In this episode, we unpack the realities of negotiating with great power, the risks that come with appeasement and why drawing red lines matters. This conversation unpacks insights from Shyam Saran's extensive diplomatic experience. Shyam Saran served as India’s Foreign Secretary (2004–2006), Chairman of India’s National Security Advisory Board, and the Prime Minister’s Envoy for Nuclear Affairs and Climate Change.

Global military spending has hit a record high. This time, the spike was driven outside the United States. What’s driving the surge—and what does it mean for global security? In this episode of Eyes on Middle Powers, Dr. Nan Tian (SIPRI) breaks down rising defence budgets, the drivers, the geopolitical implications, the emergence of new elements like AI, and what to expect ahead.

Middle power coordination is a popular narrative—but how do we actually make it work? From turning discourse into action to building issue-specific coalitions, this episode explores a key challenge: leadership. Who steps up—and how? In this episode of Eyes on Middle Powers, Moon Chung-in unpacks why coordination alone is not enough—and why identifying countries willing to lead is critical to materialising cooperation.

Canada’s global ambitions are clear—but how do they translate into action? From defining true partners of choice building purposeful coalitions, what does it actually take for middle powers to navigate today’s shifting geopolitical landscape? In this episode of Eyes on Middle Powers, Jonathan Berkshire Miller dives into the thought process and decisions shaping Canada’s foreign policy—and why choosing who to work with is just as critical as what to do next.

As the rules-based international order comes under strain, who steps in to uphold global norms? How's the prospect for middle power coalitions? How can cooperation between the Global South and European middle powers help defend multilateralism? In this episode of Eyes on Middle Powers, Galip Dalay explores Türkiye's foreign policy and beyond: why collective action among middle powers matters more than ever.

In the seventh episode, "Australia and Indonesia in a Changing World Order" with Susannah Patton from Lowy Institute. What has changed and what has remained in the emerging world order? What does it mean for the Indo-Pacific region, particularly for middle powers such as Indonesia and Australia? How are Southeast Asian countries recalibrating their partnerships?

In the sixth episode of Eyes on Middle Powers, “Foreign Policy Choices in a Changing World Order” with Prof. Gordon Flake from Perth USAsia Centre. Where is the world heading, and what should we expect? In what ways can middle powers step up? Will UN reform continue to remain a promise of “tomorrow”? And how does Australia, as a Western ally, navigate its relationship with the United States?

In the fifth episode of Eyes on Middle Powers, “Views from Nigeria: Africa in a Shifting World Order,” FPCI Middle Power Studies Coordinator Jenny Sari Winata sits down with Nigerian statesman and scholar Prof. John Kayode Fayemi to explore Africa’s evolving place and role in today’s rapidly changing global order.