Roundtable

The nationalist parties of the UK's devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have warned 'Westminster’s time is coming to an end'.The Scottish National Party, Wales’ Plaid Cymru and all-Ireland Sinn Féin joined forces to sign a declaration on their ‘right to self determination’.Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill called for independence referendums while Wales’ First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth hasn’t given a specific timetable for one in his country.US President Donald Trump has given his blessing for the unification of Ireland, saying he would 'love' to see it and that it 'may as well happen now’.So, is the breakup of the United Kingdom becoming a real possibility? What would Scottish or Welsh independence or Irish reunification actually look like?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Kitty Donaldson, Chief Political Commentator at The i PaperNeil Findlay Former Labour Member of the Scottish ParliamentKevin Meagher, Author of ' A United Ireland'Follow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The 81st UN General Assembly is underway in New York, with nearly 130 world leaders gathering to discuss wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, humanitarian crises and the rapid development of AI.This year’s theme is ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.’But behind the speeches is another pressing question: who can the UN rely on for financial support?The EU and its member states provided more than one third of the UN system’s voluntary funding in 2025.While US support for international assistance has been sharply reduced under President Trump. The US owes over $4 billion to the UN in unpaid mandatory contributions.So, as the United States steps back, is Europe becoming an increasingly important partner for the United Nations?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Mark SeddonFormer Speech Writer for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonJane KinninmontChief Executive Officer at the United Nations Association - UKOliver DrewesFormer EU Commission SpokespersonFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Mass anti-migrant protests have been erupting in Britain with hundreds of masked men blocking England's busiest port Dover and in Portsmouth where a mega dinghy carrying 140 migrants landed.Riot police clashed with the demonstrators as they tried to stop a bus carrying asylum seekers from leaving.During the most recent protests in Portsmouth two men and a teenage boy were arrested.The government has condemned the violent behaviour calling it "thuggish and intimidating".Anti-immigration group Patriot Platform led by influencer Danny Thomas organised the protests and donations have been rolling in for the platform.So why is Britain experiencing an increase in anti-immigrant sentiment when the number of small boats arriving has actually dropped since last year's record highs.Plus, how will the arrival of new mega dinghies along a different migration impact numbers? Can the boats be stopped? And if they are, will it calm anti-migrant tensions?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Claire PearsallFormer Special Adviser at the UK's Home OfficeSebastian SalekFormer Labour Councillor and Political JournalistMihnea CuibusSenior Researcher at The Migration Observatory at the University of OxfordFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The Alternative for Deutschland party has won an historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.The right-wing anti-migrant party took 43.8% of the vote to win its first state premiership and is in seeking support from other parties in order to govern.For months the AfD has also been riding high in national opinion polls as the country’s most popular party.Where does this leave the unpopular German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his centre-right CDU? Could this be the start of the AfD's path to ruling Germany?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Frank-Christian Hansel, Member of the Berlin parliament for the AFDAuthor, John KampfnerJavier Carbonell, Analyst at the European Policy CentreEd Turner, Co-director for the Centre for Europe at Aston UniversityFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld#AfD #GermanPolitics #SaxonyAnhalt #Europe #europeanpolitics

The UK Metropolitan Police is carrying out a criminal investigation into allegations the Reform party broke electoral law by accepting foreign funding, following a Channel 4 news undercover report.Two of the party's top aides James Orr and Dan Jukes who were filmed in the report resigned over the scandal.Reform UK spokesperson said the party ‘denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation’.Support for the party has already started to slip, polling has dropped from over 30% in late 2025 to around 20% last month.Farage is still popular with his base and with fellow right-wing leaders in Europe, such as Jordan Bardella from France’s National Rally.As the police begin their investigation into this donation scandal, can Farage revive his party’s popularity?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Mark LittlewoodDirector of Popular ConservatismScarlett MccGwireFormer Labour AdvisorAdam BoultonBroadcaster and Political EditorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Germany has blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport as tensions between the two countries escalate.The EU has vowed to increase pressure on Russia with new sanctions.Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is no evidence and claims the Leipzig incident was linked to Germany's political situation.As relations between the two countries nosedive, Germany is planning a $14 billion investment in a new generation of long-range missiles to deter future Russian threats.Internal documents reveal the project is now viewed as a critical defence priority for both Germany and NATO.As Germany strengthens Europe’s defences against Russia, could it trigger greater Russian aggression?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Natia SeskuriaHead of the Russia, Eurasia and Black Sea Security Programme at RUSIEdward KnudsenEconomic Security Analyst at RAND EuropePatrick BuryFormer NATO AnalystPaul KingFormer Editor of Nato ReviewFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Ukraine's ousted defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has triggered a major political controversy by calling for presidential elections in a direct challenge to President Zelenskyy's leadership.Accusing Zelenskyy's government of corruption, Fedorov has broken a major wartime political taboo by calling for elections to be held while Ukraine is at war, saying democracy cannot be 'held hostage by Russia'.The term of Zelenskyy, who was elected back in 2019, technically ran out two years ago, but Ukraine's constitution currently postpones elections when the country is at war.While some protestors back Fedorov's calls for a vote, many are concerned that they could be exploited by Russia, not least Zelenskyy himself, who said that they would split the country and cause a 'tsunami'.Joining Enda Brady to discuss whether Ukraine should, or even can, have elections, are:Olesia HoriainovaDeputy Head of Ukrainian Security and Cooperation CentreMary DejevskyForeign Affairs Columnist at The IndependentPaul IngramDirector of the Global Stability NetworkFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Russia has issued the UK with another warning after Britain announced it will provide Ukraine with blueprints for the Storm Shadow missile, allowing Kiev to explore domestic production of the long-range weapon.The plan was announced by UK’s new prime minister Andy Burnham during his first international visit. He was in Kiev for the country’s 35th Independence Day to show his support for Ukraine.The two countries also signed a defence deal for new military AI intelligence which will give the UK access to Ukraine’s battlefield data.Moscow has repeatedly condemned Britain’s support for Ukraine and its latest warning points to British drone factories as potential targets.How far will the Kremlin go with its threats?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Lara MarloweJournalistJohn ForemanUK’s Former Defence Attache to Moscow and KievMarko GasicInternational ConsultantFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has a new challenger threatening to split the right ahead of next year's election.The charismatic former army general Roberto Vannacci and his new far-right party National Future has been gaining support in Italy with a tough stance on immigration at its core.Vannacci separated from Matteo Salvini’s LEGA, part of the ruling coalition, earlier this year and National Future has since overtaken them in the polls.Could Vannacci get enough support to earn his place in the coalition and what is driving his growing popularity?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Cecilia SottilottaProfessor of Political Science at the University for Foreigners of PerugiaValerio BordonaroVice President of European Palermo Youth CentreFreddy GrayDeputy Editor of The SpectatorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld