Olivia O’Sullivan

In this episode, Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, and Olivia O'Sullivan, Director at Chatham House, delve into the chilling consequences of cutting aid to bolster defense spending. They argue that such moves threaten national security and allow competitors like China to seize influence. Dannatt reflects on past engagements in Sudan and Bosnia, demonstrating how development can foster peace. O'Sullivan highlights the severe impacts on global health, including rising infectious diseases, as cuts disproportionately affect vulnerable regions and essential programs.

Lucy Fisher, FT's Whitehall Editor, and experts Olivia O’Sullivan and Alex Krasodomski discuss the potential impacts of AI, the competition between UK and US, the difficulties of regulating AI technology, and the contrasting approaches to AI regulation in the UK and US.

Join James Landale, BBC’s diplomatic editor, Anand Menon, an expert on UK-Europe relations, and Olivia O’Sullivan, director at Chatham House, as they dissect UK foreign policy under Keir Starmer. They tackle the challenges of the UK's relationship with Europe, the implications of the Chagos Islands sovereignty debate, and how these factors could shape Britain's global standing by 2025. With rising geopolitical tensions, they discuss the necessity for strategic leadership to redefine the UK's role on the world stage.

This discussion features Olivia O'Sullivan, a director and policy expert on UK politics, James Kynge, a senior researcher on China and Asia-Pacific economic strategies, and Sébastien Maillard, an associate fellow on European politics and economics. They dive into the implications of the UK's latest budget amid political leaks and constrained choices due to Labour's manifesto. Comparisons are drawn between UK and Asian growth strategies, highlighting the challenges of a slow EU reset and the urgent need for reform to boost productivity in Europe.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Creon Butler, Olivia O’Sullivan, and Nicolai von Ondarza explore whether Europe can step up as a global leader as the US's influence wanes. They tackle the complexities of European unity in economic strategies, illustrating the differing trade policies of member states like Germany and Hungary. The trio also delves into Europe's defense capabilities and the necessity for coordinated action amid geopolitical tensions. With Brexit impacting UK-EU relations, the conversation emphasizes the urgency for Europe to take on greater responsibility in leadership.