95 percent of global internet traffic travels through underwater fiber optic cables. They've never been more vulnerable. In this episode of One Decision, former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood are joined by journalist and author Samanth Subramanian. His latest book,  The Web Beneath the Waves, is an investigation into the hidden infrastructure holding the world's economy together, and the growing threats to it. Subramanian’s book, The Web Beneath the Waves, is an investigation  Iran is threatening to levy tolls on cables running through the Strait of Hormuz. China is cutting cables in Taiwan's territorial waters using "fishing boats." Russia has been probing European undersea networks for years. And yet there's virtually no international legal framework to stop any of it. Links:  The Web Beneath the Waves | Columbia Global Reports  In this episode: 1:05 — Iran Nuclear Deal: Trump's Strategy 3:44 — US-China Summit: What Really Happened 6:10 — Putin Visits Xi: Russia's Anxiety 8:13 — CIA in Cuba: Economic Takeover Begins 11:17 — Israel's New Mossad Chief Explained 13:22 — Germany's BND Gets New Powers 17:52 — Undersea Cable Vulnerability Exposed 18:48 — How 95% of Internet Data Travels 32:58 — Can Cables Be Tapped Underwater? 38:54 — Deliberate Cable Attacks: Gray Zone War 45:04 — South China Sea: The Biggest Chokepoint 54:53 — One Decision: Future of the Internet 55:55 — Sir Richard and Rosanna Discussion Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and journalist Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio).  Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All eyes are on Beijing as President Trump meets with President Xi Jinping for the first US presidential visit to China in nine years. This week, Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Rosanna Lockwood sit down with Rush Doshi — former Deputy Senior Director for China and Taiwan at Biden's National Security Council and author of The Long Game — to break down what's really at stake. What does China want from this summit? How far will Trump go on Taiwan? And why is artificial intelligence now the defining battleground between the world's two superpowers? We also cover the latest from the Iran ceasefire collapse, the Russia-Ukraine stalemate, and what sweeping local election losses mean for Keir Starmer's future as Prime Minister. In this episode: 1:02 – Sir Richard’s Secret China Mission 3:11 – Iran Ceasefire Collapse Explained 7:19 – Russia-Ukraine War Stalemate Update 10:50 – UK Elections: Labour's Sweeping Defeat 17:13 – Rush Doshi on US-China Strategy 22:46 – China vs US Economic Interdependence 35:47 – Taiwan: Invasion or Economic Pressure? 43:11 – AI Regulation: New Nuclear Arms Race 44:51 – Sir Richard and Rosanna Discussion  Show Links:  The Long Game: China's Grand Strategy to Displace American Order  Iran's Regime Won't Fall. It Was Built for This. Iran Expert Trita Parsi on Regional Ramifications  Obama's China Advisor on Why China Wants the US Stuck in the Middle East | One Decision Will China Invade Taiwan in 2026? Expert's New Insight Reveals "Perfect Storm" | One Decision   Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Venezuela's leader Delcy Rodríguez has no constitutional legitimacy, by any standard, including Chavismo's own rules, according to lawyer-turned-journalist Raul Stolk. So who is actually running Venezuela right now? And what does the United States really want? Raul Stolk, Managing Director of Caracas Chronicles, joins Sir Richard Dearlove and Kate McCann for a deep dive into the power structures propping up the Rodríguez government, the US military's direct line to the Venezuelan armed forces, and why opposition leader María Corina Machado may be the single biggest wild card in the country's future. Links:  https://caracaschronicles.com https://caracaschronicles.substack.com/ https://caracasconsulting.com/  In this episode: 2:53 - Iran War Impact on Global Energy Markets 6:34 - UAE Exits OPEC: End of Saudi Dominance 8:16 - New Iraqi Government and Middle East Stability 11:31 - Japan Creates Intelligence Bureau  15:40 - Venezuela After Maduro: Trump's Business Strategy 17:34 - Delcy Rodriguez Legitimacy and Constitutional Crisis 24:34 - Venezuela Military Power Structure Post-Maduro 30:07 - US Geopolitical Goals in Venezuela 45:07 - Venezuela Oil Market China Russia Rivalry 54:47 - Machado Return: Venezuela Election Wild Card 55:48 - Sir Richard and Kate Discussion Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Kate McCann (Political Editor, The Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has the divisive rhetoric of President Trump’s administration irrevocably changed America’s reputation in the eyes of its allies and adversaries? Former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Baroness Ayesha Hazarika sit down with Democratic US Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire to discuss how US foreign policy has shifted during Trump’s second term. Beginning with In Brief, Sir Richard and Ayesha examine the history of UK royalty visits to the US from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles II, and the strategic importance of these visits for maintaining the “special relationship” between the US and UK. Then, Senator Shaheen argues that Trump’s lax approach to Putin and Russia undermines support for Ukraine, emphasizing that a win for Ukraine is a win for the West. She criticizes the administration’s China strategy, warning that the withdrawal of aid and allyship by America has put China in a position to fill the vacuum. The Senator also warns about the growing relationships between members of the “axis of resistance”—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—citing their increased cooperation as why America maintaining its historic alliances with NATO countries and beyond is so critical for a stable world. In this episode: 03:02 – King Charles’ first official state visit to the US 13:50 – The fragility of the US-UK relationship 17:04 – Allies and adversaries behind the scenes 19:07 – Russia, Ukraine, and the Iran war 21:51 – Putin and the G20 25:10 – What’s next in the Iran war? 24:49 – The blockade ‘game of chicken’ at the Strait of Hormuz 32:39 – US and China relations 36:22 – China’s rare earth dominance 39:26 – NATO defense spending 42:22 – One Decision: Will Iran negotiations be successful?  45:15 – Sir Richard and Ayesha discussion Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Baroness Ayesha Hazarika (Member, House of Lords). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Pakistan steps into its role as peace broker, is India being left in the cold? Former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove and international journalist Rosanna Lockwood are joined by lecturer in South Asian Studies at Yale, Sushant Singh, to unpack this dramatic shift in South Asian and Middle Eastern geopolitics. Starting with In Brief, Sir Richard and Rosanna look at how the Iran and US blockades of the Strait of Hormuz are putting the global energy economy in peril. They also discuss the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire in relation to the stability of Lebanon’s government, as well as whether secret US talks with Cuba will lead to military or economic intervention in the country. Then, Singh explains the unexpected rise of Pakistan as mediator for peace talks between Washington and Tehran, the diminishing influence of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi globally and at home, and how balancing its relationships with China and Russia may come at the cost of eroding India’s alliance with the US. In this episode: 03:36 – Standoff in the Strait of Hormuz 08:00 – Latest on the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire 13:53 – Cuba is back on Washington’s radar 18:43 – Sushant Singh introduction 19:30 – Pakistan’s surprise mediator role 23:00 – Explaining India’s ‘dalal’ remark 25:42 – Modi’s weakening at home 27:59 – Muslim-Hindu divide in India 28:56 – Modi’s Pakistan dilemma 30:18 – Pakistan’s Middle East reclassification 32:04 – The growing irrelevance of the Quad 34:08 – India’s dependence on Russia 39:39 – Erosion of US-India relationship 44:04 – India’s Israeli ties 48:19 – Risks for Pakistan as a mediator  51:21 – One Decision: Can India and Pakistan start talking again? 53:01 – Sir Richard and Rosanna discussion Read more: Pakistan’s Peacemaking Is a Setback for India Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US has moved critical missile defenses and troops from East Asia to the Middle East. With America’s resources stretched thin, is this the ultimate strategic opportunity for China? Former UK Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace and Times Radio political editor Kate McCann sit down with former advisor to President Obama and Georgetown University Director of Asia Studies Evan Medeiros to explore what he calls China’s strategy of “calculated neutrality” – protecting Beijing’s economic interests while avoiding direct conflict with the United States. First, for In Brief, Sir Ben and Kate discuss the US’s thinking behind blocking the Strait of Hormuz, Lord George Robertson’s scathing critique of UK foreign policy, and whether Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s defeat signals the beginning of the end of “strong man” populist politics. Later, Medeiros examines China’s balancing of its economic interests in both Iran and the Gulf countries, China’s Iranian oil “loophole” via the UAE, and if the Iran war is deepening fractures in Western alliances, potentially upending the global rules-based order. In this episode: 02:05 – US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz 04:59 – Frustration amongst Gulf states 06:45 – UK Role, and Lord George Robertson’s warning to the UK 12:16 – Does Orban’s defeat signal the end of “strong man” politics? 15:39 – Evan Medeiros introduction 17:04 – Defining China’s “calculated neutrality” 18:28 – Is China above the fray of war? 19:32 – Balancing leverage with Iran and the Gulf states 24:03 – Is Beijing arming Iran? 27:45 – China’s Iranian oil loophole 28:54 – China: Displacing vs. replacing the US 32:25 – Why China avoids regional wars 36:54 – One Decision: China’s vision for a post-American world order 42:08 – Sir Ben and Kate discussion Hosted by Sir Ben Wallace (former UK Defence Secretary) and Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russia may be issuing verbal condemnations from the sidelines of the conflict in Iran, but behind the scenes, it’s leveraging its relationship with Iran to give the US a “taste of its own medicine.” Former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and Times Radio political editor Kate McCann sit down with Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, to discuss Russia’s calculated role in the escalating war in Iran. Gabuev explains why the US being preoccupied in fighting another Middle Eastern conflict is a “gift” to Putin, including how temporary sanctions relief and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz boosts Russian oil revenues. Together, they also analyze the impact of the war on Ukraine’s security and energy infrastructure, as well as how continued economic strain and repression in Russia may limit its involvement in the conflict. In this episode: 01:35 – Why the Iran War helps Russia 04:17 – Oil shock and Russian windfall 16:48 – The Iran-Russia alliance 23:11 – Limits of Kremlin support 28:24 – Iran War knock-on effects for Ukraine 32:58 – Ukraine’s Gulf alliance strategy 38:05 – Russian public mood and repression 42:47 – One Decision: What’s Trump’s next move? 44:00 – Sir Richard and Kate discussion Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Kate McCann (Political Editor at Times Radio). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Iran shot down two US warplanes, President Trump shot back with a scathing ultimatum. But are Trump’s words pushing the world towards a point of no return? Former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and international journalist Rosanna Lockwood examine a weekend of high-stakes escalation in the Middle East. They discuss the thinking and implications behind President Trump’s explosive online rhetoric, as well as the global fallout of the war on energy markets in Asia and Oceania. Plus, they preview Hungary’s upcoming election, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces a significant challenge by Péter Magyar in an election that could remove a major "thorn in the side" of the European Union and unlock billions in aid for Ukraine. In this episode: 00:22 – The war in Iran drags on 01:56 – IRGC assassinations and the strategy of regime implosion 06:15 – Trump’s ever-changing deadlines for Iran 07:37 – The rescue of the American weapons specialist 10:07 – The Truth Social ultimatum 11:04 – A US ground invasion scenario 13:23 – The global energy squeeze 15:53 – Hungary’s pivotal election 20:37 – Show announcement Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Rosanna Lockwood (International Journalist). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This isn’t just another Middle Eastern conflict—it’s a fundamental restructuring of global power. Sir Richard Dearlove and guest co-host Baroness Ayesha Hazarika with Fareed Zakaria, veteran journalist, author, and host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS. Together, they examine Israel’s war strategy, and whether or not the war aims of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are misaligned. They also discuss the entry of the Houthis into the conflict on Iran’s behalf, as well as why the war in Iran could prove far more consequential to daily life across the globe than the Iraq War ever was.  In this episode: 01:43 – Israel’s Campaign in Lebanon 08:06 – Does Israel’s “Buffer Zone” Have an Ulterior Motive?  11:29 – Do Netanyahu and Trump Have Different War Aims?  15:10 – Will America Put Boots on the Ground in Iran? 17:14 – End of a Strategic Conflict, or a Massive Gamble? 22:22 – The Houthi Strategy  28:35 – Why Russia Wins and Europe Loses 32:20 – Geopolitics in a Post-Trump World 36:28 – Can the UK Still Rely on the US? 41:47 – Why the Iran War Hurts Ukraine 46:24 – What’s Trump’s Next Move? 48:40 – Sir Richard and Baroness Hazarika Discussion   Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and Baroness Ayesha Hazarika (Member of House of Lords). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone is calling it another Iraq. Sir Richard Dearlove disagrees. In this episode of One Decision In Brief, the former MI6 chief makes the case that what's unfolding in Iran may be something different: the final chapter of a decades-long conflict, with a window for the United States to actually close it. Sir Richard and guest co-host Baroness Ayesha Hazarika break down the military logic — why Kharg Island is the likely first target, what securing the Strait of Hormuz would actually take, and whether a ground operation could stay limited. They also assess Iran's internal fractures, Russia's quiet role, China's conspicuous absence, and what the Gulf States really want from Washington right now. Is this the moment the West finally resolves the Iran question, or the beginning of something far worse? In this episode: 07:09 Uranium Extraction Scenario 09:14 Avoiding a Land Quagmire 10:58 Trump’s Legacy Calculus 11:52 Russia Helps; China Absent 13:39 Will Gulf States Choose America? Hosted by Sir Richard Dearlove (former MI6 Chief) and guest co-host Baroness Ayesha Hazarika (House of Lords) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices