Global Dispatches -- Conversations On Foreign Policy And World Affairs

Over the last two weeks, the United States has at least twice bombed boats in the Caribbean that the White House claims were smuggling drugs to the United States, killing an unknown number of people on board. This is extraordinary. Under normal circumstances, the United States Navy or Coast Guard would interdict alleged drug smugglers and turn them over to law enforcement for prosecution. But the Trump administration is apparently unleashing the full weight of the U.S. military against people it deems to be smuggling drugs. What’s more concerning, according to legal experts across the spectrum, is that these targeted killings do not seem to be operating under any apparent legal framework. The administration is using the language of the War on Terror to justify these killings, but there has been no authorization for the use of military force against drug smugglers. Nor has the administration put forward a legal rationale for these strikes. And all this comes amidst an unprecedented American naval buildup in th

It was Donald Trump’s fifth speech before the United Nations General Assembly. It was also his most rambling. For 55 minutes, the President of the United States riffed: on migration, windmills, hot air, London’s mayor, offshore oil in Aberdeen, even the flooring and décor of UN headquarters. At one point, Trump told the assembled world leaders: “Your countries are going to hell!” But was there a method to this madness? What can we discern about U.S. foreign policy and Trump’s approach to the United Nations from this speech? Joining me for a timely conversation on these questions and more are Anjali Dayal and Maya Ungar—two seasoned UN watchers. Anjali Dayal, of course, is my To Save Us From Hell co-host and a professor of international relations at Fordham University. Maya Ungar is a UN analyst at the International Crisis Group. We spoke just moments after Trump’s speech concluded, beginning with our knee-jerk reactions to a very odd address before turning to a longer conversation about what Trump’s UNGA rema

Immunization has transformed the health trajectory of millions in Africa — but the job is far from done. This discussion moves beyond vaccines as a medical intervention, framing them instead as a trust-building exercise between communities and health systems. You’ll come away with a clear sense of what it will take to protect Africa’s health gains and prepare for future threats. Helen Clark offers high-level insights on vaccine diplomacy, while Dr. Jamal Ahmed unpacks the operational and political hurdles to reaching every child. Dr. Esias Bedingar adds a front-line perspective on combating misinformation and delivering care in fragile settings. Vaccines have saved millions of lives across the continent — but more work remains. This episode explores both the progress made and the gaps that still need to be closed. Guests Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, former Director of UN Development Program and member of the Elders Dr. Jamal Ahmed, WHO Director for Polio Eradication Dr. Esias Bedin

Africa’s future will be written by its girls and women — if they have the resources and rights to lead. Graça Machel calls for a generational shift in how girls’ education and leadership are supported, while Françoise Moudouthe challenges donors and policymakers to back feminist movements with flexible, sustained funding. Satta Sheriff brings the voice of a new generation, connecting women’s leadership to broader fights for climate justice, peace, and economic inclusion. This episode is full of hard truths about the barriers girls and women face, paired with inspiring examples of what happens when those barriers come down. Guests Graça Machel, women’s and children's rights advocate; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique; co-founder of The Elders. Françoise Moudouthe, CEO of the African Women’s Development Fund Satta Sheriff, Human Rights Activist & African Union Panel of the Future Member Background Materials Women’s Rights in Review 30 years after Beijing, UN Women

Hundreds of presidents and prime ministers are coming to the UN for the annual opening of the General Assembly. UNGA officially kicked off on September 9, but the big events—including the parade of speeches from world leaders—begin on September 22. In this special episode of To Save Us From Hell, Mark and Anjali preview the key storylines, speeches, events, and encounters that will shape the agenda at this, the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. This is always one of our most popular episodes because we bring you a true insider’s account of what to watch for at UNGA80. And this year, we’re offering a special 40% discount off our regular subscription price so that as many of you as possible can access one of our most anticipated episodes of the year. https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff

A few weeks ago, my To Save Us From Hell co-host Anjali Dayal and I joined Tammam Aloudat, CEO of The New Humanitarian, for an episode of their podcast ReThinking Humanitarianism. The questions Tammam posed—and the topics we explored—were big-picture ones: how can the UN, a fundamentally liberal institution shaped by liberal values, function and survive in an era when those very values are under sustained challenge? It was a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation that I’m delighted to share directly with Global Dispatches subscribers. If you want even more UN-focused content, consider becoming a paying subscriber at GlobalDispatches.org. A subscription gives you full access to To Save Us From Hell, my premium podcast about the UN, as well as UN Dispatch, where I publish regular UN-focused analysis. We’re running a UNGA discount this month: 40% off. Subscribe now to unlock my personal UNGA preview along with all UNGA-related coverage. You can sign up at GlobalDispatches.org or use this direct link: https://www.

Education in Africa must do more than keep up — it must leap ahead. Vimbai Masiyiwa champions entrepreneurship education that sparks job creation, while Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam draws lessons from reforming Senegal’s school system for a digital future. Tina Muparadzi links skills development directly to economic transformation, making the case for public–private partnerships that align learning with labor market needs. The conversation digs into how digital literacy, innovative financing, and gender equality can work together to equip Africa’s next generation. It’s a blueprint for education that prepares students for the future of work and leadership. Guests Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Global Partnership for Education High-Level Envoy and Advisor for Education and former Minister of Education of Senegal Ms. Tina Muparadzi, Executive Director for the Education and Transitions programming platform at Mastercard Foundation’s Education, Learning & Youth Livelihood Team Vimbai Masiyiwa, Entrepreneu

Cabo Delgado is Mozambique’s northernmost province, bordering Tanzania. Since 2017, it has been gripped by a violent insurgency, when Islamist militants began attacking villages, towns, and government forces. The region is also home to major natural gas deposits, in which the French energy giant Total has invested heavily. But after a wave of attacks in 2021, Total suspended operations. Foreign troops—including forces from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community—have since helped the Mozambican government regain some territory. Still, sporadic attacks continue, and the humanitarian crisis remains acute. In recent weeks, there has been a sharp uptick in violence, displacing about 60,000 people. Joining me to discuss the ongoing crisis in Cabo Delgado, the role of mineral extraction in fueling the conflict, and what the Mozambican government and international community can do to curb the violence is Romao Xavier, Oxfam in Southern Africa's Country Representative for Mozambique. We begin by

When people don’t trust their institutions, the social fabric of a society is weakened. But that “trust deficit” can — and must — be closed. In this episode of our Future of Africa series, we explore innovative and practical approaches to enhancing trust and cooperation between people and their institutions -- from grassroots communities to global multilateral forums. Featuring Samson Itodo, a renowned advocate for electoral integrity and youth participation in Nigeria; Joseph Asunka, CEO of Afrobarometer; Chernor Bah, Minister of Information and Civic Education from Sierra Leone; and Chimdi Neliaku, a member of the African Union’s Panel of the Future and Special Assistant to the Hon. Speaker, House of Representatives of Nigeria on Interparliamentary Affairs and Public Relations, this conversation showcases positive pathways to inclusive governance. Drawing on inspiring personal journeys, Samson shares insights from mobilizing young voters in Nigeria’s democratic processes; Chernor brings decades of advocacy

A new study out of Kenya shows that one of the most impactful ways to reduce infant and child mortality is to provide cash—no strings attached—to pregnant women. A randomized controlled trial by economists from UC Berkeley and Oxford University found that unconditional cash transfers reduced infant mortality by 48% and under-5 child mortality by 45% in rural Kenya. These results suggest that this intervention is as impactful for improving child health as the provision of vaccines or antimalarial drugs. I'm joined today by Dr. Miriam Laker-Oketta, Senior Research Advisor at GiveDirectly, the nonprofit that carried out the cash transfers on which this research is based. In our conversation, Dr. Laker-Oketta explains why well-timed cash transfers to women late in pregnancy can so dramatically improve health outcomes. She also discusses how this new study adds to the growing body of evidence on the impact of unconditional cash transfers for people living in poverty in the developing world—and why such interventio

Making promises on financing for development is the easy part. Following through on them is hard. Ambassador Chola Milambo speaks frankly about turning global financing commitments into tangible benefits for African communities. Chidi Okpala highlights the role of innovative private-sector partnerships, while Tumi Mkhizi Malebo offers a youth perspective on making finance work for the next generation and Nabila Ageule emphasizes the particularly important role of young women. Together, they map out what it takes to bridge the gap between conference promises and action on the ground, from transparency and inclusive planning to youth-led monitoring of how funds are actually spent. If you’ve ever wondered why big financial agreements rarely reach the people they’re meant to serve, this episode offers both the diagnosis and the solution. Guests Ambassador Dr. Chola Milambo, Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Chidi Okpala, Executive Director of Group Integration and Strategy, Heirs Holding

In 2023, the United Kingdom hosted the world’s first major international summit on the risks of advanced artificial intelligence. That Bletchley Park gathering kicked off a series of high-profile summits — in Seoul in 2024, in Paris earlier this year, and with India set to host the next in 2026. But here’s the big question: are these summits actually building the guardrails the world needs to keep AI safe — or are they falling short? My guest today, Robert F. Trager, says the answer depends on whether this summit series is reformed. Trager is Co-Director of the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, which recently published a roadmap for how the AI Summit Series can live up to its potential. We dig into those recommendations, and we also take stock of what these summits have accomplished so far — and what’s at stake if they fail. This episode was supported through a grant from the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism Report mentioned: The Future of the AI Summit Series

What does it mean to make peace with nature — and why could that be the key to lasting peace between people? Former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos shares the extraordinary indigenous mandate that shaped his leadership, while Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim explains how climate shocks in Africa are driving conflict and migration. Khouloud Ben Mansour brings in the youth, peace, and security lens, stressing that climate justice must include women and young leaders at the table. Across the conversation, you’ll hear why African knowledge systems are vital to global climate solutions, and how reframing climate as a security issue could shift the way the world responds. Guests Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair of the Planetary Guardians and President of the Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad Khouloud Ben Mansour, Tunisian junior diplomat and former African Union Youth Ambassador of Peace Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Chair of The Elders Background Ma

The past week has seen a frenzy of diplomatic activity on Ukraine, culminating in Donald Trump’s extraordinary announcement that he will host Vladimir Putin in Alaska for talks on the war. Setting aside the propriety of Putin visiting the United States (he launched this war of aggression and is wanted by the ICC for the systematic abduction of Ukrainian children) what could such a summit actually achieve? Would Ukraine really be willing to trade land for a ceasefire? And would Putin simply use a pause in hostilities to regroup? I put these questions and more to Evelyn Farkas, a longtime Ukraine specialist who is now the CEO of the McCain Institute. We spoke just hours before Trump announced the Alaska summit and we kick off with a discussion about the current state-of-play of the conflict on the ground before discussing the prospects of a diplomatic solution to this conflict.

Africa is the world’s youngest continent — and its future is everyone’s future. By 2030, 70% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population will be under the age of 30. By century’s end, one in three people on the planet will be African. What happens in Africa will shape the course of the 21st century. That’s why Global Dispatches is proud to launch a bold new podcast series: The Future of Africa. Produced in partnership with the African Union, The Elders, and the United Nations Foundation, this series explores how Africa’s rising generation is transforming the world—and how global leaders are engaging with this dynamic shift. Hosted by the powerhouse Kenyan journalist Adelle Onyango, The Future of Africa features intergenerational conversations between former presidents, Nobel Peace Prize winners, diplomats, and trailblazing young leaders. These are solutions-driven discussions tackling the most urgent issues of our time: climate, education, economic growth, governance, and more. Africa’s influence on global decision-ma

“The worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip.” That was the conclusion of a July 29 report by the leading global authority on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The report found that more than one in three people in Gaza (39 percent) are now going days at a time without eating. More than 500,000 people—nearly a quarter of the population—are enduring famine-like conditions. Malnutrition rates are skyrocketing, and deaths from acute malnutrition are mounting. This is the direct result of Israel’s policy of preventing sufficient food from entering Gaza. Now, as images of emaciated children flash across screens around the world, will that be enough to generate the political will in Israel, the United States, and Europe to change course? Alternatively, how much worse can this get? Joining me to discuss the ongoing famine and humanitarian crisis is Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, the CEO of Mercy Corps, a major international humanitarian NGO with ongoing o

In 1997, Jessica Matthews' landmark Foreign Affairs essay “Power Shift” captured the growing influence of NGOs and other non-state actors in shaping global affairs. But nearly three decades later, that tide has turned. A provocative new piece in Foreign Affairs argues that the age of NGOs is over—and states are reasserting dominance. Joining me to unpack this shift is Jennifer Hadden, co-author of the new article and Associate Professor at Brown University. We discuss the heyday of NGOs in the 1990s, what led to their decline, and what this reversal means for the future of human rights, democracy and freedom worldwide.  Foreign Affairs     

A groundbreaking new study published in the British medical journal The Lancet Global Health finds that unilateral economic sanctions—most of which are imposed by the United States—lead to approximately 564,000 excess deaths worldwide each year. Up to half of these deaths are children. While sanctions are often touted as an alternative to military force, this research shows they can devastate public health, cause severe food and medicine shortages, and drive mortality rates to levels comparable to those seen in armed conflicts. In fact, the findings suggest that sanctions are about as deadly as military conflicts around the world each year. Joining me to discuss this new study is one of its authors, Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. We begin by examining his key findings and then explore how and why sanctions end up killing so many people globally. https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PercentOff Mark Weisbrot's research.   

I caught up with Comfort Ero at the Aspen Security Forum last week. She is the President of the International Crisis Group, and in that role, she brings a truly global perspective on the drivers of conflict worldwide. Earlier in the forum, she participated in a panel on international aid—timely, given the massive scaling back of foreign assistance by the Trump administration and other traditional donors in Europe. So, for most of this conversation, we explore the implications of this sudden retraction of foreign aid on regional and global security—that is, how might these aid cuts impact conflict dynamics around the world? Get a 40% discount off Global Dispatches and support the show! https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PercentOff   

My guest today, Thordis Gylfadottir, served as Iceland's foreign minister until 2024. We spoke last week at the Aspen Security Forum, where she delivered a forceful case for the necessity of continued military and diplomatic support for Ukraine. However, that view—once broadly shared across Europe and the Atlantic—is no longer as ubiquitous as it once was. In our conversation, I wanted to learn from her exactly how firm support for Ukraine remains across Europe, both in politics and in society. And what, if anything, can be done to shore up that support.  We begin, however, with a discussion of her current work as the Special Envoy for the Council of Europe on the situation of children in Ukraine, where she helps bring home Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia during its invasion.