Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

Palau is a tiny Pacific nation located in one of the hottest geo-strategic areas on Earth. They are highly dependent on the US for finance and defence but subject to Chinese pressure to revoke their formal recognition of Taiwan. Despite these challenges, Palau's greatest concern is actually the threat of climate change making parts of their country uninhabitable.Guest: President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr. Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs are laser-focused on Southeast Asia, with manufacturing countries singled out for the highest tax rates.Australia has got off lightly, but can we avoid the blow back when our region is under pressure?Where do Australia's best interests really lie?Guest: Dr Joseph Liow, author of Navigating Uncertainty: Our Region in an Age of Flux; Tan Kah Kee Chair in international politics, Nanyang Technological University; Singapore representative to ASEAN advisory board. Recommendations:Geraldine: 'I should have seen this coming', The AtlanticHamish: 'Trump’s tariffs will push Southeast Asia uncomfortably close to China', Chatham HouseGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Zhou Bo, a retired Senior Colonel in the People’s Liberation Army and author, offers a unique glimpse into China's viewpoint on the global turmoil triggered by the U.S. He discusses how Beijing perceives this chaos—framing it as both a challenge and an opportunity. The conversation touches on China's historical narratives, its evolving role in international relations, and critiques of the Western-centric perspective. Insightful reflections on the delicate dynamics with India and Australia add depth, emphasizing the importance of understanding diverse geopolitical narratives.

Donald Trump's strategy on tariffs is inspired by the 'Gilded Age' of US history, when the federal government drew most of its income from taxes on foreign imports. Now some of America's closest allies have been slapped with tariffs and there are growing risks of a trade war.Guest: Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of MichiganRecommendations:Geraldine: 'The Wonders of Europe', SBS on DemandHamish: Sir Gareth Southgate - Boys need role models not gaming and porn, BBC Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The Irish rockstar is fired up as he claims his life's work is being ripped apart by the new US administration. In this passionate and surprising conversation Sir Bob discusses cuts to aid budgets in the US and UK, what Australia should be doing to stand up to Donald Trump and why he no longer listens to music.  Guest: Bob Geldof, musician and co-founder of the Band Aid Charitable TrustRecommendations: Geraldine: Repeat: A Warning from History, Dennis GloverHamish: Queen performs at Live Aid, 1985Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has said of AUKUS that "we don't need to be a pair of shoes hanging out of America's backside". Is that a fair characterisation of Australia's position vis a vis AUKUS? Are we getting the short end of the stick with this deal, and sacrificing our sovereignty to boot? NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024.GUESTS:Sam Roggeveen - Director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Program. He is the author of The Echidna Strategy: Australia’s Search for Power and PeaceMalcolm Turnbull - 29th Prime Minister of Australia 2015-2018.Richard Marles - the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Minister for Defence and the Federal Member for Corio.GET IN TOUCH: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

There was jubilation in Syria last year when Bashar Al-Assad fled the country after 14 years of civil war.But peace won't come easy and the country's new rulers face a host of hurdles as they try to bring order to a country riven by years of conflict.GUEST: Heidi Pett - Freelance producer, journalist and videographer.Get in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

The United States is tearing down the foundations that have underpinned the west since the end of the second world war.Traditional alliances have been turned on their head, and Australia is not immune.Should we go it alone without our biggest ally, and are Australia's future leaders ready for the job ahead?Guests: Latika Bourke - Writer at Large, The Nightly and an Expert Associate at the ANU’s National Security College. Sam Roggeveen - Director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program Recommendations:Geraldine: What Trump miscalculates about American power | The Saturday PaperHamish: Trump and the end of American soft powerGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

In this episode Hamish and Geraldine examine the strategic thinking behind AUKUS. If China has undertaken the most rapid military expansion of any country since WWII, how does the AUKUS pact factor into Beijing's thinking? And does a plan that ties us more closely to the United States make us more or less safe?NOTE: This podcast was first released on 20 December 2024.GUESTS:Zhou Bo – Senior Colonel (Ret.) of China's People's Liberation Army, is Senior Fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University. Vice Admiral Mark Hammond - Chief of the Royal Australian Navy.Hugh Jeffrey - Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy, and Industry, Department of DefenceGET IN TOUCH: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au

As talk of American isolationism under Donald Trump grows louder, big questions are being asked about the future of the US-Australia alliance.How should Australia see its place in the Indo-Pacific if China ultimately takes control of east Asia?Guest: Hugh White - Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University.Recommendations:Geraldine: SpielbergHamish: Deal With Kurds May Benefit Erdogan at Home and AbroadGet in touch:We'd love to hear from you! Email us at global.roaming@abc.net.au