From the office of the United Nations Security Council president, we sit down with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon to unpack how a small state navigates big political storms.

The conversation addresses Gaza’s fragile ceasefire and Russia's war in Ukraine—where her recent visit revealed the human cost of the war. The discussion delves into European defense resilience and the legal thicket around frozen Russian assets. We conclude with an analysis of the search for the next UN Secretary-General, who will take office next year. As the first woman to serve as Slovenia's foreign minister, our guest argues for more women in high office at the United Nations.

If this conversation sharpens your view of global diplomacy, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review. Your feedback helps other curious listeners find their way to The Delegates Lounge.

Speakers:

J. Alex Tarquinio (host) is a resident correspondent at the United Nations in New York and co-founder of The Delegates Lounge podcast. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. @alextarquinio of @delegateslounge on X and @thedelegateslounge on Instagram.

Tanja Fajon (guest) is the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign and European affairs for the Republic of Slovenia. @tfajon of @MZEZ_RS on X and @tanja.fajon of @MFEA_slovenia on Instagram.

References:

Our host mentioned her Foreign Policy article about Slovenia's successful campaign against Belarus for the seat on the Security Council reserved for Eastern Europe.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/09/belarus-slovenia-russia-united-nations-security-council-rotating-seat/

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Her recent FP article gives a sense of the challenges confronting the United Nations and the elected Security Council members.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/09/united-nations-trump-withdraws-budget-venezuela-world-order/

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Photo/Video Credits:

Photos and videos of Minister Fajon's foreign travels courtesy of the Slovenian Foreign Ministry

Videos in the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly; historical photos of the United Nations Conference on Interational Organization in San Franciso in 1945 : © United Nations

Photo from the high-level conference on Palestine: UN Photo/Manuel Elías; 22 September 2025; © United Nations

Photo of the European Parliament in Strasbourg: olrat - stock.adobe.com

Video of Brussels/European Union headquarters: © European Union

Video of the NATO headquarters in Brussels and of the NATO training operation with Ukrainian soldiers: © NATO

Photos and video within and looking out of the window of the Security Council President's office in December 2025 and of the arrival at the main entrance for the General Assembly in September 2025: © The Delegates Lounge LLC

All other photos and videos licensed from Adobe Stock

J. Alex Tarquinio, your host and a journalist based at the United Nations in New York, guides you through what to expect on the show. Launched in 2024 with her husband and executive producer, Frank Radford, the podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and now in video on Instagram Reels and our new YouTube channel!

Comments or questions? Email us at info@thedelegateslounge.com.

Want to watch the episode? Check out our video interview on our NEW YouTube channel!

While in New York for the 80th Session of the General Assembly, Estonia’s foreign minister sat down with The Delegates Lounge podcast at Estonia's Mission to the United Nations. He had recently addressed an emergency session of the UN Security Council on the threats of Russia's air incursions into NATO airspace.

Our conversation examines what deterrence looks like when Moscow tests the line. From NATO's Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry Operations to Article 4 consultations, we delve into the developments set in motion by the Kremlin's recent incursions into NATO airspace on the eve of the gathering of more than 150 heads of state and government for the General Assembly in New York.

The conversation goes beyond immediate threats to NATO countries to the problem of paying for the long war that Russia is waging on Ukraine. Estonia makes the case for using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, paired with tighter sanctions that strike at Russia’s war economy. The conversation also confronts the challenges facing the United Nations itself, as the organization struggles with a fiscal crisis and uncertainty over its sense of purpose.

If this episode resonates with you, be sure to follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. It will help others who share your interests find their way to The Delegates Lounge podcast.

Speakers:

J. Alex Tarquinio (host). @alextarquinio of delegateslounge on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia (guest). @Tsahkna of @MFAestonia on X, formerly known as Twitter.

References:

Alex, our podcast host, wrote the United Nations General Assembly curtain raiser for Foreign Policy. Here's a free gift link to the article.