Independent thinking on international affairs
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In the News

Each year Chatham House experts, speakers and publications contribute to around 5000 interviews and articles in the national and international media. The list below is a short selection of contributions in recent days and weeks.

The Independent, Tuesday 18 November
Pirates Seize Giant Oil Tanker
The capture of the oil tanker by pirates off the coast of Kenya raises the spectre of a possible 'environmental disaster' in east Africa, a prospect that a Chatham House report on piracy raised.

The Guardian, Tuesday 18 November
Lawless Tradition of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia
While the financial attractions of piracy are strong, western countries and businesses have also contributed to the problem, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House.

Reuters, Tuesday 18 November
Piracy Crisis Exposes Need for Somalia Solution
The recent hijack of a Saudi oil tanker is an escalation of what we've seen in the past, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House. There just isn't the naval capacity to cover the area they now threaten, so a military solution is not the answer.

Agence France-Presse, Tuesday 18 November
Hijacked Saudi Tanker off Somali Coast
The hijacked Saudi tanker happened incredibly far from Somalia - it puts a huge ring around Somalia where it isn't safe for international shipping, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House.

The Financial Times, Monday 17 November
Minister to Reassure Nuclear Investors
At a Chatham House conference, Mike O'Brien, Energy Minister, reassured nuclear companies and investors that Britain's drive to build the next generation of nuclear power stations will continue unabated under the new energy department.

Reuters, Monday 17 November
UK Needs More Nuclear Plant Builders, Minister Says
Nuclear must be an important part of an affordable climate change policy for the UK. Not having nuclear in the mix could threaten the economy, the climate and indeed the very way of life, said UK Energy Minister, Mike O'Brien, at a Chatham House conference.

AFP, Saturday 15 November
Hu Visit Marks China's Growing Interest in Latin America
China has been locked out of a lot of countries for energy deals in the past, which is why President Hu Jintao will be visiting places such as Latin America more, says Kerry Brown, Chatham House.

The Guardian, Friday 14 November
British Death Toll in Afghanistan and Iraq Reaches 300
A poll by Chatham House showed that only 37% of respondents felt that troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Bloomberg, Thursday 13 November
Somalia Islamist Fighters Capture Town on Outskirts of Capital
Islamist rebels seized their sixth town in Somalia in less than a week, which suggests that the transitional federal government doesn't have the capacity to defend its territory on its own, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House.

Sunday Express, Sunday 9 November
Sorry Mr President, That's Not Fan Mail
It would be a mistake to think that the new US administration will be soft on Russia, especially as Prime Minister Putin is testing Obama already, says James Nixey, Chatham House.

The Jerusalem Post, Friday 7 November
Israel Sets New Rules on Lebanon Targets
A recent meeting between Lebanon's rival political factions had significance for the country, says Nadim Shehadi, Chatham House. The process of discussing a defence strategy politically, rather than in the streets of Beirut, is definitely preferable.

Radio France Internationale, Friday 7 November
Peacekeepers "Do Nothing" to Stop Killings
Given the depth of distrust there is between the DRC and Rwanda, it's going to take more than one meeting to really bring the two parties to negotiate in good faith, says Muzong Kodi, Chatham House.

Voice of America, Thursday 6 November
Georgia Crisis Revealed the West's Limited Leverage with Russia
The Georgian conflict has shown a resurgent Russia ready to use harsh power politics to advance its aims and Europe was not able to put up a united front against it, says Michael Denison, Chatham House.

The Herald, Thursday 6 November
We Share the Same Values, claims Brown
Britain is potentially a winner of the US Elections because Barack Obama has made it very clear he regards Afghanistan as a priority. That suggests he would want western allies to stump up more troops, which Britain has been arguing for, says Robin Shepherd, Chatham House.

The Jerusalem Post, Thursday 6 November
Financial Crisis Shifts Power to Asia, Experts Say
The US, Britain and Europe are in a dreadful financial mess at the moment; they will look anywhere they can to seek respite, whether in the Gulf States or elsewhere, says Robin Shepherd, Chatham House. In a globalized economy, all of the players become relevant.

Forbes, Wednesday 5 November
Obama's a Mixed Blessing for India
India is one of the few places where the Obama victory could be a threat to the economy, says Dr Gareth Price, Chatham House, as Obama's protectionist rhetoric has caused some concern in India.

Agence France-Presse, Wednesday 5 November
Brown Hopes to Turn a Page with a New US Leader
The relationship between Gordon Brown and Barack Obama will be fascinating, not least because of Tony Blair's and George Bush's personal relationship which Brown hasn't been able to sustain, says Richard Whitman, Chatham House.

CNN, Wednesday 5 November
Analysis: Europe Wants to Love Obama
Barack Obama's commitment to Afghanistan is highly important for the British government and a source of potential concern for the French or Germans who do not want to put as many troops in, says Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House.

Associated Press of Pakistan, Wednesday 5 November
UK Welcome Election of Barack Obama
The success of Barack Obama's foreign policy initiatives in his first term will depend significantly on what European capitals can deliver and not just on his administration's own creativity, says Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House. And Dr Gareth Price suggests that under an Obama Administration there could be a likely shift away from a security-dominated agenda framed in response to the threat of radical Islam.

The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 5 November
Gordon Brown has to Embrace Barack Obama - But Not Too Lightly
Mr Obama's first European priority as President will be to repair the Franco-American alliance, says Robin Shepherd, Chatham House.

The Guardian, Monday 3 November
Beijing Keeps its Interest - and its Distance
Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda may hope to use China as a smokescreen and play on the West's suspicions of China by claiming to stand up for Congolese people against the Chinese, says Tom Cargill, Chatham House.

The Independent, Sunday 2 November
Talk is Fine, but Congo Needs its Peace to be Imposed
Diplomacy is of course useful. But diplomacy without a willingness to take firm action is empty, and the priority of the international community is to save lives. If we are serious about doing so, we should move now, writes Muzong Kodi, Chatham House.

The Toronto Star, Sunday 2 November
Times are Tough for Russian Oligarchs
The financial crisis could mean there may be an opening for a return to the more liberal market reforms that were halted in the era of Vladimir Putin, or it could strengthen the 'Fortress Russia' mentality among the business elite, says Philip Hanson, Chatham House.

International Herald Tribune, Friday 31 October
Somalia's Pirates Flourish in a Lawless Nation
Top officials in Puntland, Somalia, benefit from piracy, even if they might not be instigating it, says Roger Middleton, Chatham House. All significant political actors in Somalia are likely to be benefiting from piracy.

AlJazeera, Friday 31 October
DR Congo Rebels Demand Direct Talks
The discipline and the high training of Laurent Nkunda's forces has become very clear as has how disorganised the Congolese army is, says Tom Cargill, Chatham House.

Associated Press, Friday 31 October
Congo Conflict Shows Flaws in UN Peacekeeper Force
The inability of the UN's mission in Congo to protect civilians is not just down to language skills but about conflict preparedness and the ability to understand the political situation, says Alex Vines, Chatham House.

Forbes, Friday 31 October
Merkel Claims Spotlight with Plan for Germany
Angela Merkel's meeting with Gordon Brown is of great symbolical and political importance. But one would have to be naïve not to realize that Germany has been, although behind the scenes, an important player in Europe's role of restoring confidence in the financial system, says Robin Shepherd, Chatham House.

The Jerusalem Post, Tuesday 28 October
Syria Following US, Israeli Elections
The big question is whether the US strike on a Syrian compound is a change of policy by the US, which would mean that the US will go into hot pursuit where it thinks that there are terrorists being sent into Iraq and Afghanistan, says Nadim Shehadi, Chatham House.

Forbes, Tuesday 28 October
Pakistan Urged to Take IMF Money
There is no other option for Pakistan other than to accept financial help from the IMF, says Farzana Shaikh, Chatham House. However, the government cannot afford to consider the IMF's condition of cutting defence expenditure without risking the antagonism of the army.

Prospect Magazine, November 2008
Good Business Has a Bad Crunch
This era's greatest episode of financial irresponsibility almost brought capitalism to its knees. But the corporate responsibility movement has had nothing to say, writes Daniel Litvin, Chatham House.