Episode description

Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing a political crisis that some fear could lead to conflict. The Bosnian-Serb member of the country’s tripartite presidency Milorad Dodik has announced that Republika Srpska will withdraw from the military and other shared state institutions, which many see as a prelude to secession and a merger with Serbia.

Jeremy Cliffe and Ido Vock in Berlin are joined by Emily Tamkin in Washington, DC to discuss whether this concerning situation is symptomatic of the West’s reluctance to intervene in central and eastern Europe more generally.

Meanwhile in the US, will the passing of Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill – claimed to be a “monumental step forward” – be enough to shake electoral defeats and a polling slump?

Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks what is the current state of the French centre-right?

If you have a question on any topic of world news for our international team that you would like answered in You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.

Further reading

Emily Tamkin on Joe Biden and the spectre of Donald Trump.

Jeremy Cliffe on whether Bosnia could be the next victim of the West’s weakness and polarisation.

Ido Vock on the failure of centre-right candidates to find their voice in the French election debate.

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