The Inside Story Podcast

Benjamin Netanyahu says he's grateful to the US for its military aid but that it's time for Israel to build its own weapons-production capacity. The Israeli prime minister's announcement comes as tensions grow over the US agreement with Iran. But demand soars for Israel's weapons — its arms exports hit a record $19 billion last year. Supporters say that it strengthens Israel's ability to stand on its own. Can Israel afford to lose its greatest ally? In this episode:  Alexandre Vautravers, Security and defence policy specialist Michael Mulroy, Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Antony Loewenstein, Author of 'The Palestine Laboratory'  Host: Folly Bah Thibault Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The US and Iran have finished the first round of talks with an agreement on a roadmap to a final deal. But is there enough trust to end the conflict? In this episode:  Mohammad Eslami - Research Fellow at Tehran University.  Kenneth Katzman - Senior Fellow at The Soufan Center.  Zeidon Alkinani - Founding Director at the Arab Perspectives Institute.  Host: Anna Burns-Francis  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

A landslide win, only two years ago - yet now UK prime minister Keir Starmer's resisting calls to step down. The return to parliament of Andy Burnham makes a leadership challenge more likely.  What's gone wrong so fast, for Starmer? And why so much turmoil at the top of British politics?  In this episode:  Peter Oborne - UK Political Commentator and Associate Editor of Middle East Eye - a digital news organisation. Jonathan Tonge - Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool and author of numerous books on British and Northern Irish politics. Peter Geoghegan - Editor of Democracy for Sale - an investigative news site in London   Host: Per Nyberg Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

China calls for stronger representation for the Global South. It warns that the international rules-based order is at a critical crossroads. Beijing says it has a solution to a more equitable system. But does it have the leverage and tools to enforce it? In this episode:  Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute Cobus van Staden, Head of Research at the China-Global South Project Allen Carlson, Associate Professor in the Government Department at Cornell University Host: Sami Zeidan Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

An agreement between Washington and Tehran has all but ended the Iran war, both claiming victory despite the huge cost. Among that is damage to Iranian relationships with its Gulf neighbours, which it attacked. So, what has Iran won and lost in the region from this war?  In this episode:  Ali Akbar Dareini, Researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies in Tehran.  Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Professor of Modern Middle East Politics at the University of Cambridge. Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar and Head of the Iranian Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies.  Host: Scott McLean  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The annual G7 summit is set to be held in France. But this time, differences within the group are growing. From tensions in the Middle East to the war in Ukraine, can the G7 help resolve global crises as geopolitical realities shift? In this episode:  Jacques Reland, Senior Research Fellow, Global Policy Institute. Scott Lucas, Professor, US and International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation. Host: Scott McLean Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Israel continues killing Palestinians in Gaza and threatens to seize more of the Strip - all in breach of October's ceasefire deal. Attacks go on everyday, with more than 900 killed since then. So, is the US-backed peace process in serious danger?  In this episode:  Muhammad Shehada, Senior Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations Daniel Levy, President of the U.S. / Middle East Project  Tamer Qarmout, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies  Host: Mohammed Jamjoom Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

NATO says it's ready to defend allied territory against Russian attacks. Ukraine warns Moscow is preparing for a major aerial assault, and appeals for more military support. Both sides seem confident they are advancing on the battlefield. So, is the war entering a new phase? In this episode:  Olesia Horiainova - Co-founder of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre   Donald Jensen - Adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University     Alexey Muraviev - Russian defence and security specialist Host: Mohammed Jamjoom Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube