Best European Council on Foreign Relations Podcasts (2025)

1
100 days of Trump 28:32

4d ago28:32

28:32

Trump’s first 100 days in office have brought chaos to US foreign and domestic policy. From imperial gestures to institutional erosion, Mark Leonard welcomes Jeremy Shapiro to unpack what this means for American democracy—and for Europe. From territorial provocations and budget slashes to institutional chaos and a reordering of US foreign policy, D…

1
What’s next for Berlin? 14:31

5d ago14:31

14:31

Friedrich Merz is set to become Germany’s next chancellor after Social Democratic Party members approved a coalition agreement with the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union—bringing Olaf Scholz’s tenure to an end. In this emergency episode of World in 30 Minutes, Mark Leonard is joined by Jana Puglieri…

1
Ceasefire in Ukraine? 15:34

7d ago15:34

15:34

On the 100th day of Donald Trump’s second term, the war in Ukraine—which he promised to end within 24 hours—rages on. As Trump’s impatience with the conflict grows, Ukraine and its European allies are scrambling to prevent an imposed peace deal that would see Kyiv recognise Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine , and abandon…

1
Nuclear diplomacy: Trump, Iran and a potential new deal 32:25

11d ago32:25

32:25

After years of stalled diplomacy, the US and Iran are back in high-level talks. Surprise meetings have taken place in Oman and Rome, with more expected soon. Could this be President Donald Trump’s long-awaited foreign policy win? Or will competing agendas, regional tensions and internal divisions doom the negotiations before they begin? This week, …

1
Tariffs, tensions, and trade: Trump’s gamble on China 30:26

18d ago30:26

30:26

Two weeks after Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement shook global markets, he has now offered most countries a 90-day reprieve—while simultaneously escalating trade tensions with China by imposing harsher penalties. So far, China has responded by matching each tariff hike with its own response. This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Agathe Demarai…

1
From Brexit to breakthrough? The future of EU-UK cooperation 42:55

25d ago42:55

42:55

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Mujtaba Rahman, managing director, Europe, at Eurasia Group, to explore the evolving dynamic between the EU and the UK. With a new British government under Keir Starmer and shifting global currents, what are the real opportunities—and constraints—for a meaningful reset in EU-UK relations? Mark and Mujtaba discus…

1
Porcupine play: How Taiwan defends its democracy 28:42

1M ago28:42

28:42

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Camille Grand, ECFR distinguished policy fellow, and Janka Oertel, head of ECFR’s Asia programme, who have recently returned from Taipei. Together, they explore Taiwan’s delicate balancing act as China ramps up its military drills and as the second Trump administration’s priorities shift. The conversation dives …

1
Trump’s tariff bombshell: Rewriting the rules of global trade 16:50

1M ago16:50

16:50

In this emergency room episode, Mark Leonard is joined by Agathe Demarais, ECFR senior policy fellow and geoeconomics team leader. They explore the dramatic implications of Donald Trump’s unexpected and aggressive tariff policies announcement on 2nd April—which he has dubbed “Independence Day.” Mark and Agathe discuss the economic shockwaves hittin…

1
Le Pen’s fall: Europe’s far-right faces a reckoning 15:15

1M ago15:15

15:15

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Célia Belin, head of ECFR’s Paris office, to dive into the seismic news shaking French politics: the conviction of Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN). A French court has found Le Pen guilty of misusing European Parliament funds, sentencing her to a five-year ban from public office and eff…

1
Europe’s Asian pivot: India and the quest for strategic autonomy 29:34

1M ago29:34

29:34

This week, Mark Leonard hosts an expert panel to dive into Europe’s evolving relationships with Asia amid the uncertainties of the Trump administration. Joining from Berlin is Janka Oertel, head of ECFR’s Asia programme; from London, James Crabtree, a distinguished visiting fellow at ECFR with extensive Asia experience; and from New Delhi, Rudra Ch…

1
Signal scandal: The US and its shifting alliances 14:21

1M ago14:21

14:21

This week, Mark Leonard joins forces with Jeremy Shapiro, ECFR’s director of research and US programme director, to unpick two momentous geopolitical disruptions. First, a stunning scandal emerged from a Signal group chat, where senior US officials—including the vice president, secretary of defence and CIA director—carelessly looped in the Atlantic…

1
Erdogan’s crackdown: Turkey and the fight for democracy 18:47

1M ago18:47

18:47

This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, associate senior policy fellow for ECFR’s Wider Europe programme and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, to discuss the dramatic arrest of Istanbul’s popular mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. The arrest sparked nationwide protests; together they explore whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s bold …

1
Europe vs. Trump: Deterrence or escalation? 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

This week, Mark Leonard hosts Tobias Gehrke, an ECFR senior policy fellow specialising in geoeconomics and economic security, and José Ignacio Torreblanca, head of ECFR’s Madrid office and expert on tech geopolitics, to explore how Europe can counter a potentially hostile Trump administration. With trade wars looming and the US flexing its power, M…

1
Decoding the call: What the Trump-Putin exchange means for global politics 11:10

2M ago11:10

11:10

This week, Mark Leonard is joined by Kirill Shamiev, a policy fellow with ECFR’s Wider Europe programme, to dissect the outcomes and implications of the historic phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin—which, at two-and-a-half-hours, was the longest between American and Russian leaders in history. Mark and Kirill explore the three key ou…

1
Divide and conquer: Trump’s class war 13:35

2M ago13:35

13:35

In this episode, Mark Leonard is joined by Adam Tooze—ECFR trustee, the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis professor of history at Columbia University, director of the university’s European Institute and author—to discuss Donald Trump’s rise through a class lens. They examine how job losses and cultural divides, as well as frustration with media, tech…

1
Trump’s shadow: Reshaping politics and policy across Europe 24:09

2M ago24:09

24:09

Donald Trump's presidency has cast a significant shadow over Europe, reshaping its varied political landscapes and policy decisions. As the continent navigates this transformative era, it also faces tests to its unity and cohesion. This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Célia Belin, ECFR senior policy fellow and head of the Paris office, Piotr Buras, ECF…

1
Ceasefire or crossroads: Ukraine, the US and Russia's next move 15:36

2M ago15:36

15:36

This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Marie Dumoulin, head of ECFR’s Wider Europe programme, to explore the implications of and strategic motives behind a newly announced Ukraine-US agreement amid the Russia conflict. The deal includes a 30-day ceasefire, and resumed US intelligence sharing and military aid for Ukraine. Will Russia reciprocate or escala…

1
Nuclear rhetoric: Merz, Tusk and the future of deterrence 15:55

2M ago15:55

15:55

This week Mark Leonard welcomes Piotr Buras senior policy fellow and head of ECFR’s Warsaw office to discuss the recent shifts in Europe’s defence strategy. On the weekend, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz’s has said he would pursue discussions with France and Britain on sharing nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Polish prime minister Donald…

1
After Assad: Shifting power and new politics in Syria 40:56

2M ago40:56

40:56

Fourteen years after the outbreak of civil war, Syria is at a critical juncture. Beyond its borders, regional tensions continue to shape its fate. Meanwhile, traditional global powers, particularly the US, remain largely disengaged—raising questions about the risk of inaction. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of ECFR’s …

1
ECFR’s Emergency Room: What America’s aid pause means for Ukraine and Europe 13:41

2M ago13:41

13:41

Europeans face major challenges in maintaining transatlantic relations amid Trump’s withdrawal of US support for Ukraine; now ECFR has declared a policy emergency. Over the next month, Mark Leonard will host a 15-minute long emergency podcast ECFR’s Emergency Room every Monday and Wednesday, alongside our regular Friday episodes. To kick things off…

1
German elections: Impact and implications for Europe 38:13

2M ago38:13

38:13

The final episode of Searching for Deutschland—a special crossover with the World in 30 Minutes—sees experts from Berlin, London, Paris and Warsaw break down the result of Germany’s federal election and discuss what comes next. Coalition negotiations are underway; Germany's shifting political dynamics will shape the country's future while carrying …

1
What comes next: European discord or European leadership? 38:42

2M ago38:42

38:42

The final episode of Searching for Deutschland—a special crossover with the World in 30 Minutes—sees experts from Berlin, London, Paris and Warsaw break down the result of Germany’s federal election and discuss what comes next. Coalition negotiations are underway; Germany's shifting political dynamics will shape the country's future while carrying …

1
Germany's election results: Continuity or turning point? 58:04

2M ago58:04

58:04

On the morning after Germany's election, Searching for Deutschland hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin were joined for a live webinar by ECFR colleagues Timo Lochocki and Janka Oertel. They discussed the results; prospects of a coalition between the CDU/CSU and SPD; likely chancellor Friedrich Merz's direction on China, the EU and the US; and th…

1
Hot and cold wars: How Eurasia shaped the modern geopolitical world 29:16

2M ago29:16

29:16

Hal Brands argues that, while American power is often seen as dominating the modern era, it is in fact part of a long and violent Eurasian century. From world war one to today's geopolitical tensions involving the US and the authoritarian axis of China, Iran and Russia, the Eurasian landmass has consistently shaped global conflict. This week Mark L…

1
Ukraine and the US-Russia talks: Deterrence or disarray? 37:07

2M ago37:07

37:07

In Searching for Deutschland’s last pre-election episode, hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin review the Munich Security Conference, the US-Russia talks on Ukraine, and what the new era in transatlantic relations means for Germany and its next government. They also look ahead to Germany's polling day on 23rd February, before Moritz Gathmann and …

1
Live from the Munich Security Conference: Europe’s wake-up call 38:57

3M ago38:57

38:57

Last week, US president Donald Trump shocked Europeans when he announced the start of peace talks on the war in Ukraine, following a call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Trump’s announcement fuelled fears that peace talks could begin without Ukrainians or Europeans at the table, and result in key concessions to Moscow. In this episode,…

1
Defence and the Zeitenwende: Glass half-empty or half-full? 39:26

3M ago39:26

39:26

Ahead of the Munich Security Conference, hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin talk German defence and the future of the country's armed forces. They review the first televised debate between Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz and discuss new ECFR polling, which illustrates German pessimism about Europe's future. ECFR colleagues Ulrike Franke and Rafa…

1
The Norwegian way: Why Oslo talks to everyone 32:30

3M ago32:30

32:30

As a committed NATO ally and EU partner, Norway is deeply embedded in Western security structures and stands firmly with Ukraine against Russian aggression. But its ‘Norwegian model’ of foreign policy—engaging in dialogue with actors and countries whose values and interests contradict its own—is unique. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Andreas Motzf…

1
Euroscepticism in Germany: Normalisation or radicalisation? 33:51

3M ago33:51

33:51

This week, hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin discuss German election campaign frontrunner Friedrich Merz's bid to win Bundestag votes on migration with support from the far-right AfD. Political scientist Marcel Lewandowsky joins the podcast to discuss the apparent rise of Euroscepticism in Germany: does Merz's gambit mean his CDU envisions a m…

1
Europe confronts Trump: the politics of transatlantic relations 33:50

3M ago33:50

33:50

Less than two weeks into his second term and President Donald Trump is already dominating global headlines. From reigniting trade war threats and doubling down on his ambitions to acquire Greenland, to withdrawing from multilateral agreements and demanding that NATO allies allocate 5% of their GDP to defence—his administration is swiftly attempting…

1
The China factor: Compete or double down? 39:35

3M ago39:35

39:35

Germany's industrial model thrived for years thanks to soaring Chinese demand. But the relationship has recently become more contentious. This week, hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin are joined by Janka Oertel to discuss the future impact of political and economic divisions over Germany's China policy. And another topic, hot off the press, is …

1
Insights from Davos: Trump’s impact on the global economy 22:01

3M ago22:01

22:01

ECFR is live from the WEF 2025 in Davos, where top business leaders are gathered to discuss the state of the world. After Donald Trump’s inauguration just three days ago, attendees eagerly await the absent US president's video address on Thursday afternoon. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Carl Bildt, co-chair of ECFR’s council and former prime mini…

1
Trump and tariffs: Stick or carrot? 36:46

3M ago36:46

36:46

With President Donald Trump and his threat of sweeping tariffs looming large over the German election campaign, co-hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin discuss the latest from the campaign trail before welcoming Tobias Gehrke and Daniela Schwarzer to discuss how Trump's tariffs could affect Germany—and how the country should respond. Could this d…

1
Election countdown: New Germany, new Europe, new podcast 32:36

4M ago32:36

32:36

With just five weeks remaining until the German federal election, Friedrich Merz's CDU is leading in the polls. But significant shifts in geopolitics—and opinion—can occur in weeks and days: and this election will take place in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s inauguration and amid the stagnation of the Franco-German engine. Now, recognising the imp…

1
German leadership: Gone for good or just resting? 32:37

4M ago32:37

32:37

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Searching for Deutschland, a new podcast by ECFR exploring the European and foreign policy dimensions of the German election on February 23rd. Hosts Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin join Mark Leonard, ECFR's director, for a World in 30 Minutes [AS1] crossover to discuss their plans for the coming weeks and the pr…

1
Germany has gone missing 1:08

4M ago1:08

1:08

On 23 February, Germany will hold an election—but the country seems to have turned inwards. Relations with France and Poland, its two essential partners, have deteriorated; where the country previously provided the European project with leadership at crucial moments, it now drags its feet. As a result, Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin are “Searchin…

1
Poland’s presidency: A new European leadership 31:03

4M ago31:03

31:03

On 1 January, Poland assumed presidency of the EU Council. But it steps into the spotlight during a period of seismic geopolitical shifts. With the war in Ukraine raging and Donald Trump’s imminent return to power, Poland faces immense pressure to lead while navigating Europe’s complex security landscape. This week Mark Leonard welcomes Joanna Bekk…

1
Ten foreign policy predictions for 2025 17:57

4M ago17:57

17:57

2024 was a year of intense geopolitical shifts and growing uncertainty. But one thing remains consistent: ECFR’s ever-popular predictions podcast. In our first outing for 2025, Mark Leonard and ECFR research director Jeremy Shapiro team up to reflect on the accuracy of last year’s predictions—and, with crystal balls in hand, try to decipher which f…

1
Forging peace: Europe’s role in Ukraine’s future 36:57

5M ago36:57

36:57

As Donald Trump’s return to the presidency looms, European leaders are intensifying their diplomatic efforts. Emmanuel Macron has met with Donald Tusk to discuss European troop deployments, while a high-stakes meeting in Brussels with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and EU leaders included discussions on po…

1
A fragmented world: Europe’s geoeconomic dilemmas 35:15

5M ago35:15

35:15

As the world becomes increasingly disordered and fragmented, Europe faces mounting geoeconomic challenges on multiple fronts: Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s ambitions in Taiwan, and the uncertain future of transatlantic relations under Donald Trump. To remain relevant, European policymakers must step up and approach supply chains, trade rules, in…

1
Live from the Doha Forum: The Middle East after Assad 33:16

5M ago33:16

33:16

Given the turbulence across Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran, conversations at this year’s Doha Forum highlighted a Middle East region, and a world order, in flux. Now the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and the upcoming Donald Trump administration will shape American relations in the Middle East – and changing regional priorities and dynam…

1
Trump’s return: What’s next for the war in Ukraine 42:44

5M ago42:44

42:44

Its almost three years after Russia invaded Ukraine and, despite small Russian gains in the east, the war looks no closer to reaching a military conclusion. But with Donald Trump’s re-election, change is in the air. Talk of a ceasefire, once taboo, is now common in Washington and even in eastern European capitals – not to mention among government o…

1
Ceasefire in Lebanon 25:10

5M ago25:10

25:10

After weeks of negotiations, US president Joe Biden announced that Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon. However, it remains unclear whether the development will really help end the Middle East conflict which started 14 months ago and became even deadlier following Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza in October. This week, Mark L…

1
Brazil’s role in a changing world order 32:01

5M ago32:01

32:01

On Monday, the world’s 20 largest economies descended on Rio de Janeiro for the annual G20 summit. But Brazil’s wider role in the shifting world order is frequently misperceived in Western discourse. Many tend to categorise it either as a close partner of Russia and China, or as a staunch supporter of the international order established by the West…

1
What Trump’s election means for Europe 56:53

6M ago56:53

56:53

Donald Trump's first stint as president – with his “America First” stance and isolationist foreign policy – disrupted relations between the US and Europe, especially over NATO, trade, and the climate. Now the world is faced with further challenges, such as the war in Ukraine: and Trump’s return could prompt European countries to seek greater milita…

1
Germany special: The coalition collapse 37:57

6M ago37:57

37:57

On 6 November, the same day that Donald Trump was re-elected as US president, Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed his minister of finance, Christian Lindner – and the country’s ‘traffic light’ coalition government collapsed. Since then, an interim government has been in place: but its future is uncertain amid a rapidly changing world. This w…

1
US election special: Donald Trump wins 39:28

6M ago39:28

39:28

The polls have closed, the counting is almost over, and it is certain: there will be a second Donald Trump administration. With his historic and unprecedent second victory, the Republican party not only won the electoral college, but also regained control of the Senate – and look set to gain control of the House of Representatives and win the popul…

1
Russia’s playbook in Georgia and Moldova 40:40

6M ago40:40

40:40

The recent elections in Georgia and Moldova were marred by significant Russian interference, including disinformation campaigns and vote-buying. As the Kremlin seeks to undermine the candidate countries’ EU futures, Brussels needs to take action. This week, Mark Leonard welcomes Tefta Kelmendi, deputy director of the ECFR Wider Europe Programme, an…

1
China’s trade challenges for the European economy 35:45

6M ago35:45

35:45

EU member states have voted to implement proposed tariffs of up to 45 per cent on Chinese electric vehicles. Germany was among five member states to vote against this, isolating itself among its counterparts. In response to the vote, China imposed anti-dumping measures on European brandy imports. But if geopolitical tensions escalate, the EU’s most…

1
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis 32:36

7M ago32:36

32:36

Since the Sudanese civil war began in 2023, millions of people have been displaced, and thousands killed or injured: as European governments focus on crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, the brutal conflict has led to a humanitarian catastrophe. Now, while various actors such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United States variously mediate in Suda…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

European Council On Foreign Relations Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide