In this emergency podcast episode, Mark Leonard welcomes Jana Kobzova, co-director of ECFR’s European Security Programme, and Jim O’Brien, former US assistant secretary of state for Europe and ECFR distinguished policy fellow, to dissect the leaked 28-point US-Russia framework for ending the Ukraine war. Kyiv has rejected the proposal as a capitulation and Europeans are insisting on a seat at the table. Together, Mark, Jana and Jim examine the feasibility of the plan’s core demands, given Ukraine’s battlefield resilience and Europe’s pushback. What does the plan reveal about the Trump administration’s approach? Can Europe shape a settlement that safeguards Ukraine’s sovereignty? Or will Ukraine be coerced into a deal on Russia’s terms? This podcast was recorded on November 21st, 2025. Bookshelf: Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward SlingerlandAlgorithms for the People by Josh Simons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The future of European air defence
Europe’s most ambitious defence project is in deep trouble. Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), presented as the crown jewel of Franco-German cooperation, was meant to deliver a next-generation defence system ready to meet the demands of an increasingly dangerous world. Instead, the FCAS showcases diverging visions of European air power and raises questions about the continent’s strategic autonomy.This week, Mark is joined by Ulrike Franke, ECFR senior policy fellow and expert on defence, security and drones. Together, they explore why FCAS keeps running into dead ends—from persistent rifts between Dassault and Airbus to political disagreements between Paris and Berlin.What do the developments around the FCAS reveal about the strength of the Franco-German motor in the EU? What happens if the project collapses? And what would it mean for Europe’s quest for strategic autonomy?Bookshelf:Char de combat: obsolescence ou renaissance? by Léo Péria-PeignéThe ideas letter curated by Leonard BenardoThis episode was recorded on November 19th 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The politics of migration and integration
Across Europe, immigration and integration have become pressing political issues. The far right is surging in national polls, and debates over borders and national identity are reshaping party systems and public life.This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Sunder Katwala, director of the think-tank British Future and author of How to Be a Patriot, and Lawen Redar, spokesperson for integration for the Swedish Social Democratic party and a member of Sweden’s parliament. Together, they discuss how Sweden shifted from the EU’s most liberal migration country to tighter border controls, how parallel societies are emerging, and how both Sweden and Britain are struggling to define who “we” are in increasingly diverse societies.How can European societies combine stricter border policies with fair and effective integration? Can social democrats rebuild a shared narrative of national belonging without slipping into ethno-nationalism? And how can Europe avoid importing the most negative elements of America’s culture war?Bookshelf:How to Be a Patriot: Why love of country can end our very British culture war by Sunder KatwalaWhy Immigration Policy Is Hard: And How to Make It Better by Alan ManningHead, Hand, Heart: Why Intelligence Is Over-Rewarded, Manual Workers Matter, and Caregivers Deserve More Respect by David GoodhartThis episode was recorded on November 14th 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Russia’s hybrid war in Africa
In recent years, military juntas have replaced democratically elected governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. These have expelled European forces and welcomed Russian mercenaries—yet stability in these countries remains elusive.This week, Mark is joined by Will Brown, senior policy fellow in ECFR’s Africa programme and author of the recent policy brief “The Bear and the Bot Farm: Countering Russian Hybrid Warfare in Africa”, and Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst at global risk consultancy Control Risks. Together, they unpack Russia’s ambitions in Africa and the shifting geopolitical landscape across the Sahel.How does Moscow’s vast propaganda machine continue to shape public opinion in the region? How is the Kremlin using disinformation to expand its influence? And what options remain for Europe in a region where its power is fast fading?Bookshelf:The Bear and the Bot Farm: Countering Russian Hybrid Warfare in Africa by Will BrownThe Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination by Stuart A. ReidAttack on Titan (TV Series 2013–2023)Beyond the Door of No Return by David DiopThe Strong Brown God: The Story of the Niger River by Sanche de GramontThis episode was recorded on November 5th 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Venezuela and Trump’s hemispheric defence agenda
This week, Mark Leonard returns to the World in 30 Minutes to unpack the latest development in US foreign policy: America’s military buildup off the coast of Venezuela. The US has deployed troops in the Caribbean and an aircraft strike group has joined the operation—but the Trump administration’s aims in the region remain unclear.Mark is joined by Jeremy Shapiro, ECFR’s research director and head of its Washington office, to discuss the legal and political justifications for the strikes, the influence of Marco Rubio, and how Trump’s “hemispheric defence” doctrine fits into his unpredictable foreign policy. Is the development about drug cartels, regime change—or is America reasserting its power in the Western hemisphere? What are the implications for Europe? And what do these strikes mean for the future of US global strategy?Bookshelf: The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West by Paul Andrew HuttonThis episode was recorded on October 28th 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Weekly podcast on the events, policies and ideas that will shape the world.World in 30 minutes is curated by Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), and features top-level speakers from across the EU and beyond to debate and discuss Europe’s role in the world. It was awarded “Best podcasts on EU politics” by PolicyLab in 2019.Member of the EuroPod network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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