Artistic wooden map of Africa against dark corrugated background.

DRC Crisis: What to know

Author: Camila Mateos Betancourt In a world where tensions evolve across different regions, keeping up with global events can be overwhelming. At The International Risk Podcast, we believe it is crucial to bring attention to issues that may not always dominate news feeds or social media timelines. Explore our episodes on the situation in El…

Bram Verelst

Bram Verelst

Bram Verelst works at the Institute for Security Studies as Senior Researcher on Conflict Prevention, Management and Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes Region. Before joining the ISS, Bram worked as a research fellow at the Department of Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University, Belgium and as a political analyst for the Belgian Ministry of Defence,…

Episode 211: Conflict in the DRC: M23 and Regional Instability with Bram Verelst

!!! Please note that this episode was recorded before M23 captured Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC. This week on The International Risk Podcast, Dominic Bowen sits down with Bram Verelst to examine the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the resurgence of the M23 rebellion. As the group captures key…

German election and international risk

German Election Results: The Future of Defence Spending and The International Risks

Germany’s recent federal election has ushered in a period of political upheaval, with significant implications for defense spending, fiscal policy, the risk environment, and international relations. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, secured a plurality with 28.5 percent of the vote, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic second…

Episode 204: Russia-NATO Relations, Disinformation, Cybersecurity and International Co-ordination with Dr. Marion Messmer

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Marion Messmer, a senior research fellow in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Dr. Messmer discusses the deterioration of Russia’s relationship with the West, the importance of protecting NATO member’s critical infrastructure, arms control, nuclear risk reduction, and the significance of continued international cooperation.  Before joining…

Dr Marion Messmer

Dr Marion Messmer

Dr. Messmer discusses the deterioration of Russia’s relationship with the West, the importance of protecting NATO member’s critical infrastructure, arms control, nuclear risk reduction and the significance of continued international co-operation.  Before joining Chatham House, Marion was the Co-Director of BASIC, where she led on the organisation’s nuclear risk reduction and disarmament work. She is…

Dr Leila Alieva

Dr Leila Alieva

Dr. Leila Alieva is an Associate of Russian and East European Studies (REES) at the Oxford University School for Global and Area Studies. She also teaches a course on the Political Economy of Energy Transition at Oxford’s Department of Continued Education and is currently working with Friends of Europe. Originally from Azerbaijan, Dr. Alieva founded…

the international risk podcast russian oil bloodshed

The Influence of Soft Power in Putin’s War on Ukraine and Continued Aggression in NATO Regions.

We are all aware of the international risks associated with autocratic regimes and their implementation of hard power tactics to exert control. History is riddled with examples and unfortunately, we just have to turn on the news to witness it in present times; look at the Assad regime in Syria, Kim Jong Un’s totalitarian methods…

Evolution of Warfare: An Analysis of Ukraine’s Use of Drones and Increasing Presence in North Africa. 

Evolution of Warfare: An Analysis of Ukraine’s Use of Drones and Increasing Presence in North Africa. 

As Ukraine enters its third year of active conflict against Russia’s illegal invasion in 2022, and the world prepares for the impact of a second Trump presidency, a shift in the battlefield is unfolding and the international risks remain at the forefront of everyones’ minds. Despite being outmatched in size and military resources, the latest news reports…

Episode 198: Evolving Warfare in Ukraine and the Global Risks of Russian Aggression in the Baltic and Africa

In this episode, we are joined by the acclaimed Doug Livermore, a man with extensive experience in active combat and within US intelligence services. Mr Livermore engages in an in-depth discussion regarding the evolution of the Ukraine war, the impact of increased drone warfare and the risks and solutions surrounding Russian aggression in the Baltic…