Israel's "Big Political Roll of the Dice", By Sir David Manning / One Decision

 

🎙️"The period that we've lived through, and that you and I worked during, Richard, where we relied on the Non-Proliferation Treaty to contain nuclear proliferation, it may be coming to an end."

- Sir David Manning

🎙️Out Now:

This week, Sir David Manning, Director of Gatehouse Advisory Partners and former British Amb. to Israel, NATO, and the U.S., joins former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove to discuss the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, President Donald Trump’s role in peace negotiations, what to expect from the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, and more.

TUNE IN

 

🎙️Episode Highlights

A "Historic Moment for NATO"

With a U.S. President who is "at best highly equivocal about NATO," European allies are facing a critical challenge in their post-war existence, says David Manning.

Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, Sir David Manning points to growing pressure on European allies to boost defense spending, as some in the European military community, he notes, are warning that Russia may be "possibly contemplating some kind of attack on a NATO member before the end of this decade."

A "Very Big Political Roll of the Dice" in the Middle East

The two former British officials discuss Israel’s strategy toward Iran, from the long-standing ambition to dismantle Tehran's nuclear program to the broader implications, including the risk of provoking regime change.

But as Manning warns about Netanyahu’s approach, “military dominance doesn’t bring you political peace,” noting that continued instability in the region may lead neighbors to conclude “they’ve got to have a nuclear weapon.”

"Liberal Democracy Has Failed or Doesn't Deliver"

Are voters losing faith in the system itself? The two former officials examine the rise of the far right across Europe, citing economic stagnation, political disillusionment, and a growing perception that liberal democracy no longer serves ordinary citizens. 

David Manning highlights the role of rising inequality, noting that the gap between the richest 1% and the rest has become too wide “for many people to believe that democracy is working as it should.”

This Week, on OneDecision

What is the ultimate goal of Israel's current operations regarding Iran? What major global risks might emerge from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East? Is Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy a temporary "blip" or a more fundamental change?

Hear expert analysis on these questions and more from our resident spymaster, Sir Richard Dearlove, in conversation with his long-time political collaborator, former British Ambassador to Israel David Manning.

🎙️ FULL CONVERSATION

Plus, speed-dining with royalty. Two of Britain's most senior former officials share candid stories from the front lines of history. Get a rare glimpse into global affairs through the eyes of those who helped shape them, in an episode you won't want to miss.