Independent Thinking

Can Labour's prized plans to decarbonize power generation by 2050 withstand growing demands for extra defence spending – an acrimonious argument that has already claimed two senior defence ministers? Or pressure to preserve and extend welfare benefits from the party's left and the unions, many of whom see net zero as a job killer? Plus: China's colossal subsidization of green technology has created a surplus of cheap equipment for clean power. Would Britain be wise to take advantage? Bronwen Maddox is joined by Pelin Zorlu and Chris Aylett of Chatham House's Climate and Energy team, plus special guest Archie Hall, acting economics editor of The Economist. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Stephen Farrell and Sara Seth. Explore Chatham House's latest: Comment | Even Hormuz reopening will not resolve Europe's key energy vulnerability Comment | The next Strait of Hormuz crisis could be even worse Research paper | Why renewables and electrification hold the keys to EU energy security Magazine issue | The World Today summer issue Audio | The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Audio | Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

Would the world benefit from a new economic alliance to stop China and the US from undermining the global rules we all depend on – a new 'third pole'? That's the conclusion of a new Chatham House report published this week. How would an economic bloc like this work? Who could build it? And how would China and the US – even post-Trump – react to such a challenge to their power? Laurel Rapp, director of our US and North America Programme, talks over an audacious plan for a new world order with the report's author and director of our Global Economy and Finance Programme, Creon Butler. They are joined by director of our Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes, Grégoire Roos. Read our report: Saving global economic governance from the 'Trump shock'. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House. Read Chatham House's latest: Comment | Global trade imbalances have changed since the 2008 financial crisis. Now they reflect new risks Comment | Global cooperation on nuclear disarmament looks even further away Comment | In the face of growing AI cyber threats, do middle powers have agency? Magazine issue | Spring issue of The World Today Audio | The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Audio | Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

Almost exactly ten years since Britain's seismic vote to leave the EU, the debate reopens thanks to early skirmishes in the fight for leadership of the Labour Party and thus the prime ministership. Could a credible bid to rejoin make its way onto Britain's political agenda? Are the drastically changed economic and defence environments making the case for re-entry unanswerable? And under what terms would European leaders consider the return of their often-troublesome former partner? Bronwen Maddox talks over a major potential shift for the entire continent with Chatham House visiting fellow Ben Judah, director of our UK in the World programme Olivia O'Sullivan, and associate fellow and Financial Times international trade specialist Alan Beattie. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House. Read Chatham House's latest: Comment | A 2026 'super El Niño' could expose gaps in UK preparedness Comment | China and Russia's strategic duo endures – but its limits are clear Research paper | Avoiding a new nuclear arms race Magazine issue | Spring issue of The World Today Audio | The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Audio | Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Follow Independent Thinking on your favourite podcast apps.

Is the initiative on the Ukraine war slipping out of Russian president Vladimir Putin's hands? And how has the US-Israel war on Iran affected Moscow? The economic crisis is tightening, and Moscow and St Petersburg are increasingly subject to lengthy internet and mobile blackouts. Fearing Ukrainian drone attacks, Russia has vastly scaled down its traditional celebration of military power – the Victory Day parade – while Putin is reported to be increasingly isolated, micromanaging the war from an assortment of bunkers. Bronwen Maddox talks to Grégoire Roos, director of Chatham House's Europe and Russia and Eurasia programmes, and associate fellow John Lough. Produced by Podmasters for Chatham House, with thanks to Stephen Farrell. Chatham House's latest: Comment | China will benefit from the Iran war, regardless of any deal between Trump and Tehran Comment | Germany rearms – but can it lead? Europe's hesitant superpower in waiting Comment | A naval coalition in the Strait of Hormuz should learn these lessons Magazine issue | Spring issue of The World Today Audio | The Climate Briefing podcast 🎧 Audio | Africa Aware podcast 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts.

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 🎧

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.

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.

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.