One Decision

The global supply chain has taken a battering since COVID. But it’s not just about how long you have to wait for your Playstation - the disruption to global trade has illuminated how dependent we all are on other countries for necessary goods. It’s a reality that could also have national security implications, as many countries in Europe who rely on imported gas from certain hostile counties in their neighbourhood, are swiftly finding out. Brian Wenck, the CEO of Flat World Global Solutions, a global supply chain and logistics firm, walks us through the butterfly effects of supply chain disruption - why China shipping PPE to Africa and America meant that Europeans couldn’t get their electronics for months. And co-host Sir Richard Dearlove joins us to explain why all of the above should give us concerns for our national security too.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of people in Iran have been killed after the death of a 22-year-old woman sparked the biggest uprising in the country for years. More than 15,000 have been arrested in women-led protests demanding human rights, freedoms - and an end to Iran’s oppressive laws concerning women. The regime has accused the protests of being “foreign-backed riots”, meanwhile, the niece of the Supreme Leader has spoken out against what she described as the “murderous, child-killing regime” in Tehran. One Decision speaks to Iranian journalist Negar Mortazavi to hear more about the situation in the country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our third installment on China at a crossroads, we look at where President Xi Jinping is positioning China in the world order and what his politics means for Chinese expansionism, influence, and aggression in the wider region. Is he likely to make a move on Taiwan? Will the contested areas in the seas around China be a new arena for hostilities? Will the US and China eventually be forced to go head-to-head, or is there too much financial incentive to cooperate? Brig. Gen. David Stilwell was the American Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and an Air Force veteran of 35 years. A fluent Chinese and Korean speaker, he also served as Defense Attache at the US Embassy in Beijing and has been a close watcher of Chinese politics ever since. He sits down with One Decision for a look at China's place in the world at the beginning of Xi's third term, with our Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, providing exclusive analysis on what he thinks the world should do in response. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year's COP27 in Egypt gave hope to some, finally a summit on climate change on the African continent, home to dozens of countries that face the dangers of rising sea levels, as well as desertification and droughts due to the destabilizing effects of global warming. But delegates had little to cheer about after the global meeting concluded - the creation of a fund for loss and damage for poorer nations was one small win, but nothing was agreed on for the phasing out of fossil fuels or emissions that made any meaningful difference since the last pledges made at COP26 in Glasgow. The EU's Green Chief summed up the conference saying "The world will not thank us when they hear only excuses tomorrow." In this special episode of One Decision, as the world fails to act, we go to two nations ravaged by the effects of climate change - the Pacific Island Nation of Kiribati and Pakistan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China’s imports and exports jolted to a halt earlier this month - marking the first contraction since the pandemic struck in 2020. At a time of worldwide surging inflation and central banks everywhere raising interest rates to painful levels, the “miracle of growth” that powered much of the world’s prosperity these last two decades is causing growing concern.For the second installment of our three-part series looking in depth at China at a crossroads, One Decision considers the economic crises that could be facing the country - and the world. George Magnus, former Chief Economist at UBS, now author and research associate at the China Centre, Oxford University, and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, explores whether China can bounce back in the coming months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the G20 was underway this week, global attention sharply focused on a tiny Polish village near the Ukrainian border. News came that a missile had killed two local residents. Russia insists it played no part in the incident, but as investigations progress, U.S. President Joe Biden, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and Polish President Duda all said preliminary findings indicate the explosion came from a Ukrainian air defense missile. What does this mean for Ukrainians, their supporters in the West, and Vladimir Putin? One Decision's Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6 considers how this conflict is increasingly at risk of spilling beyond Russia's and Ukraine's borders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China's leader, Xi Jinping, now holds nearly limitless power and is largely in control of the country. This podcast explores Xi's political journey, his response to health and economic pressures, and his backstory. It also delves into the challenges to Xi's control, the fragilities in the Chinese system, and the potential for Western espionage in China. The podcast examines the consequences of the housing market collapse, the loyalty of Xi's appointees, and the seriousness of Chinese intelligence activities.

When the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union just one English-speaking member was left. Irish Minister of European Affairs Thomas Byrne says his small nation is increasingly playing a larger, more strategic role in international affairs. It currently sits on the United Nations Security Council and enjoys a closer relationship with Washington than many of their neighbors. Yet, it’s traditional neutrality has limited the support it provides to Ukraine and questions remain on how it’s border with Northern Ireland will get settled. The Minister provided an update on those backroom negotiations and whether his country is starting to see an economic boom from Brexit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the United States prepares to hold national elections for the first time since the January 6th Capitol riots, tensions are running extremely high. The Department of Homeland Security has warned that misinformation and conspiracy theories continue to fan the flames of domestic extremism. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was recently beaten with a hammer by an intruder, who told police he was on a “suicide mission” and had plans to attack other politicians.  One Decision sits down with the BBC's US Special Correspondent Katty Kay, recently returned from a tour of battleground states - where some people told her that if elections didn’t go their way, they would pick up their arms. America’s democracy and stability could hang in the balance next week.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former head of MI6 does not often take questions from the public. To mark One Decision’s first year, Sir Richard Dearlove agreed to take a few submitted by our listeners via social media and the web site. He provides analysis, intrigue and his behind-the-scenes insights on the issues that are on the top of your minds. We look back at pivotal points in recent history like the Iraq War and the role that intelligence played in the West’s decision to go to war. We look ahead to what China is likely to do on Taiwan. We look around at how the world is responding to the threats of climate change, changing demographics, and our polarizing political environment. This is a truly unique episode created by our audience across the globe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices