For the past decade, gold appeared as a relic of an outdated financial era. In a world of technology stocks, cryptocurrencies, and AI growth narratives, a metal that produces no yield and stays in vaults seemed less relevant. Nevertheless, in 2025, gold has returned to the centre of the stage, trading above $4,000 an ounce…
Russ Mould is one of the United Kingdom’s most respected voices in financial markets and investment analysis, with a career spanning more than three decades across fund management, investment banking, financial media, and public commentary. As Investment Director at AJ Bell, he plays a central role in shaping the firm’s market research, client content, and…
In this episode of the International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen and Russ Mould discuss why gold has returned to the centre of global finance amid rising geopolitical risk, sanctions, and record government debt.Find out more about what is driving gold’s surge beyond $4,000 an ounce, from central bank buying and reserve diversification to inflation fears and market…
The capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by the United States forces on the 3rd of January 2026 marks one of the most dramatic geopolitical events in the Western Hemisphere in decades. However, as stressed by both our host, Dominic Bowen, and our guest, Dr. Brian Fonseca in this episode of the International Risk Podcast,…
Dr. Brian Fonseca is a leading voice on national security, foreign policy, and cybersecurity. He currently serves as Director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, where…
In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Brian Fonseca discuss the capture of Nicolás Maduro and why this dramatic moment does not automatically mark the start of a democratic transition in Venezuela. Find out more about who truly holds power inside the country today, from the military leadership and intelligence services to competing political factions within…
When Afghanistan made international headlines again in August 2021, the country was often pictured as an ending: the end of a twenty-year intervention, the end of Western responsibility, the end of a failed state-building experiment. Is it really? As Dominic Bowen argues in The International Risk Podcast, Afghanistan is not a closed chapter, and still…
Emily Winterbotham is the Director of Terrorism and Conflict Studies at RUSI, where she leads work across London, Brussels, and Nairobi on terrorism, counterterrorism, peacebuilding, and fragile states, with a particular focus on Asia, especially Afghanistan and Pakistan. For over 15 years, she has combined desk research and field postings in international policy environments, including…
In this episode, Dominic Bowen and Emily Winterbotham discuss how Afghanistan has evolved since the Taliban’s return to power, challenging simplified narratives around security, terrorism, and international disengagement. Drawing on extensive field experience and long-term research, they examine why Afghanistan remains a critical test case for counterterrorism, regional geopolitics, and global risk management. Find out…
How two small Spanish cities on Africa’s coast expose bigger problems in migration, sovereignty, and maritime power Ceuta and Melilla embody anticonformism in the geopolitical order as two beautiful Spanish cities situated on the African continent. Yet they sit at the centre of Europe’s most complicated border politics. In practice, they are more than enclaves:…
