Independent Thinking

Did US strikes cripple Iran’s nuclear programme — or just set the stage for the next crisis? Bronwen Maddox hosts from Jordan, joined by international security expert Marion Messmer and Middle East associate fellow Lina Khatib in London, to examine the claims and counter-claims and what it means for the region’s fragile balance of power. Read our latest: US strikes on Iran: What next for Iran, Israel and President Trump? [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/us-strikes-iran-what-next-iran-israel-and-president-trump] For NATO’s collective defence, Europe must lead on data sharing [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/natos-collective-defence-europe-must-lead-data-sharing] Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Amanda Nunn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-nunn/]. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media [v] production for Chatham House. Read the Summer issue of The World Today  [https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2025-06] Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-climate-briefing/id1500769861] 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/africa-aware/id1551785390] 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

Following Israel’s strikes on Iran on 13 June, and the subsequent sequence of retaliation and counter retaliation, fears are rising that the conflict could escalate.   In this special episode of Independent Thinking (an edited version of a live webinar) Galip Dalay joins a panel of experts to discuss strategic goals, the responses of the key regional and international actors, including the Gulf states and the US, and what if any viable diplomatic or military off-ramps exist to prevent a broader regional war. Read our latest: Trump must take control as Israel–Iran war threatens to escalate [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/trump-must-take-control-israel-iran-war-threatens-escalate] Iran–Israel conflict: Iran has run out of good options [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/iran-israel-conflict-iran-has-run-out-good-options] It’s time to rethink the G7  [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/its-time-rethink-g7] Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Amanda Nunn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-nunn/]. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media [v] production for Chatham House. Read the Summer issue of The World Today  [https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2025-06] Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-climate-briefing/id1500769861] 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/africa-aware/id1551785390] 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

Is Britain chasing faded glory or forging a credible future? As the government lays out its latest spending review, Bronwen Maddox [https://x.com/bronwenmaddox] is joined by Jeremy Hunt [https://x.com/Jeremy_Hunt] and Samir Puri [https://x.com/purisamir1] to ask whether bold talk of growth, defence and science hides a deeper strategic drift – or a real path back to global influence. Read our latest: Europe could win the battle for the future of digital money [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/europe-could-win-battle-future-digital-money] History suggests Trump’s snapped back sanctions won’t deliver change in Venezuela [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/history-suggests-trumps-snapped-back-sanctions-wont-deliver-change-venezuela] Why peacebuilding fails and what to do about it [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/why-peacebuilding-fails-and-what-do-about-it] Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Amanda Nunn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-nunn/]. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media [v] production for Chatham House. Read the Summer issue of The World Today  [https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2025-06] Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-climate-briefing/id1500769861] 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/africa-aware/id1551785390] 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

Drones, AI, cyber warfare and nuclear weapons are a key part of the UK’s new Strategic Defence Review, along with conventional weapons. Chatham House experts unpack the strategy, spending pledges and how Britain should adapt its military to deal with Putin, China, and Donald Trump. Bronwen Maddox [https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/bronwen-maddox] is joined by Chatham House experts Grace Cassy [https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/grace-cassy], Marion Messmer [https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/marion-messmer] and Olivia O’Sullivan [https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/olivia-osullivan] to unpack the strategy, spending pledges, and the UK’s place in a rapidly shifting global security landscape. Read our latest: The SDR presents an opportunity for the UK to become a leader in space – if it is followed by urgent investment [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/sdr-presents-opportunity-uk-become-leader-space-if-it-followed-urgent-investment] The UK Strategic Defence Review draws the right lessons from Ukraine – but still relies on continued US commitment [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/uk-strategic-defence-review-draws-right-lessons-ukraine-still-relies-continued-us] I was part of the team behind the UK Strategic Defence Review: Here is what shaped our thinking [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/06/i-was-part-team-behind-uk-strategic-defence-review-here-what-shaped-our-thinking] Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Executive producer - John Pollock [https://x.com/John_Pollock22]. Produced by Amanda Nunn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-nunn/]. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media [v] production for Chatham House. Read the Spring issue of The World Today  [https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2025-03] Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-climate-briefing/id1500769861] 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/africa-aware/id1551785390] 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.

As Gaza reels from staggering humanitarian devastation, Bronwen Maddox [https://x.com/bronwenmaddox] speaks with Yossi Mekelberg [https://x.com/ymekelberg?lang=en], Stephen Farrell [https://x.com/farrellreporter], and Julie Norman [https://x.com/drjulienorman2?lang=en-GB] to unpack the political drivers of Israel’s war, the role of Donald Trump, and the region’s competing visions for Gaza’s future. From internal power struggles to shifting U.S. policy and Arab diplomatic proposals, this episode asks: what future is even possible for Gaza now? Read our latest: Gaza: War, hunger and politics [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/05/gaza-war-hunger-and-politics] The dissolution of the PKK could transform Turkey’s domestic politics and foreign policy [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/05/dissolution-pkk-could-transform-turkeys-domestic-politics-and-foreign-policy] Escalating conflict in Tripoli exposes the realities of false stability – and international neglect in Libya [https://www.chathamhouse.org/2025/05/escalating-conflict-tripoli-exposes-realities-false-stability-and-international-neglect] Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by Amanda Nunn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-nunn/]. 'Independent Thinking' is an Indio Media [v] production for Chatham House. Read the Spring issue of The World Today  [https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2025-03] Listen to The Climate Briefing podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-climate-briefing/id1500769861] 🎧  Listen to Africa Aware podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/africa-aware/id1551785390] 🎧 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you find your podcasts - please listen, review, and subscribe.