Battle Lines

Donald Trump has launched fresh talks with Iran to negotiate a new nuclear deal, vowing that there will be “all hell to pay” if Tehran does not agree to disarm. As foreign reporter Akhtar Makoii tells Venetia Rainey, it comes amid a major buildup of American military assets in the Middle East. Israel has repeatedly pushed for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, would the US go through with it if Iran refuses to compromise?Meanwhile, China recently completed some surprise live-fire drills around Taiwan. Former diplomat, historian and author Kerry Brown explains how worried we should be and gives his assessment of the landing barges that have recently been revealed.Contact us with feedback or ideas:battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

What began as Donald Trump’s sweeping trade war against much of the world has sharpened into a tense standoff between two global giants: the United States and China. While Trump eased or delayed tariffs on many countries, China remained the outlier — and the economic tensions have only intensified. In this episode, we trace how the trade war has evolved, why China is still firmly in the firing line, and what the economic implications could be for both nations.We’ll hear from Kelly Ann Shaw, who advised President Trump on global trade during his first term, to understand the thinking behind the White House’s strategy. And with The Telegraph’s senior foreign correspondent, Sophia Yan, we’ll explore what Beijing wants out of this moment — and how it’s trying to project strength. Sophia lived in China during the height of the last trade war and brings rare, on-the-ground insight into how much has changed. The big question: is Xi Jinping open to striking a deal?Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

Can Trump bring peace to the Middle East? Should the UK recognise Palestine as a state? Should the West work more closely with China? Is the FCDO doing enough to help citizens detained abroad?Known for being straight-talking and forthright, Emily Thornberry is chair of the influential Foreign Affairs Committee and the long-serving Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury. She joins Venetia Rainey for a special bonus episode of Battle Lines to answer all those questions and more. She discusses why she thinks frozen Russian assets need to be given to Ukraine, who should be sanctioned in the current "outrageous" Israeli government, and why the UK is right to give the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius. Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

A newly released video casts doubt on Israel’s initial account of the deadly attack on a convoy of ambulances and a fire truck in Gaza, leaving 15 rescue workers dead. Roland Oliphant speaks with co-host Venetia Rainey about the footage and the broader implications of the collapse of the ceasefire.Plus, we turn to Sudan, where the Sudanese Armed Forces have regained control of Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces. Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator David Blair explains why the ongoing conflict in Sudan is currently the deadliest crisis in the world.Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

In this episode, we dive into the controversial decision surrounding the Chagos Islands, with Donald Trump reportedly signing off on a deal to return them to Mauritius. Venetia Rainey sits down with Associate Political Editor Tony Diver to discuss the potential security implications for the UK, US, and Asia, and why Trump might have suddenly backed this move. We also explore the possibility of Trump serving a third term, as political expert Bruce Peabody breaks down the legal options that could make it feasible. He outlines six scenarios that have been around for decades and explains why Trump's camp are not the first to hint at such a move.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/31/iran-urged-to-strike-diego-garcia-base-immediately/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/01/donald-trump-signs-off-keir-starmer-chagos-deal/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/01/mauritius-chagos-islands-agalga-indian-ocean-india-china/Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

Myanmar is reeling from a major earthquake that has hit residents who are already struggling to survive amid a brutal four-year civil war. Venetia Rainey speaks to Asia correspondent Sarah Newey about her recent reporting trip from inside the country about how this will affect the junta’s grip on power and why things are likely to go from bad to worse. Plus, we look at a major debate underway in Australia about the growing risk posed by China after Beijing sent an unprecedented naval flotilla to circle the country. With snap elections now called for May, Sam Roggeveen, Director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Program, explains why there is a tussle over the defence budget and how well equipped the Australian Defence Force is.Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

This week, we discovered that recent US airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were coordinated over the unsecured Signal messaging app, where officials accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor of The Atlantic, to the group chat. This astonishing security lapse offered a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into America’s top national security figures as they make high-stakes decisions. So, what did we learn?Plus: As Vice President J.D. Vance visits America’s air base in Northern Greenland following Donald Trump’s declaration that he will do whatever it takes to assert control over the island, we examine what a potential US annexation means for Denmark, Greenland, and the broader Arctic.Roland Oliphant is joined by David Blair, former foreign policy speech writer at No10, Curt Mills, Executive Editor of The American Conservative, Danish politician and MEP Anders Vistisen, and Charly Salonius-Pasternak, CEO of Nordic West Office.Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

Turkey and Israel: two Middle Eastern democracies in crisis. Venetia Rainey talks to Süddeutsche Zeitung journalist Raphael Geiger in Istanbul about why President Recep Tayyep Erdogan's arrest of the city's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has sparked rare protests, and what might happen next. Henry Bodkin, our correspondent in Israel, explains how the sacking of Ronen Bar, the head of the internal security agency Shin Bet, has sparked fears that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is consolidating unprecedented power and removing critics.Read:'Netanyahu spy scandal leaves PM fighting on two fronts' by Henry Bodkin:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/22/netanyahu-spy-scandal-leaves-pm-fighting-on-two-fronts/Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant

Canadians are angry, very angry. US president Donald Trump is not backing down from his annexation plans - and this week he even called the country "nasty".On last week's episode, we looked at a small minority of Canadian separatists who said they would welcome Trump's plan to turn Canada into the 51st state. It caused quite a stir among our Canadian listeners. So on today's episode, we go back to Canada and look at the majority's view on Trump's expansionist plans and how the current crisis is affecting politics there in unusual ways ahead of new Prime Minister Mark Carney calling a snap election expected in April.We hear first-hand from some of our Canadian listeners and Roland Oliphant is joined by Mark MacKinnon, senior international correspondent at Canadian broadsheet, The Globe and Mail.Read:'We want to live in America’s 51st state: The Canadians pledging their loyalty to Trump' by Memphis Barker:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/03/15/the-canadians-who-want-trump-to-turn-canada-into-51st-state/Listen:Trump Edition: Annexing Canada, negotiating with Russia and containing Chinahttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trump-edition-annexing-canada-negotiating-with-russia/id1712903296?i=1000699135822Contact us with feedback or ideasbattlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant