In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with economist Nicolas Michelon on how protectionism and power politics are reshaping global trade.

🎧 Watch now on YouTube | Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Connect with Nicolas

X: @MichelonNicolas

Asia Power Watch: https://asiapowerwatch.com/

Alagan Partners: https://alaganpartners.com/our-team/nicolas-michelon/

Nicolas’ Recent Publications:

"Navigating Corporate Geopolitics in a World Between Orders” Asia Power Watch, April 14, 2025.

"The Renault-Nissan War and the Future of the Automobile Industry: An Interview with Carlos Ghosn” Asia Power Watch, October 9, 2024.

"The Price of East-West Economic Warfare: Carlos Ghosn and the Fate of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance” Asia Power Watch, July 8, 2023.

"The Death of Multilateralism: Disruptions of the Trump Era” Asia Power Watch, May 21, 2021.

"The Carlos Ghosn Case: Business Warfare, Economic Patriotism and the Fate of Foreign CEOs in Japan” Asia Power Watch, March 8, 2020.

In this episode of&nbsp;The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with economist Nicolas Michelon on how protectionism and power politics are reshaping global trade.
🎧 Watch now on YouTube | Also on Spotify &amp; Apple Podcasts.
Show Notes:
Connect with Nicolas
X: @MichelonNicolas
Asia Power Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://asiapowerwatch.com/">https://asiapowerwatch.com/</a>
Alagan Partners:&nbsp;<a href="https://alaganpartners.com/our-team/nicolas-michelon/">https://alaganpartners.com/our-team/nicolas-michelon/</a>
Nicolas&rsquo; Recent Publications:
"Navigating Corporate Geopolitics in a World Between Orders&rdquo; Asia Power Watch,&nbsp;April 14, 2025.
"The Renault-Nissan War and the Future of the Automobile Industry: An Interview with Carlos Ghosn&rdquo; Asia Power Watch,&nbsp;October 9, 2024.
"The Price of East-West Economic Warfare: Carlos Ghosn and the Fate of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance&rdquo; Asia Power Watch,&nbsp;July 8, 2023.
"The Death of Multilateralism: Disruptions of the Trump Era&rdquo; Asia Power Watch,&nbsp;May 21, 2021.
"The Carlos Ghosn Case: Business Warfare, Economic Patriotism and the Fate of Foreign CEOs in Japan&rdquo; Asia Power Watch,&nbsp;March 8, 2020.

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus

Trade Under Siege

Britain enters 2025 facing economic strain, strategic uncertainty, and intensifying global competition. In this hard-hitting year-end special, Dr John Bruni sits down with former Royal Navy submariner and intelligence specialist CDRE Pat Tyrrell OBE (Ret.), and investigative journalist Pete Warren, for an unfiltered assessment of the UK’s political and strategic direction.

We break down the British Budget, stalled growth, defence underfunding, and the question of whether the UK can still project credible power. We explore Britain’s shifting foreign policy, the war in Ukraine, Russian hybrid provocations, cyber intrusions, and the fragility of European security.

The panel also examines Keir Starmer’s political survival, public fatigue, the rise of the Reform Party, and what Britain must do to avoid strategic drift in 2025.

If you care about the UK’s future — its defence, diplomacy, politics and global role — this is your must-watch end-of-year episode.

Show Notes:

Contact Chris

X: @chrismullinexmp

Website: https://www.chrismullinexmp.com/ 

Books by Chris Mullin - 1982 A Very British Coup 1986, Error of Judgement 2009, A View from the Foothills 2010, Decline & Fall 2011, A Walk-On Part 2016, Hinterland 2019, The Friends of Harry Perkins 2023, Didn’t You Used to be Chris Mullin? 

Contact Pat

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-tyrrell-3479b6

Articles by Pat - AUKUS: A Tale of Politics, Strategy, and Submarines — published 04 Aug 2022, Crash-Diving into Australia’s Submarine Dilemma — published 13 Jul 2022, Adrift and Rudderless – The Sad Story of SS United Kingdom, Monty Python Politics: A Reflection on the Tumultuous Reign of PM Liz Truss, Nov. 2022, Rip van Winkle and the Age of Complacency, Aug. 2022, A Peace that Dares Not Speak its Name — a co-authored piece (with Dr. John Bruni) June 2022

Bruni, John; Jain, Purnendra; Tyrrell, Patrick J. “Why Australia, the UK and Japan need closer security cooperation.” SAGE International Australia Strategic Concept Paper, 12 August 2020.

Bruni, John; Jain, Purnendra; Tyrrell, Patrick J. “A New Strategic Trilateral of the UK, Australia and Japan?” The Naval Review, vol. 108, no. 4 (2020), pp. 362–368. 

Pat also contributed as part of a larger report for SAGE International Australia, writing sections on the UK and France in a 2020 Indo-Pacific strategic assessment. 

Contact Pete

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/petewarren 

Website: https://www.futureintelligence.co.uk/ 

Books by Pete Warren - AI on Trial – with Mark Deem 2025 (2nd edition), Cyber Crime & Warfare: All That Matters – with Michael Streeter 2013, & Cyber Alert: How the World Is Under Attack from a New Form of Crime – with Michael Streeter 2005.

Britain enters 2025 facing economic strain, strategic uncertainty, and intensifying global competition. In this hard-hitting year-end special, Dr John Bruni sits down with former Royal Navy submariner and intelligence specialist&nbsp;CDRE Pat Tyrrell OBE (Ret.), and investigative journalist&nbsp;Pete Warren, for an unfiltered assessment of the UK&rsquo;s political and strategic direction.
We break down the&nbsp;British Budget, stalled growth, defence underfunding, and the question of whether the UK can still project credible power. We explore Britain&rsquo;s shifting foreign policy, the war in&nbsp;Ukraine, Russian hybrid provocations, cyber intrusions, and the fragility of European security.
The panel also examines&nbsp;Keir Starmer&rsquo;s political survival, public fatigue, the rise of the&nbsp;Reform Party, and what Britain must do to avoid strategic drift in 2025.
If you care about the UK&rsquo;s future &mdash; its defence, diplomacy, politics and global role &mdash; this is your must-watch end-of-year episode.
Show Notes:
Contact Chris
X: @chrismullinexmp
Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&amp;redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTdhWXY3bUNZWnNIek1sQjhnbnZjOTdxc1NiUXxBQ3Jtc0tsRjlXWU5Gano3TEgzWk9Hc2MyVHZ4YTBMdEUzUE45eW05T0tQUkFRYXJxWWlBU056OHNjcTlTRGl2TWJIYkxWalo2VU1fcWptRVdxbXBhQ3hCNHVSM19Ec0tnMlJUYkY5SnZkV0loRHBOXzFIYy16bw&amp;q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chrismullinexmp.com%2F&amp;v=e9dU9m40-DU">https://www.chrismullinexmp.com/</a>&nbsp;
Books by Chris Mullin - 1982 A Very British Coup 1986, Error of Judgement 2009, A View from the Foothills 2010, Decline &amp; Fall 2011, A Walk-On Part 2016, Hinterland 2019, The Friends of Harry Perkins 2023, Didn&rsquo;t You Used to be Chris Mullin?&nbsp;
Contact Pat
LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-tyrrell-3479b6">linkedin.com/in/patrick-tyrrell-3479b6</a>
Articles by Pat -&nbsp;AUKUS: A Tale of Politics, Strategy, and Submarines&nbsp;&mdash; published 04 Aug 2022,&nbsp;Crash-Diving into Australia&rsquo;s Submarine Dilemma&nbsp;&mdash; published 13 Jul 2022,&nbsp;Adrift and Rudderless &ndash; The Sad Story of SS United Kingdom,&nbsp;Monty Python Politics: A Reflection on the Tumultuous Reign of PM Liz Truss, Nov. 2022,&nbsp;Rip van Winkle and the Age of Complacency, Aug. 2022,&nbsp;A Peace that Dares Not Speak its Name&nbsp;&mdash; a co-authored piece (with Dr. John Bruni) June 2022
Bruni, John; Jain, Purnendra; Tyrrell, Patrick J.&nbsp;&ldquo;Why Australia, the UK and Japan need closer security cooperation.&rdquo;&nbsp;SAGE International Australia Strategic Concept Paper, 12 August 2020.
Bruni, John; Jain, Purnendra; Tyrrell, Patrick J. &ldquo;A New Strategic Trilateral of the UK, Australia and Japan?&rdquo;&nbsp;The Naval Review, vol. 108, no. 4 (2020), pp. 362&ndash;368.&nbsp;
Pat also&nbsp;contributed as part of a larger report for SAGE International Australia, writing sections on the UK and France in a 2020 Indo-Pacific strategic assessment.&nbsp;
Contact Pete
LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/petewarren">linkedin.com/in/petewarren</a>&nbsp;
Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureintelligence.co.uk/">https://www.futureintelligence.co.uk/</a>&nbsp;
Books by Pete Warren -&nbsp;AI on Trial&nbsp;&ndash; with Mark Deem&nbsp;2025 (2nd edition),&nbsp;Cyber Crime &amp; Warfare: All That Matters&nbsp;&ndash; with Michael Streeter&nbsp;2013, &amp;&nbsp;Cyber Alert: How the World Is Under Attack from a New Form of Crime&nbsp;&ndash; with Michael Streeter&nbsp;2005.

Britain in Crisis

Is the climate debate more complex than we’re being told? In this episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni sits down with Professor Ian Plimer — geologist, author, and one of the most contested voices in Australia’s climate conversation.

Plimer has spent decades arguing that natural geological and planetary processes play a larger role in climate variability than many policymakers acknowledge.
In this extended interview, we explore his arguments, test the evidence, and examine how climate, energy, mining, and geopolitics intersect in ways often overlooked in public debate.

This is not an episode about “right” or “wrong.”

It’s about asking difficult questions, challenging assumptions, and holding space for perspectives that sit outside the mainstream — while keeping the discussion grounded in science, evidence and geopolitics.

Show Notes:

Contact Ian: LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-plimer-391052226?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BS7AtR8iDR5qZ2SE18wOmIw%3D%3D

OpEds:

“The Copenhagen charade” Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (5 Feb 2020) and “Legislative time bomb” (also 5 Feb 2020). 

“Professor Ian Plimer Launches Climate Change: The Facts 2025 in Perth” Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) (21 Nov 2024) — this is not strictly an op-ed but a release.

Books:

Ian Plimer, Sceptical Always: A View at Three Quarter Time (Redland Bay: Connor Court Publishing, 2025), ISBN 978-1-923568-02-0.

Ian Plimer (ed.), Climate Change: The Facts 2025 (Melbourne: Institute of Public Affairs, 2024).

Is the climate debate more complex than we&rsquo;re being told? In this episode of&nbsp;The Focus, Dr John Bruni sits down with Professor Ian Plimer &mdash; geologist, author, and one of the most contested voices in Australia&rsquo;s climate conversation.
Plimer has spent decades arguing that natural geological and planetary processes play a larger role in climate variability than many policymakers acknowledge. In this extended interview, we explore his arguments, test the evidence, and examine how climate, energy, mining, and geopolitics intersect in ways often overlooked in public debate.
This is not an episode about &ldquo;right&rdquo; or &ldquo;wrong.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s about asking difficult questions, challenging assumptions, and holding space for perspectives that sit outside the mainstream &mdash; while keeping the discussion grounded in science, evidence and geopolitics.
Show Notes:
Contact Ian: LinkedIn:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-plimer-391052226?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BS7AtR8iDR5qZ2SE18wOmIw%3D%3D">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-plimer-391052226?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BS7AtR8iDR5qZ2SE18wOmIw%3D%3D</a>
OpEds:
&ldquo;The Copenhagen charade&rdquo; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (5 Feb 2020) and &ldquo;Legislative time bomb&rdquo; (also 5 Feb 2020).&nbsp;
&ldquo;Professor Ian Plimer Launches&nbsp;Climate Change: The Facts 2025 in Perth&rdquo; Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) (21 Nov 2024) &mdash; this is not strictly an op-ed but a release.
Books:
Ian Plimer,&nbsp;Sceptical Always: A View at Three Quarter Time&nbsp;(Redland Bay: Connor Court Publishing, 2025), ISBN 978-1-923568-02-0.
Ian Plimer (ed.),&nbsp;Climate Change: The Facts 2025&nbsp;(Melbourne: Institute of Public Affairs, 2024).

The Geopolitics of Climate Change

In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with leading strategist Professor Andrew A. Michta about whether the West is in decline or on the cusp of renewal, exploring the fractures inside the transatlantic alliance, America’s fading primacy, Europe’s struggle for strategic agency, China’s growing economic fragility, and the deeper civilisational crisis undermining Western confidence. Drawing on Michta’s recent RealClearDefense essays, we discuss Europe’s defence readiness, U.S. strategic miscalculations, the risks of misreading history, and what the West must believe again to survive the 21st century. A sharp, sweeping conversation on power, purpose, and the future of the liberal order. 

Show Notes:

Connect with Andrew

X: @andrewmichta 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-a-michta-39116934/ 

OpEds:

RealClearDefense—“The West Needs to Come Together” 27 October 2025 https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/10/27/the_west_needs_to_come_together_1143377.html 

RealClearDefense—“The Next U.S. National Security Strategy Risks Misreading History Again” 22 September 2025 https://www.realcleardefense.com/2025/09/22/the_next_us_national_security_strategy_risks_misreading_history_again_1136224.html 

Books by Andrew: 

The Future of NATO: Regional Defense and Global Security
June 23, 2014 — University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Limits of Alliance: The United States, NATO, and the EU in North and Central Europe
2006 — Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland.

The Soldier-Citizen: The Politics of the Polish Army after Communism
1997 — St. Martin’s Press, New York.

In&nbsp;this episode of&nbsp;The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with leading strategist&nbsp;Professor Andrew A. Michta&nbsp;about whether the West is in decline or on the cusp of renewal, exploring the fractures inside the transatlantic alliance, America&rsquo;s fading primacy, Europe&rsquo;s struggle for strategic agency, China&rsquo;s growing economic fragility, and the deeper civilisational crisis undermining Western confidence. Drawing on Michta&rsquo;s recent&nbsp;RealClearDefense essays, we discuss Europe&rsquo;s defence readiness, U.S. strategic miscalculations, the risks of misreading history, and what the West must believe again to survive the 21st century. A sharp, sweeping conversation on power, purpose, and the future of the liberal order.&nbsp;
Show Notes:
Connect with Andrew
X: @andrewmichta&nbsp;
LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-a-michta-39116934/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-a-michta-39116934/</a>&nbsp;
OpEds:
RealClearDefense&mdash;&ldquo;The West Needs to Come Together&rdquo; 27 October 2025&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/10/27/the_west_needs_to_come_together_1143377.html">https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/10/27/the_west_needs_to_come_together_1143377.html</a>&nbsp;
RealClearDefense&mdash;&ldquo;The Next U.S. National Security Strategy Risks Misreading History Again&rdquo; 22 September 2025&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realcleardefense.com/2025/09/22/the_next_us_national_security_strategy_risks_misreading_history_again_1136224.html">https://www.realcleardefense.com/2025/09/22/the_next_us_national_security_strategy_risks_misreading_history_again_1136224.html</a>&nbsp;
Books by Andrew:&nbsp;
The Future of NATO: Regional Defense and Global Security June 23, 2014 &mdash; University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Limits of Alliance: The United States, NATO, and the EU in North and Central Europe 2006 &mdash; Rowman &amp; Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland.
The Soldier-Citizen: The Politics of the Polish Army after Communism 1997 &mdash; St. Martin&rsquo;s Press, New York.

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