With Congress now formally looking into accusations that the War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has asked US forces to carry out illegal orders in the Caribbean, Christiane and Jamie explain the background to the story and examine those allegations in detail. Why does the Trump administration seem so obsessed with launching a full-blown military campaign against Venezuela? And what are the consequences if Hegseth has been ordering his troops to commit war crimes?

Christiane also gives her reaction to President Macron's controversial announcement that he is reintroducing military service in France. Decades after most Western nations ended conscription and compulsory national service, she and Jamie discuss whether this is a step that other nations, such as the US and the UK, should follow, given the ongoing threat posed by Russia. Jamie also reveals what Andriy Yermak - Zelensky's recently departed Chief of Staff - was like to work with, and he and Christiane assess whether we are any closer to reaching a genuine peace deal for Ukraine.

And as always, they wrap up with this week's Recommendations!

Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.com

For more content, please follow us:

Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod

X: https://x.com/AmanpourPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social