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Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva was sworn in as Brazil’s president for the third time in January in a stunning comeback following four years of Bolsonaro’s far-right government. The newly inaugurated president now faces an uphill battle to rebuild his country and reinstate Brazil as a leading player on the world stage. What will Lula’s foreign policy look like? Andrew Mueller speaks to Fernando Augusto Pacheco, Christopher Sabatini, Cecilia Tornaghi and Sarah Shenker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been finding as many reasons as he can to prevent Sweden from being accepted into Nato. Andrew Mueller explains why and asks, when push comes to shove, will Turkey really block Sweden’s bid? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Germany found itself needing a new defence minister amid criticisms for not agreeing to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks. Why is Germany still so afraid of taking a military stance? Is Europe ready for an active German army? And how does this apprehension look to Ukrainians? Andrew Mueller is joined by Quentin Peel, Susan Neiman and Aliona Hlivco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than half a year after classified papers were found at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, Maga fans are gleefully accusing Joe Biden of the same misdeeds that they defend the former president over. Andrew Mueller explains the severity of the situation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The environment and the climate are factors in every conflict; the changing of the seasons has been arguably decisive on many occasions. How have militaries learned to adapt? How can those lessons be applied to conditions that may be changing beyond recognition? And can we stop climate wars from being fought? Andrew Mueller speaks to Sherri Goodman, Jasper Humphreys and Dr David Kilcullen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many similarities between the US elections that led up to the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack and the storming of Brazil’s Congress, two years and two days later. Andrew Mueller explains the key differences. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One usually thinks of diplomacy as something conducted at state level by presidents and prime ministers. But nation-states are no longer the sole actors in the international arena. Cities and sub-state governments are transforming the way we conduct foreign affairs. How does paradiplomacy work? And what makes a good paradiplomat? Andrew Mueller speaks to the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, Professor Michael Keating and Kate Sanderson, head of representation of the Faroe Islands in London. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Botswana’s former president Ian Khama is facing criminal charges relating to firearms, money laundering and more. Andrew Mueller explains where these accusations have come from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look back on the big events of the past 12 months and peer ahead to next year. Andrew Mueller speaks to John Everard, Aliona Hlivco, Alex von Tunzelmann and Lada Roslycky. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Monocle’s annual Soft Power Survey hits the newsstands, we consider the established and bizarre ways that countries project themselves abroad, from panda diplomacy and royalty to the craft of culinary persuasion. Andrew Mueller speaks to Paul Jepson, Lauren Bernstein, Nic Robertson and Paul Brannagan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Christmas episode, we head to the homeland of Santa Claus to examine some of Finland’s wonderful festive traditions. Andrew Mueller sits down with the country’s former president Tarja Halonen, Mr Claus and Markus Hippi to find out how Finns like to celebrate. Plus: Mueller gets hot and sweaty inside a sauna with Finland’s ambassador to the UK, Jukka Siukosaari. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller explains why Guinea’s former leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, stands accused of involvement in a 2009 massacre. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is mired in a convoluted corruption scandal. That is not unusual for the country but, as Andrew Mueller explains, it could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than two months, Iran has been rocked by protests ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsi Amini at the hands of the morality police. The unrest has continued steadily as women and a disproportionately young generation seek a better way of life. Why have these protests proved so durable and will it break the regime? Andrew Mueller speaks to Ramita Navai, Negin Shiraghaei and Holly Dagres. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unrest has been brewing in China, where the threat of a heavy-handed police state is usually enough to dissuade dissent. Andrew Mueller explains why there are protests – and why now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once declared “brain-dead” by Emmanuel Macron, NATO has been rejuvenated by the conflict in Ukraine. In this special episode, Andrew Mueller speaks to General Philip Breedlove, NATO’s former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and General Sir Richard Shirreff, NATO’s former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller explains Turkey’s longstanding and violent feud with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While female representation in politics has improved in recent years, gender parity remains a distant dream. Women comprise more than half of the global population but only 26 per cent of lawmakers around the world are female. Why aren’t there more women in politics? And what will it take to finally shatter the glass ceiling? Andrew Mueller speaks to Iceland’s minister for foreign affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Dr Meryl Kenny and Lance Price. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why would Fifa host the World Cup in a country that not only has a hostile climate for sport and abuses human rights but has also never taken part in the competition? Andrew Mueller tries to explain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Mueller explains why truck drivers have been protesting in Ottawa, Canada. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.