolás Maduro – and attacks on Venezuela – have no justification in international law President Trump's ambition to rebuild Venezuela's oil sector will be challenging, especially if prices continue to fall Trump's Venezuela attack should serve as a warning even to US allies US intentions towards Greenland threaten NATO's future. But European countries are not helpless Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Stephen Farrell. Read the Winter issue of The World Today  Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

    37 min
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About

Chatham House director Bronwen Maddox hosts conversations with leading policymakers, journalists and Chatham House experts to provide insight into the latest international political issues. Independent Thinking gives listeners the opportunity to engage with the high level conversations hosted by Chatham House.

Information

  • Creator
    Chatham House
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chatham House 2020
  • Show Website
    Independent Thinking

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