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For more than five decades, nuclear arms control treaties were enforced between Russia and the US until this week. The last agreement has been allowed to lapse without a new one to replace it. So, why has this happened, and what are the dangers?  In this episode:  Thomas Countryman, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation under the Obama administration Rebecca E Johnson, Co-founder and first President of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Nikolai Sokov, Senior Fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Host: Tom McRae Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Talks brokered by the US seek to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Many civilians in Ukraine are suffering in freezing temperatures after Russian attacks on heating and energy supplies. Negotiations are to continue, despite big divisions. But what are those sticking points? And could an end come soon?  In this episode:  Alexander Bratersky, Independent Analyst and journalist in Moscow  Oleksiy Goncharenko, Ukrainian opposition member of Parliament and a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Steven Erlanger, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent in Europe for The New York Times Host: Tom McRae  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

India and the US announce a trade deal, with relief from some of President Donald Trump's harshest tariffs. He says India will stop buying Russian oil and open up to American business. So, why is the deal getting a mixed reaction in India? In this episode:  Ajay Chhibber, visiting scholar at George Washington University Biswajit Dhar, trade economist and former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University Harry Broadman, former Chief of Staff at the President's Council of Economic Advisers Host: Rishaad Salamat Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is yet again in Israel to discuss growing tensions with Iran. The two sides have been trading threats. At odds for nearly half a century, can they find a common ground? Or is a new round of conflict inevitable? In this episode: Thomas Warrick, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council Marzie Khalilian, political analyst and researcher at Carleton University Alon Pinkas, Former Israeli Ambassador and Consul General in New York Host: Rishaad Salamat Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Gaza's Rafah border crossing reopened but under strict Israeli conditions. The crossing is once again operational as part of the US-brokered ceasefire. But with Israel's restrictions, will this reopening ease the suffering of Palestinians after two years of war? In this episode:  Hussein Haridy, former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Mosab Nasser, CEO of FAJR Global Akiva Eldar, political analyst and contributor to Haaretz  Host: Maleen Saeed Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

How will Pakistan deal with growing security challenges in the southwestern province of Balochistan? Another coordinated attack by separatists has killed dozens of people. Many ethnic Baloch have long complained of neglect and oppression by Islamabad. So, what will it take to end the cycle of violence there? In this episode: Raashid Wali Janjua, Former Brigadier, Pakistan's Army and Director, Islamabad Policy Research Institute  Sanaullah Baloch, Leader, Balochistan National Party Ayesha Siddiqa, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Defence Studies, King's College London Host: Maleen Saeed Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Caracas says it's opening up the sector to private players. That follows Washington's dramatic intervention in the country in early January. But who will stand to gain from the changes: Venezuela or the United States? Or both? In this episode: Elias Ferrer Founder  and director of Orinoco Research. He analysis politics and the Venezuelan economy.   Andrew Lipow President of Lipow Oil Associates   Phil Gunson Senior Analyst  at the International Crisis Group Host: Adrian Finighan  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in China this week with a large delegation of business people and cultural figures. He received a warm welcome from host Xi Jinping. But the visit got a frosty reception from the White House. US President Donald Trump called the trip 'dangerous'. Why and how important is this visit?  In this episode: Will Hutton, political economist and author  Andy Mok, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization Steve Tsang, Director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London Host: Adrian Finighan  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

The Doomsday Clock has reached the closest ever point to midnight. That's according to the atomic scientists who run it. They say more wars, aggression from nuclear powers and weaker arms controls are to blame - along with climate change and risks posed by artificial intelligence. Should we be worried?  In this episode: Karim Haggag, Director at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Ramesh Srinivasan, Professor at UCLA Department of Information Studies and host of the podcast 'Utopias' Ben Aris, Founder and Editor in Chief of bne IntelliNews in Berlin Host: Cyril Vanier Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube  

One of the biggest trade deals in history was struck by India and the European Union, months after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on both. So what's in their agreement? And how much is it driven by Washington's hostile measures?  In this episode: Brahma Chellaney, Professor Emeritus of Strategic Studies at the Centre for Policy Research Remi Bourgeot, Associate Fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs Dhananjay Tripathi, Senior Associate Professor at South Asian University in New Delhi Host: Tom McRae Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

The last Israeli captive's body found in Gaza — where many thousands of Palestinians lie buried under rubble. Israel, as part of its long-standing policy, has not returned the remains of many hundreds of Palestinians. Why? And what's the impact? In this episode:  Amjad Sharwa, Director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza Issam Aruri, Commissioner General of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Palestine Yara Hawari, Co-Director at Al Shabaka Host: James Bays Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Recent fatal shootings by federal US immigration agents have sparked outrage and protests. They're accused of using excessive force and indiscriminately arresting suspected undocumented immigrants. But does this violent crackdown serve any real purpose? In this episode:  Darrin Porcher, Former NYPD Lieutenant and Criminal Justice Professor at Pace University Leon Fresco, Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Alex Vitale, Professor in the Department of Sociology at Brooklyn College Host: James Bays Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Sort out your own security. That's what the US is telling its allies as the Pentagon adopts a new national defence strategy. Washington is now focusing on the main homeland and its interests in the Western Hemisphere. So, what's behind this shift? And what's the fallout for America's allies around the world? In this episode: Adam Clements, US Foreign Policy Analyst and a Former Pentagon Official. Marina Miron, Researcher, Defense Studies Department, King’s College London. Youngshik Bong, Visiting Professor, Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University. Host: James Bays Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

After being under threat for years - Tiktok will continue to operate in the United States. The Chinese platform reached a deal to create a new American entity. But does this deal satisfy security concerns for users in the US? And how much politics is at play? In this episode:  Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow at the  Centre for International Governance Innovation, a  Canadian think tank   Sarah Kreps, Founder and Director of  Technology Policy Insititute at  Cornell University   Anupam Chander, expert on the global regulation of new technologies and Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center Host: James Bays Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

It was initially supposed to oversee the postwar arrangements in Gaza. Now, the newly created, so-called Board of Peace is expected to deal with other conflicts as well. But will it be able to achieve global peace? In this episode:  Faisal Al Mudahka, Editor In Chief of Gulf Times Christian Josi, republican political strategist and author  Jawad Anani, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Jordan Host: Adrian Finighan Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube