Tony Blair
Showing 1–15 of 18 transcripts.
- Milken Institute27 min
A Conversation with Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair | Global Conference 2025
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair assesses the current global order as a destabilizing "shaking out" rather than a total collapse, highlighting geopolitical stress tests in trade, Ukraine, and the Middle East that demand immediate action. He argues that Europe must overcome its defense dependence on the U.S. while progressive parties regain relevance by adopting artificial intelligence to address economic stagnation and managing immigration through strict, lawful frameworks to counter populist appeal. Ultimately, Blair warns against prioritizing ideology over objective policy solutions, citing his record on child poverty and expressing optimism that long-term trends of rising prosperity and stability will guide the world through these complex crises.
- Milken Institute43 min
Conversation with Tony Blair, Former PM of Great Britain & Northern Ireland | Asia Summit 2024
Tony Blair, Conrad Kiechel, Richard Lui
At a recent Milton Institute gathering led by Executive Director John Webb T. Schultz, global leaders analyzed the intersection of U.S. economic distress, China's aggressive market positioning, and Iran's rising workforce influence. Discussions emphasized reconciling historical contexts with modern capitalism while addressing internal U.S. dysfunctionality and the disintegration of cultural cohesion across Europe and the Middle East. The session concluded with a review of the Institute's recent financing of up to $100,000 in new industries and an announcement of a December 15th follow-up event in Abu Dhabi featuring participants from Korea and Israel.
- Dwarkesh Patel53 min
Tony Blair — Why political leaders keep failing at major change
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair outlines the critical shift from campaigning to executive governance, emphasizing that successful leadership requires prioritizing policy formulation and team building over political maneuvering and managing bureaucratic inertia. He warns that governments are dangerously unprepared for AI crises due to a lack of technical competence and urges a balance between private sector innovation and public sector authority. Drawing on historical successes like Singapore, Blair argues that a nation's prosperity depends on strategic prioritization, high-quality personnel, and the ability to adapt to a multipolar global order without succumbing to the distractions of modern political noise.
- The Economist16 min
War in Ukraine: The Economist interviews Tony Blair
Tony Blair, Zanny Minton Beddoes
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair characterized Vladimir Putin as a detached autocrat who has dismantled Russian democracy to build personal wealth while predicting his eventual downfall and Ukraine's future integration into the European Union. Blair critiqued Western strategic retreat in Africa and the Middle East, arguing that bureaucratic inefficiency has allowed China and Russia to expand their influence despite local preferences for Western ties. He urged Europe to accept short-term economic sacrifices to supply Ukraine with offensive weaponry and warned that the 21st century's defining geopolitical challenge lies in managing the United States' complex relationship with China without pushing Beijing into an alignment with Moscow.
- The Economist25 min
Tony Blair on the future of liberalism
Marking the 175th anniversary of *The Economist* and the 21st anniversary of New Labour, former Prime Minister Tony Blair reflects on the 1998, 2003, and 2004 policy decisions that contributed to modern societal fractures while outlining a renewal strategy for liberalism. Blair proposes addressing root causes of polarization through strict immigration controls without prejudice, a proactive technological policy agenda, and a return to positive-sum economic growth to counter the rise of populism. Urging the restoration of a rational political center, he suggests resolving the Brexit impasse via a second referendum and warns that without a centrist platform, the UK risks perpetual political paralysis between the extremes.
- The Economist36 min
Tony Blair on Brexit's second referendum
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair advocates for a final Brexit referendum to resolve parliamentary gridlock, arguing that the public must judge a choice between a "soft Brexit" and a "clean break" based on two years of economic deterioration. Beyond the domestic impasse, Blair warns that Brexit has caused the UK to shift from the fastest-growing to the slowest G7 economy and framed the split as a geopolitical disaster that weakens Western unity against the rising influence of China. While proposing these immediate political solutions, Blair also outlines his global work through the newly consolidated Institute for Global Change, which employs 250 staff to advance center-left liberalism and address issues ranging from counter-extremism to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
- Milken Institute1h 23m
Part 1: Conversation With David Petraeus | Part 2: Conversation With Steven Mnuchin
David Petraeus, Steven Mnuchin, Maria Bartiromo, Michael Milken, Tony Blair
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, General David Petraeus, and former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin convened to analyze the resurgent competition between authoritarian and liberal democratic systems shaping the 21st century. The panelists addressed critical geopolitical flashpoints including the strategic rivalry with China, the destabilizing role of Russia, and the potential for an Israel-Arab alliance to secure Middle East stability. Simultaneously, they discussed domestic economic priorities, ranging from the impacts of tax reform and trade negotiations to the necessity of robust governance in Africa and the Middle East to counter extremism and promote prosperity.
- Milken Institute59 min
Populism: Passing Fad or New Political Era?
Tony Blair, Matthew Elliott, Jason Furman, Luis Madrazo Lajous, Yascha Mounk
A panel of international experts analyzes the global surge of populism as a strategic movement exploiting economic anxiety and social media acceleration to divide populations and undermine democratic institutions. Contributors from the UK, US, and Mexico detail how the collapse of the "Third Way," cultural resistance, and leadership failures have created a polarized environment where complex policy debates are replaced by simplistic narratives blaming external villains. The discussion concludes that addressing the "complexity gap" through robust independent institutions and substantive economic reforms is essential to prevent further erosion of post-WWII international frameworks and restore public trust.
- Milken Institute56 min
ISIS and Global Terrorism: What It Will Take to Defeat Them
Michael Weiss, Nada Bakos, Tony Blair, Lindsey Graham, Brett McGurk
A panel of military, political, and diplomatic experts assessed the strategic evolution of ISIS as it pivots from territorial control to global exportation while integrating European nationals into senior leadership roles. Senator Lindsey Graham advocated for expanding U.S. troop levels to 10,000 in both Iraq and Syria to support indigenous forces, whereas Prime Minister Tony Blair emphasized a generational strategy to counter the ideological roots of radicalization rooted in failed multiculturalism. Despite significant progress in degrading ISIS financial networks and targeting senior commanders, the coalition faces enduring hurdles including Arab hesitation to target the Assad regime, internal instability in Iraq, and a projected conflict duration spanning decades.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
Global Risk
Wesley Clark, Lindsey Graham, Tony Blair, Yasuhide Nakayama
General Wesley Clark, Senator Lindsey Graham, Tony Blair, and Yasuhide Nakayama convened to address escalating global threats including Middle East extremism, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and China's strategic rise in Asia. While Graham confirmed his high probability of seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, the panelists reached a consensus on the urgent need for robust military preparedness, the rejection of negotiation with terrorist entities, and a transition to American energy independence to counter authoritarian leverage. The discussion concluded with dire warnings regarding systemic financial instability and climate change, urging immediate diplomatic and economic reforms to preserve international security.
- Milken Institute54 min
Beyond the Headlines: Global Leaders Explore Africa's Future
Mindy Silverstein, Bronwyn Nielsen, Tony Blair, H.E. Paul Kagame, Scott Minerd, Patrice Motsepe, Strive Masiwa, Bob Collymore, Jay Ireland, Fred Swannaker, John Rice, President Uhuru Kenyatta
The Milken Institute launched the Africa Business Fellowship Program, a reciprocal exchange initiative partnering with Strive Masiwa, Safaricom, and the Dangote Group to place up to 15 American entrepreneurs in African firms over six months. Supported by high-profile speakers like President Paul Kagame and Tony Blair, the event utilized demographic projections showing Africa's population could double by 2050 to argue that regional integration and private sector infrastructure investments are critical for unlocking a continent identified by the IMF as home to the world's fastest-growing economies. Panelists including Scott Minnert and Patrice Motsepi concluded by dismissing security concerns as manageable barriers and calling for immediate U.S. capital deployment to fuel the rising middle class and consumer industries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Progress vs. Pessimism in the Middle East
Doyle McManus, Robin Wright, Tony Blair, Robert Ford, Ted Deutch
Host Doyle McManus convened a panel of global experts including Robin Wright, Tony Blair, and Ted Deutch to analyze the strategic perils of Middle Eastern fragmentation and the ideological clash between Islamism and pluralism. The discussion highlighted critical security threats from ungoverned spaces in Syria and Iraq while debating the viability of a nuclear deal with Iran and the governance crises in Egypt. Participants concluded that U.S. policy must prioritize national security and democratic values over regime affinity, advocating for engagement with secular civil society to foster long-term stability.
- Milken Institute57 min
Lunch Program | Global Overview: Where Does Growth Come From?
Tony Blair, Paul Kagame, Scott Minard, Osamu Nakayama, Wilhelm Buter, David M.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and leading economists from Guggenheim Partners and Citicorp convened to analyze global challenges ranging from the Ukraine conflict and Middle East peace efforts to US interest rate projections and China's credit bubble risks. The panelists identified Sub-Saharan Africa as a critical long-term investment opportunity while warning that Japan's aging demographics and Europe's structural constraints require immediate policy adjustments to prevent stagnation. Ultimately, the discussion emphasized the necessity of structural reforms in Eastern Europe and the United States to sustain economic recovery amidst geopolitical instability and shifting market dynamics.
- Milken Institute1h 13m
Access to Global Capital Initiative: Corporate and Investor Roundtable
Tony Blair, Paul Kagame, Strive Masiyiwa, Seth Merrin, Mike Milken, Mindy Silverstein
At the Milken Institute's "Investing in Africa" working group, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Tony Blair outlined strategic partnerships with the Institute to accelerate capital flow into emerging markets through the new Access to Global Capital Initiative. The session highlighted Rwanda's 8% annual economic growth and regional integration efforts while presenting data indicating that emerging markets now hold a larger share of the global economy than the US, Europe, and Japan combined. With future plans to expand operations in Indonesia and convene international investors in East Africa, the group aims to leverage governance reforms and renewable energy projects to drive sustainable wealth creation across the continent.
- Milken Institute56 min
MI Summit 2013 - London: Access to Global Capital: Investing in Growth
Mindy Silverstein, Tony Blair, Strive Masiyiwa, Seth Merrin, Jane Rowe, Michael Milken
In partnership with LiquidNet and Tony Blair's Africa Governance Initiative, the Milken Institute launched the Access to Global Capital Initiative to direct foreign investment into emerging markets like Indonesia, Colombia, and Rwanda through improved governance frameworks. Major institutional investors, including Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, are increasing their emerging market exposure by leveraging rigorous risk management and specific country classifications to align fiduciary interests with stable regulatory environments. This collaborative effort aims to catalyze economic transformation by proving that human capital and predictable rules drive growth more effectively than natural resources, thereby incentivizing broader global adoption of these development strategies.