Podcast Summary: The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim

Episode: Trump & The Prince: Why is the Saudi leader’s visit to the White House so significant?
Date: November 19, 2025
Hosts: Yalda Hakim (Sky News), Richard Frost (NBC)

Episode Overview

This episode provides deep analysis and frontline perspectives on three intertwined global flashpoints:

• The dramatic US military buildup near Venezuela and its implications for Latin America
• The high-profile visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to Washington, marking his return to the international stage after years of controversy
• The conviction and death sentence of Bangladesh’s long-serving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Yalda and Richard leverage exclusive interviews, sharp commentary, and personal experiences to unpack these complex developments, exploring leadership, power, and the unpredictable course of 21st-century geopolitics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Venezuela, Latin America, and Trump’s Military Moves

[03:04 – 18:28]

US Military Buildup & Regional Anxiety

• Richard recounts his recent reporting trip to Colombia amid major US military deployments in the Caribbean, dubbed Operation Southern Spear.

  “What is President Trump up to? Why has he sent around more than 10,000 American troops and sailors? … Maduro feels this is about regime change. And President Trump said Maduro's days are numbered.” — Richard Frost [06:51]

• Trump administration justifies lethal strikes on boats as targeting drug traffickers, but Richard’s interviews with local fishermen show civilian lives are being devastated.

• President Gustavo Petro of Colombia, nearing the end of his term, speaks out against what he sees as US political and military domination, rather than a genuine war on drugs:

  “It is undoubtedly an aggression against Latin America. The Caribbean Sea is considered a zone of peace. It must remain that way. All this activity seems to be more of a transformation from the war against drugs into a matter of political and military control of Latin America by means of fear.” — President Gustavo Petro [12:22]

Mixed Messaging and Uncertain Outcomes

• Maduro uses public rallies, even singing John Lennon’s Imagine, as both plea for peace and domestic mobilization:

  “He’s making it very public that he doesn’t want an open fight with the United States… At the same time, he’s handing out weapons to his people.” — Richard Frost [03:50]

• Trump appears to keep diplomatic options open (possibly insincerely), applying pressure to force Maduro’s ouster or at least major concessions.

  “Trump carries a big stick and does not walk softly, but I don’t know if he’s necessarily sincere about wanting talks with Maduro.” — Richard Frost [13:44]

US-Colombian Relations & Drug War Redux

• Yalda highlights that Colombia, despite massive drug seizures, is being labeled an enemy by Trump—echoes of the 1980s’ drug wars:

  “It sort of feels a little bit like we're going back to the 1980s...” — Richard Frost [16:19]

• Discussion of how domestic US politics, migration, and drugs are driving foreign policy choices, with devastating regional consequences.

2. Mohammed bin Salman’s Washington Comeback

[19:31 – 27:27]

From Pariah to Partner

• This marks MBS’s first US visit since 2018 and the Khashoggi murder, a watershed moment where both the murder and MBS’s presumed involvement drew global outrage.

  “This very much feels like a comeback tour for MBS… Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader...” — Yalda Hakim [19:31]

• Richard pinpoints the realpolitik at play:

  “Too rich, too powerful to ignore for too long… I don’t think he’s going to get raked over the coals too much by this administration over the Khashoggi affair. I don’t think they’re going to bring it up at all, frankly…” — Richard Frost [21:58]

Ruthless Reform and the Consolidation of Power

• Yalda describes MBS’s rise, his purges of potential rivals, and his use of both modernization rhetoric and iron-fist tactics:

  “He consolidated his power by more or less rounding up the establishment, rounding up the most powerful people in Saudi Arabia at the time, and locking them up, up in a hotel…” — Yalda Hakim [23:07]

• Discussion of how the 2018 Khashoggi murder scandal did not end MBS’s career, and how international priorities ultimately shifted.

New Deals and Strategic Concerns

• The US-Saudi defense pact is expected to mirror existing agreements with Qatar—possibly extending American-style security guarantees.

• Major arms deals are expected, but there are behind-the-scenes worries about advanced fighter technology (F-35s) and Saudi ties to China.

  “The concern is, will the Saudis ever leak the technology [F-35s] to the likes of the Chinese?” — Yalda Hakim [25:37]

• The perceived inconsistency of Trump’s foreign policy draws scrutiny—even among his own supporters:

  “Some people in his camp are asking openly what happened to America First—I thought we weren’t going to be the policemen of the world anymore.” — Richard Frost [27:27]

3. Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina’s Downfall and the Gen Z Uprising

[28:18 – 36:01]

The End of a Legacy?

• Sheikh Hasina, hailed as Bangladesh’s longest-serving PM, has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity after a brutal crackdown in response to student-led protests in July 2024.

  “...she governed as an authoritarian leader, and you know, with an iron fist. ...When I sat down with her … she was very feisty and fiery and pushed back hard and completely rejected absolutely everything I was saying.” — Yalda Hakim [34:02]

• The protests, described as a “Gen Z uprising,” resulted in alleged security force killings of at least 1400 protesters under her watch.

• The swift verdict is considered politically charged; Hasina and her supporters denounce it as a “kangaroo court.”

Reactions and Broader Trends

• Hasina remains in exile in India, her extradition unlikely.
• Yalda contextualizes the events within a wave of youth uprisings challenging entrenched rulers across the developing world:

  “People are describing the movements we’re seeing in places like Bangladesh last year ... as the Gen Z uprisings... It suddenly evolves from a protest against joblessness to an attack on the ruling class.” — Yalda Hakim [32:34]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “President Trump carries a big stick and does not walk softly, but I don't know if he's necessarily sincere about wanting talks with Maduro.” — Richard Frost [13:44]

• “It is undoubtedly an aggression against Latin America. The Caribbean Sea is considered a zone of peace. It must remain that way.” — Gustavo Petro [12:22]

• “You don’t often see world leaders put something so scandalous and so shocking behind themselves so quickly... then being welcomed back as a key partner by the United States.” — Richard Frost [21:58]

• “He consolidated his power by more or less rounding up the establishment... and locking them up in a hotel where the world had no idea what his plans were.” — Yalda Hakim [23:07]

• “People are describing the movements in Bangladesh, Nepal, Madagascar as the Gen Z uprisings... It suddenly sort of evolves from a protest against joblessness to an attack on the ruling class.” — Yalda Hakim [32:34]

Segment Timestamps

• US-Venezuela Tensions & Latin America – [03:04 – 18:28]
• MBS’s Washington Visit & Saudi-US Ties – [19:31 – 27:27]
• Bangladesh & Sheikh Hasina – [28:18 – 36:01]
• Hosts' Predictions & Closing Thoughts – [36:01 – 39:24]

Predictions and What to Watch

[36:01 – 39:24]

• Gaza Stabilization Force: Yalda is monitoring the evolution of a UN-backed force for Gaza amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
• Corruption Scandal in Ukraine: Both hosts flag concerns as the investigation targets Zelensky’s inner circle.
• Latin America Military Escalation: Richard warns that military assets are in place and, per Chekhov’s maxim, “once the guns are on the table, they’re likely to get used.”

  “Once the guns come out ... there’s a cost to pulling it back. ... People I spoke to believed Trump would take some sort of military action against Venezuela before the end of the year.” — Richard Frost [37:21]

Overall Tone and Takeaways

The episode combines field reporting, critical interviews, and hard-nosed analysis, underscoring the unpredictability and interconnectedness of global power struggles. The candid, sometimes wry tone matches the seriousness of the subject matter, with the hosts challenging received wisdom and official narratives.

Listeners are left with open questions about the durability of authoritarian rule, America’s shifting international posture, and the potential for further instability in several world regions.

For more episodes, analysis, and direct reporting from Yalda Hakim and Richard Frost, subscribe to The World and send in your questions.