Sounds Strategic

How has the Iran war reshaped the Gulf? In this episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by four IISS colleagues to discuss the latest IISS Strategic Dossier, The Gulf at War: Strategic, Security and Geo-economic Dimensions.

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As European rearmament accelerates and NATO's defence ambitions expand, what progress has actually been made and where do the gaps remain? Meia Nouwens is joined by four IISS experts to reflect on the key discussions from the third IISS Prague Defence Summit, covering South Korea-Europe security ties, land warfare, defence spending and the challenge of turning strategic ambition into real capability.

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Czech ammunition output surpassing US production capacity, sovereign AI systems pushing back against American platforms and a growing Chinese challenge in quantum submarine detection: these are the fault lines shaping Europe's defence transformation. As Washington's strategic priorities shift and Russia's threat endures, IISS experts examine what it will take for Europe to move from dependence to strategic leverage and why Indo-Pacific partners may hold part of the answer.

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Europe's military space capabilities are expanding, but so are the threats they face. This episode discusses the IISS research paper Advancing European Military Capacity in Space, assessing how European governments are working to reduce their dependence on the United States in a domain that underpins modern warfare. From Russian GPS jamming and satellite shadowing to the prospect of a nuclear weapon in orbit, the episode maps the threat landscape before turning to Europe's response: where investment is going, where the gaps remain, and why coordination and launch capacity are as critical as the satellites themselves. It also tackles the legal grey zones created by commercial satellites being drawn into military operations and what the US Golden Dome missile defence programme means for arms control in space. 

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The episode examines the gap between NATO's 5% GDP spending commitments and the delivery of real military capability, the challenge of sustaining support for Ukraine as US stockpiles face pressure from the Iran conflict and Türkiye's growing defence industrial ambitions and the political significance of hosting the summit. The conversation also addresses NATO's structural three-front problem, spanning command seams, sustainment and force-level gaps, lessons European militaries should be drawing from Ukraine and whether a more formalised European Plan B is now a strategic necessity.

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Veerle Nouwens, Darshana M. Baruah, Morgan Michaels and Dr Daniel Salisbury to reflect on the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which was held in Singapore from 29–31 May 2026.

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Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts to preview the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2026 ahead of its launch next week. Together, they discuss rising defence spending, evolving military doctrines, land force modernisation, nuclear risk and the race to shape quantum security governance in an increasingly contested region.

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, IISS experts reflect on the inaugural IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum and unpack the findings of the Strategic Dossier Civil Defence in Europe: An Initial Assessment. The discussion explores how European countries are adapting to emerging security threats, from protecting critical infrastructure and countering foreign information manipulation to financing civil defence and strengthening public preparedness. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine, the Nordic countries and wider Euro-Atlantic partners, the episode examines what a more coordinated and resilient approach to civil defence in Europe could look like.

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, IISS experts unpack the findings of the Strategic Dossier UAVs: ISR, Deterrence and War, exploring how uninhabited aerial vehicles are reshaping military operations in peace and conflict. From Europe’s long-running capability gaps to lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, the discussion examines how UAVs are changing intelligence gathering, decision-making and the conduct of war.

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Henry Boyd, Fenella McGerty, Ester Sabatino and Ruben Stewart to discuss the 2026 edition of The Military Balance. The Military Balance reveals a world of accelerating defence transformation. From Europe’s structural spending surge and procurement bottlenecks, to institutionalised drone warfare, Gulf industrial localisation and intensifying US-China competition, IISS experts unpack how shifting US policy and allied burden-sharing are reshaping global military dynamics.

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Air Marshal (Retd) Martin 'Sammy' Sampson, Dr Hasan Alhasan, Wolf-Christian Paes and Asna Wajid to reflect on the IISS Manama Dialogue 2025, which took place in the Kingdom of Bahrain on 31 October–2 November 2025. 

Together they discuss how the Dialogue reflected shifting regional alignments, the implications of global power competition for Middle Eastern security, and new avenues for cooperation on defence, technology and economic stability. The conversation also examines how the Gulf’s strategic priorities are evolving in light of ongoing conflicts, energy transition pressures, and emerging great-power dynamics.

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.

Date of Recording: 05 November 2025

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Dr Ben Schreer, Fenella McGerty and Ester Sabatino to reflect on the 2nd IISS Prague Defence Summit, which was held on 3–5 September 2025. 

Meia, Ben, Fenella and Esther discuss the major takeaways from the Prague Defence Summit, including:

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.

Date of Recording: 10 September 2025

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Veerle Nouwens, Morgan Michaels and Darshana Baruah to reflect on the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which was held on 30 May–1 June 2025. 

Meia, Veerle, Morgan and Darshana discuss key takeaways and topics include: 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.          

Date of Recording: 3 June 2025    

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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In this Sounds Strategic episode, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Veerle Nouwens, Evan A. Laksmana and Nick Childs to discuss the upcoming 22nd IISS Shangri La Dialogue, which will be held in Singapore from 30 May–1 June. 

This year’s dialogue is held against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, an intense US trade and tariff war with China, heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and ongoing military modernisation across the Asia Pacific.  

Key themes explored include  

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.          

Date of Recording: 16 May 2025   

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

Find out more: https://www.iiss.org/

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Europe’s defence posture is evolving rapidly — but is the pace of change sustainable? In this episode, IISS experts examine global and regional defence spending trends, the EU’s emerging industrial initiatives and the implications of Germany’s policy shift. 

Host Meia Nouwens is joined by Fenella McGerty, Ester Sabatino and Ben Schreer to discuss whether current trends represent a pivot in European strategic capability or if policy ambition will be constrained by economic and political realities. 

Key themes include: 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.              

Date of Recording: 24 March 2025   

The podcast is recorded and produced by theIISS. 

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Dr Maria Shagina and Franz-Stefan Gady to discuss the recent developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. 

Almost three years to the date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a new US administration has drastically changed the course of events. President Trump has signaled a desire for the war to end, and for the US’ attention to focus on strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific instead of on European security matters. At the time of recording, the US and Russia are negotiating Ukraine’s future, without Ukraine represented at the table. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.         

Date of Recording: 17 February 2025  

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.    

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, we explore the main takeaways from the 20th IISS Manama Dialogue, held in Bahrain from 6 to 8 December 2024. IISS host Meia Nouwens is joined by experts Air Marshal (Retd) Martin ‘Sammy’  Sampson, Dr Irene Mia and Dr Hasan Alhasan to discuss to their views on the themes that emerged from the Dialogue ranging from conflict resolution to post-conflict reconstruction. 

The IISS Manama Dialogue came at a momentous time for the Middle East, with ongoing conflicts and instability in the region. By the end of the Dialogue, the Assad regime had collapsed. Themes include global security, the eroding rules-based order, and the implications of expanding strategic partnerships. The episode also touched on Iran’s regional influence, the complexities of post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, and the growing role of non-state actors in conflict zones.  

Tune in for an in-depth look at the geopolitical challenges and solutions shaping the Middle East. We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.        

Date of Recording:11 December 2024    

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.  

We recommend the following background reading for this episode:     

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In this podcast episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Ben Schreer, Fenella McGerty, Tom Waldwyn and Ester Sabatino to discuss the status and future trajectory of European defence and look back on the main take-aways from the IISS Prague Defence Summit. 

Meia, Ben, Fenella, Tom and Ester analyse the trends in European and NATO defence spending and what’s next given the Trump election victory in the recent US presidential election. They also focus on the trends in military procurement, and challenges to building readiness. In addition, they discuss the challenges Europe faces in securing rare materials and critical raw minerals that are vital to defence production, and discuss what’s being done already, and what’s on the horizon for European security of supply. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.       

Date of Recording: 12 November 2024   

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Emile Hokayem, Hasan Alhasan and Fabian Hinz to discuss the ongoing developments in the Middle East.

One year after 7 October, the speakers share their insights on the regional developments – from the status of the war in Gaza to the broadening of Israel’s operations in the region. The IISS experts discuss the strategic calculations behind Israel’s operations in Gaza and Lebanon, the evolving role of Iran and its regional allies, and the Gulf states' efforts to maintain stability amid rising tensions. As the United States and the wider West navigate a complex regional landscape, we consider the shifting balance of power and the potential diplomatic, military and humanitarian repercussions.  

Join us for our in-depth analysis of the current conflict and its implications for regional and global security. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.     

Date of Recording: 2 October 2024 

The podcast is recorded and produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies. For more information, please visit https://www.iiss.org/   

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Douglas Barrie and Timothy Wright to discuss the return of long-range US missiles to Europe. 

Amid Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine and following Russian violations of arms control measures, Washington and Berlin have announced they would begin episodic deployments of conventionally-armed surface-to-surface missiles. IISS experts Douglas Barrie and Timothy Wright specialise in military aerospace and missile technology and discuss the context of this announcement. They explore how both NATO allies and Russia have responded, and what the impact of these deployments is on European stability in the short and longer term.   

Meia also explores the Missile Dialogue Initiative, which since its establishment in 2019, aims to strengthen international discussion and to promote a high-level exchange of views on missile technologies and related international security dynamics.  

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.    

Date of Recording: 7 August 2024  

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

For further reading, read our latest blog: The return of long-range US missiles to Europe (iiss.org)

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In this latest episode, host Meia Nouwens, IISS Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy, is joined by IISS experts Henry Boyd, Fenella McGerty and Karl Dewey to dissect the critical outcomes of the NATO Leaders Summit held in Washington DC.  

The discussion navigates through the latest trends in NATO defence spending, the need for greater budget transparency, and the pressing challenges the alliance faces. The episode highlights the importance of efficient defence spending, enhanced integration, and robust collaboration among NATO allies. Additionally, it covers the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the potential repercussions of the upcoming US elections on NATO’s cohesion and strategic insights into the alliance's future.  

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.      

Date of Recording:29 July 2024  

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.  

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Host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Dr Bastian Giegerich, Veerle Nouwens, Dr Ben Schreer and Morgan Michaels to discuss the key themes and takeaways from the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue. 

The episode delves into the proliferation of new partnership formats amidst the strategic competition between the US and China. The discussion also features analyses of the keynote speeches by President Marcos of the Philippines and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, exploring their perspectives on sovereignty and international norms. The speakers also discuss the concept of ASEAN centrality and regional frameworks, European engagement in the Indo-Pacific and the Myanmar conflict.  

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.    

Date of Recording: 5 June 2024 

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

We recommend the following background reading for this episode:      

IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 | Transcripts and recordings: https://www.iiss.org/events/shangri-la-dialogue/shangri-la-dialogue-2024/ 

IISS Shangri-La Dialogue | Special Session 1 Deterrence and Reassurance in the Asia-Pacific: https://www.iiss.org/events/shangri-la-dialogue/shangri-la-dialogue-2024/special-sessions/special-session-1/ 

APRSA 2024 | Chapter 2: Middling and Muddling Through? Managing Asia-Pacific Crises: https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/asia-pacific-regional-security-assessment-2024/chapter-2/ 

IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 | Special Session 3: Myanmar: Opportunities for Diplomacy Amid Different Visions for Peace:  

https://www.iiss.org/events/shangri-la-dialogue/shangri-la-dialogue-2024/special-sessions/special-session-3/ 

IISS Myanmar Conflict Map: https://myanmar.iiss.org/ 

APRSA 2024 | Chapter 4: Disparate Diplomacy: Managing the Post-coup Myanmar Conflict: https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/asia-pacific-regional-security-assessment-2024/chapter-4/ 

Myanmar policy at a crossroads: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/05/myanmar-policy-at-a-crossroads/ 

IISS Prague Defence Summit: https://www.iiss.org/events/prague-defence-summit/prague-defence-summit-2024/ 

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Evan A. Laksmana, Julia Voo, Nick Childs and Viraj Solanki to discuss the upcoming IISS Shangri-La Dialogue.

This year's Dialogue comes after a turbulent year in the Indo-Pacific. US-China competition is ongoing and both countries continue to promote their competing offers to the Indo-Pacific region. Small and medium powers in the region remain committed to forging independent paths, while some have signed onto new security minilaterals. This year's keynote speech by the president of the Philippines is likely to touch on some of these issues. Beyond the maritime and air domains, countries are also facing increasing threats in cyberspace, with resilience being a key area in need of improvement across many societies.

We recommend the following background reading for this episode:    

IISS website: https://www.iiss.org/

IISS Shangri-La Dialogie: https://www.iiss.org/events/shangri-la-dialogue/shangri-la-dialogue-2024/

The Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2024: https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/

Online Analysis by Julia Voo: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/05/contested-connectivity-cyber-threats-in-the-asia-pacific/

Online Analysis by Viraj Solanki: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/04/indias-increased-defence-and-security-engagement-with-southeast-asia/

Online Analysis by Evan A.Laksmana; https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/05/the-underwhelming-defence-ties-between-indonesia-and-china/

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.   

Date of Recording: 22 May 2024   

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS

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In the first Sounds Strategic episode of 2024, host Meia Nouwens is joined by Veerle Nouwens, Dr Evan A. Laksmana and Timothy Wright to discuss the Indo-Pacific security landscape. The IISS experts explore the developments in the US-China relationship, Southeast Asian military modernisation plans in response to growing Chinese assertiveness, and the impact of recent elections in the region. Meia, Veerle, Evan and Tim also discuss the development of long-range strike capabilities in the Indo-Pacific  and the drivers in the region.

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.   

Date of Recording: 25 March 2024   

We recommend the following background reading for this episode:    

The Indo-Pacific Defence and Strategy programme: https://www.iiss.org/research/indo-pacific-defence-and-strategy/

IISS research report: Long-range Strike Capabilities in the Asia-Pacific: Implications for Regional Stability, https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2024/01/long-range-strike-capabilities-in-the--asia-pacific-implications-for-regional-stability/

The Missile Dialogue Initiative: https://www.iiss.org/research/defence-and-military-analysis/missile-dialogue-initiative/

For more information, please visit https://www.iiss.org/

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The IISS celebrated the 20th anniversary of its IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on 2-4 June and underlined the prime importance of in-person defence diplomacy in the region and beyond.  

In this episode of Sounds Strategic, guest host James Crabtree, Executive Director, IISS–Asia, is joined by IISS experts Dr Bastian Giegerich, Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Dr Evan A. Laksmana and Veerle Nouwens to share their reflections and key takeaways. 

Guest host and speakers: 

Further reading:  

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.   

Date of recording: 6 June 2023   

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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At a time of ever-greater focus on the geopolitical and security dynamics of the Asia-Pacific, the importance of in-person debate among the region’s key actors is greater than ever. In the latest episode of Sounds Strategic, host Meia Nouwens is joined by James Crabtree, Dr Lynn Kuok, Aaron Connelly and Dr Ben Schreer to discuss the themes and topics at the upcoming IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which will take place in Singapore on 2–4 June 2023. 

Asia’s premier security summit is a unique platform for debate, enabling government ministers and senior officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, to come together to share fresh perspectives on Asia’s developing security challenges. Our IISS experts in Singapore and Berlin address some of the key topics, including: 

Host and speakers:  

Further reading: 

IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 - Asia's premier defence summit 

The Adelphi Series: Australia’s Security in China’s Shadow 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.   

Date of recording: 24 March 2023   

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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In the latest episode of Sounds Strategic, Meia Nouwens is joined by to Euan Graham and Nick Childs to discuss Australia’s relationship with China, and what role AUKUS plays in Australia’s defence and alliance policy settings.   

The speakers assess Australia’s policy towards China following a souring of bilateral relations and discuss what AUKUS aims to achieve in the shot and medium terms. They also touch on potential lessons for other countries of how to respond to economic and diplomatic coercive policies.  

Host and speakers:  

Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy | Twitter: @MeiaNouwens  

Dr Euan Graham, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Indo-Pacific Defence and Strategy | Twitter: @graham_euan 

Nick Childs, Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security | Twitter: @ChildsNJ 

Further reading:  

The Adelphi Series: Australia’s Security in China’s Shadow | Published on 21 March 2023 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.  

Date of recording: 24 March 2023  

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the world has witnessed unprecedented sanctions against Russia, and military and humanitarian support for Ukraine against a backdrop of ongoing military campaigns and loss of civilian life. In this new Sounds Strategic episode, host Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Maria Shagina and Franz Stefan-Gady to discuss geopolitical, economic and military takeaways from the past twelve months.

Looking ahead, our experts will also share what to watch out for in 2023, and give their views on whether and end to the war this year is likely, from their respective angles of analysis. 

Host and speakers:   

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. 

Date of recording: 14 February 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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Two conflicts mark a new fault line in geopolitics. The West’s withdrawal from Afghanistan ended the two-decade ‘war on terror’. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine six months later began the first major European war since 1945 – reshaping security, driving innovation in economic statecraft and testing Russia’s cohesion. This podcast episode marks the launch of Strategic Survey 2022 with a discussion about the main themes and trends in geopolitics. Guest podcast host James Crabtree is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Editor Strategic Survey & Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia, Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy, and Emile Hokayem, Senior Fellow for Middle East Security. 

Topics discussed include:  

Host and speakers:   

Find out more about Strategic Survey 2022: 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. 

Date of recording:6 December 2022 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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Geopolitical competition is an increasingly common feature of armed conflicts around the world. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to competing regional influences in Yemen, regional contests in Mozambique and climate-change mitigation efforts across continents. This podcast episode marks the launch of The Armed Conflict Survey 2022with a discussion about the global conflict landscape and the conflict trends and developments that have left a mark on this year’s report. Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by some of the team behind the annual flagship publication – Dr Irene Mia, Dr Benjamin Petrini, Juan Pablo Bickel and Erica Pepe. 

Meia, Irene, Benjamin, Juan and Erica discuss some of the key topics explored in The Armed Conflict Survey 2022, including:  

Host and speakers:

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. 

Date of recording: 20 October 2022 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS expert Nigel Inkster, Senior Adviser for Cyber Security and China, to discuss the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which took place mid-October in Beijing. The event was widely anticipated to cement Xi Jinping's third term in power. 

Meia and Nigel discuss their reflections, including the following topics: 

Speakers: 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.  

Date of Recording: 2 November 2022  

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. 

For more information visit The International Institute for Strategic Studies

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Taiwan has been at the forefront of geopolitical concern in Asia and beyond, following Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei and the string of military exercises conducted by China in early August. Podcast guest host James Crabtree is joined by IISS experts Meia Nouwens, Franz-Stefan Gady and Henry Boyd to discuss the recent developments. 

Topics the speakers address in this episode: 

Guest host: James Crabtree,Executive Director, IISS–Asia | Twitter: @jamescrabtree | James Crabtree (iiss.org) 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice. 

Date of Recording: 28 September 2022 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London. 

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Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the world has witnessed unprecedented sanctions against Russia, and military and humanitarian support for Ukraine against a backdrop of ongoing military campaigns and loss of civilian life. In this episode of Sounds Strategic, host Meia Nouwens is joined by four IISS experts to discuss the past six months, and what’s next in terms of military operations, political strategies and economic sanctions. 

Meia Nouwens and IISS experts Dr Maria Shagina, Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Franz-Stefan Gady and Henry Boyd discuss:   

Host and speakers:

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. 

Date of recording: 23 August 2022 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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NATO held its Madrid summit on 28-30 June 2022 against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the signing of an accession protocol for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance. Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts to discuss the adoption of the new Strategic Concept, its ambitions and challenges. 

Meia Nouwens and IISS experts Dr Bastian Giegerich, William Alberque, Dr Simona Soare and Fenella McGerty discuss: 

Host and speakers:

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. 

Date of recording: 12 July 2022 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue was back with a bang earlier this month and underlined the prime importance of in-person defence diplomacy. In the second part of our reflections, guest host James Crabtree is joined by IISS colleagues Dr Lynn Kuok, Dr Euan Graham and Aaron Connelly to discuss Asia’s premium defence summit and what stood out for them.

Topics include:  

Guest host: 

 Speakers:  

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The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue was back with a bang earlier this month and underlined the prime importance of in-person defence diplomacy. For the first time a crisis in Europe loomed large over Asia’s premier security summit, which took place in Singapore on 10-12 June 2022.  

Guest host James Crabtree is joined by IISS colleagues William Alberque, Nigel Gould-Davies, Meia Nouwens and Yuka Koshino to share their expert opinions.  

Topics include: 

Guest host: James Crabtree | @jamescrabtree | James Crabtree (iiss.org)  

Speakers:   

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. 

Date of recording: 22 June 2022 

Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 transcripts and recorded sessions are available here: IISS Shangri-La Dialogue - Asia's premier defence summit 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

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It’s back! Asia’s premier security summit, the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, will take place in Singapore on 10–12 June 2022. In this episode, guest host James Crabtree, Executive Director IISS-Asia, is joined by IISS colleagues Meia Nouwens, IISS Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation, and Aaron Connelly, Senior Fellow for Southeast Asian Politics and Foreign Policy, to discuss themes and topics of the upcoming event.

At a time of ever-greater focus on the geopolitical and defence dynamics of the Asia-Pacific, the importance of in-person debate among the region’s key actors is greater than ever. The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue is a unique platform for such debate, enabling government ministers and senior officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, to come together to share fresh perspectives on Asia’s developing security challenges.

The focus of the episode’s discussion will include:

Guest host and speakers:

James Crabtree | @jamescrabtree | James Crabtree (iiss.org)

Aaron Connelly | @ConnellyAL | Aaron Connelly (iiss.org)

Meia Nouwens | @meianouwens | Meia Nouwens (iiss.org)

For more information about IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2022 please visit our website The International Institute for Strategic Studies (iiss.org)

Follow us on Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

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​Date of recording: 31 May 2022

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Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and it remains an ongoing war. In this new Sounds Strategic episode, host Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, William Alberque and Franz-Stefan Gady to discuss the conflict through military, economic and political lenses.

Meia and her guests address some of the most pressing questions in the international security community, share their observations on past and future challenges, and offer their perspectives on some of the unprecedented developments.

-         Military operations and the performance of the Russian armed forces

-         Disinformation warfare

-         Russia’s failed statecraft in Europe

-         Sanctions and their intended impact

-         Multinational response to the crisis

-         NATO, EU and minilateral alliances

Speakers:

Host: Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation | Twitter: @MeiaNouwens | Latest research: Meia Nouwens (iiss.org)

Guests:

Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Editor, Strategic Survey; Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia | Twitter: @Nigelgd1 | Latest research: Dr Nigel Gould-Davies (iiss.org)

William Alberque, Director of Strategy, Technology, and Arms Control | Twitter: @walberque | Latest research: William Alberque (iiss.org)

Franz-Stefan Gady, Research Fellow for Cyber, Space and Future Conflict | Twitter: @HoansSolo | Latest research: Franz-Stefan Gady (iiss.org)

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​

Date of recording: 29 March 2022

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France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and the European Union have published Indo-Pacific strategies, all of which foresee a greater economic, political and security relationship with the region. Military engagement of European powers in the maritime domain has received significant attention in 2021, following the deployment of the US, UK and Netherlands navies in the Carrier Strike Group 2021 voyage, the deployment of the German frigate the Bayern, and a continued French naval presence in the region.  

To discuss the realities, practicalities and prospects of European naval engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Nick Childs, Euan Graham and Hugo Decis.  

Topics include: 

Guest speakers:  

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Date of recording:17 November 2021 

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In this episode, host Meia Nouwens is joined by Sir Tom Beckett, Dr. Hasan al Hasan and Camille Lons to discuss the key themes from the 17th IISS Manama Dialogue, which was held in Bahrain From the 19th to the 21st of November 2021.  

The Manama Dialogue is an annual international security and regional diplomatic summit held in Bahrain that brings together high level representation from governments and stakeholders from across the Middle East and beyond.  

This year’s event covered key regional security developments ranging from questions about the US security commitment to the region, the growing relationship between the Gulf and Asia, the cautious optimism around de-escalation efforts, the potential role of minilateral diplomacy in the region, and a renewed focus on the Red Sea as a geopolitical arena with its own unique dynamics.  

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Date of recording: 25 November 2021

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From a cooperation deficit to the prospect of conflict over Taiwan, Strategic Survey 2021 outlines the wide array of challenges faced by the international rules-based order, and shows that great-power competition is becoming more prevalent and complex.

To mark the launch of the annual flagship publication and discuss the main themes and topics, host Meia Nouwens is joined by

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Date of recording: 25 October 2021

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Despite the coronavirus pandemic, mobility restrictions and calls from the UN for a global ceasefire, the number of conflicts hit a record high in 2020, with more active conflicts than at any time since 1945. To mark the launch of The Armed Conflict Survey 2021, host Meia Nouwens is joined by some of the team behind the annual flagship report exploring the political, military and humanitarian impacts of active armed conflicts across the world.  

Whilst the world has been battling the coronavirus pandemic, a more familiar challenge has continued unabated – armed conflict. The coronavirus pandemic has caused huge economic damage and human suffering. This has added fuel to the fire of social and political instability, with a legacy that is likely to be felt for years to come. The Armed Conflict Surveyraises important questions about how conflict is changing, who the main actors are and how conflicts can be resolved. It looks at new technologies and explores the trends and risks that are likely to shape conflict in the years ahead.  

To discuss these important topics, Meia Nouwens is joined by: 

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Date of recording: 13 September 2021

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In this special episode of Sounds Strategic to mark the opening of the IISS–Europe office in Berlin, we meet key members of our new European research team. From great-power competition to state-led influence operations, and arms control to emerging and disruptive technologies, they explain how the IISS will bring a unique perspective to the European strategic debate. 

Joining host Meia Nouwens to discuss the strategic questions that the Institute’s new European research agenda seeks to address are: Dr Ben Schreer, Executive Director, IISS–Europe; William Alberque, Director of Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Policy; Dr Simona Soare, Research Fellow for Defence and Military Analysis; and Thornike Gordadze, Senior Fellow for Statecraft and Influence Networks.   

As Ben explains, with IISS–Europe now fully open for business, the Institute is uniquely placed to facilitate a debate on key strategic questions in Germany and Europe as a whole, and between policymakers and industry alike. William, Simona and Thornike each explain the research themes that will dominate their work in the coming months, including arms control and non-proliferation initiatives, great-power competition, setting rules and norms for outer space and the cyber domain, the uses and challenges of emerging and disruptive technologies, and the changing, multidimensional influence operations of revisionist states. 

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Date of recording: 31 August 2021 

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In this episode, host Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Samir Puri, IISS Senior Fellow in Urban Security and Hybrid Warfare, and Antônio Sampaio, Senior Analyst at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, to discuss how technology impacts urban security and the democratic landscapes of cities.  

With over half of the world’s population living in cities, new technologies, such as smart cities or surveillance tech, have increasingly been leveraged to make life in cities safer and more efficient. This includes leveraging technology to combat crime and terrorism, to respond to natural disasters or to improve the quality of life of citizens. New technologies are also starting to play an important role in political landscapes, for example by connecting people in protest movements. But these technologies can also be leveraged to other ends: to suppress protesters and restrict freedom of speech. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 13 August 2021

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In this Sounds Strategic episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia, Strategic Survey Editor and former ambassador to Minsk, to reflect on the protest movement in Belarus and Alexander Lukashenko’s regime.

One year after an implausible election result ignited mass protests across Belarus, Nigel joins Meia to discuss authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s rule, the relationship between Putin’s Russia and Lukashenko’s Belarus, and why the 2020−21 protests became so widespread.

Can Lukashenko, the autocratic president of Belarus since 1994, regain the legitimacy he has lost? And what is his standing within the country today? 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 5 August 2021

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This special episode of Sounds Strategic explores the significance of the 40th Fullerton Lecture, which US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III delivered on Tuesday 27 July 2021. Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by James Crabtree, Executive Director of IISS–Asia, Dr Euan Graham, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Security, and Aaron Connelly, Research Fellow in Southeast Asian Political Change and Foreign Policy.  

Secretary Austin’s visit was the first to Southeast Asia by a member of US President Joe Biden’s cabinet. In his Fullerton Lecture on ‘The imperative of partnership’, the Secretary made the case for the United States’ role as a reliable partner in helping nations in the Indo-Pacific make their own choices and ‘build back better’ after COVID-19.  

Watch the recorded lecture on our website - The International Institute for Strategic Studies (iiss.org)

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Date of recording: 29 July 2021 

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, special guest host James Crabtree is joined by Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation, and Nigel Inkster, Senior Adviser for Cyber Security and China, to examine China’s domestic and international outlook. 

As China marks the centenary of its ruling party, James, Meia and Nigel assess what this anniversary signifies for the Chinese Communist Party and how strong the party is today.

James, Meia and Nigel also discuss why the centrality of the party is so important to President Xi Jinping, where the relationship between the CCP and the People’s Liberation Army stands today, what to take away from Xi’s anniversary speech and where the party goes from here.

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Date of recording: 21 July 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by Ben Barry, Senior Fellow for Land Warfare, and Shiloh Fetzek, Associate Fellow for Conflict, Security and Development, to discuss the implications of climate change for global security and defence.

With climate security rising on the global security agenda, Meia, Ben and Shiloh discuss the impact of climate change on the strategic environment, how existing security challenges are made worse by climate-related impacts and the importance of integrating climate change considerations into national and multilateral security plans.

Exploring the challenges ahead for defence and security establishments, Meia, Ben and Shiloh also consider how NATO, the G7, the European Union and the United Nations Security Council have addressed climate risk, as well as Biden’s climate agenda and the UK Ministry of Defence’s climate change strategy.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 9th July 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by Greg Austin, Senior Fellow for Cyber, Space and Future Conflict, and Franz-Stefan Gady, Research Fellow for Cyber, Space and Future Conflict, to discuss the findings of a new IISS report on cyber capabilities and national power.

A new report by the IISS has assessed the cyber power of 15 states, placing them into three tiers of capability. Following the launch of this major two-year study, Meia, Greg and Franz-Stefan discuss how to define and measure cyber power and who comes out on top.

Meia, Greg and Franz-Stefan discuss the categories used to assess each country’s cyber capabilities in the report, including strategy and doctrine, governance, cyber-intelligence capability, cyber security and resilience, global leadership and offensive cyber capability. According to the qualitative framework developed by IISS researchers, the United States is the only country with world-leading strengths in all categories, with China placed in the second tier of cyber powers.

Meia, Greg and Franz-Stefan go on to discuss the role of political culture, organisational relationships and governance models in shaping the relationship between cyber capabilities and how they are used by a state actor on the international stage, what we know about the operational activities of the US, Russia and China, how much cyber industrial strength matters, the impact of political stability and instability on the development of cyber capabilities and how middle powers can compete with great powers in cyberspace.

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Date of recording: 24 June 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by Irene Mia, Editor of the Armed Conflict Survey and Senior Fellow for Latin America and Conflict, Security and Development, and Amanda Lapo, Research Associate for Defence and Military Analysis, to discuss geopolitical developments in Latin America.

How has the shifting global geopolitical environment impacted Latin America? Meia, Irene and Amanda examine geopolitical competition in Latin America and the region’s engagement with external powers.

Irene argues that the Latin American order is no longer unipolar, highlighting China’s inroads in the region and growing importance as a regional commercial partner. She also notes the role of the United States and questions surrounding the level of engagement to be expected from the Biden administration, stressing the impact migration flows have had on US policy towards the region. Amanda talks about military-to-military engagement between China and the region, arguing that China is now the third largest regional player after the US and Russia. She explains that relationships between China and countries in South America in particular have become more formal in recent years.

Meia, Irene and Amanda also discuss vaccine and military diplomacy in the region, the Pacific Alliance and the ongoing election cycle in Latin American countries. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 11 June 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by Nick Childs, Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security, to discuss the United Kingdom’s naval ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

Following the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference on 19 May 2021, Meia and Nick reflect on the UK’s Carrier Strike Group and its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, discussing who the UK is looking to strengthen its relationships with, how China will react to the deployment and what the view from the region is more generally.

Meia and Nick also discuss how the Royal Navy can help small and medium powers manage grey-zone threats in the region, as well as how it is going to balance commitments to the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic regions. With its limited resources, how prominent will the Royal Navy’s Indo-Pacific presence be in the near future?

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 26 May 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by James Crabtree, Executive Director of IISS–Asia, to discuss the trends and developments that have shaped political and security dynamics in Asia in the past year.

Meia and James explore some of the major thematic issues that will be covered at the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue on 4−5 June, including US−China competition, regional-security architectures, and the contributions of regional and extra-regional middle powers to security in Asia.

They also consider India’s role in regional security and in the Quad, the situation in Myanmar and its implications for ASEAN, the Biden administration’s policy towards China and how countries in the region view the involvement of the United States in the regional security order.

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Date of recording: 11 May 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by Robert Ward, IISS Japan Chair and Director of Geo-economics and Strategy, and Yuka Koshino, Research Fellow for Japanese Security and Defence Policy, to unpack the policy priorities and challenges on Japanese Prime Minister Suga’s 2021 agenda.

Ahead of the next IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in June, Meia, Robert and Yuka discuss Japan’s domestic political environment and the challenges Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide’s administration will need to tackle in 2021. As Robert and Yuka explain, the administration’s focus areas include the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s slow vaccine rollout, the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race, and Japan’s 2021 general election.

Robert and Yuka also explore Prime Minister Suga’s economic agenda and progress towards digitalisation, foreign and security policy priorities and goals, the role of the United States in Japan’s Indo-Pacific vision, and the impact of COVID-19 on structural reform and Japan’s thinking on economic security.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 29 April 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by Erica Pepe, Senior Coordinator for Research and Conflict, Security and Development Analyst, and Franz-Stefan Gady, Research Fellow for Cyber, Space and Future Conflict, to discuss NATO and AI.

Meia, Erica and Franz-Stefan explore the motivations behind NATO’s focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and the future potential of this technology for security and defence. What role can NATO play in setting standards for the military use of AI?

Erica and Franz-Stefan also explain why AI is so prominent in national-security thinking, noting the progress of the technology as well as the potential risks, challenges and ethical concerns associated with it. 

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Date of recording: 8 April 2021

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In this episode, Sounds Strategic host Meia Nouwens is joined by John Krzyzaniak, Research Analyst for Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, and Timothy Wright, Research Analyst and Programme Administrator for Defence and Military Analysis, to discuss Iran, its missile-development programme and the JCPOA.

With a new, Democrat-led administration in power, is the United States in a better position to make progress on the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and negotiations with Iran? Meia, John and Timothy discuss where the JCPOA stands now, the impact of domestic politics in both Iran and the US on bilateral negotiations, and how far the Biden administration is willing to go to revive the agreement.

Meia, John and Tim also consider the status of Iran’s missile-development programme and the strategies that are driving Tehran’s investment in it. While noting that missiles are likely to be an ongoing focus for any negotiations between the US and Iran in the future, they argue that it is unrealistic to expect Iran to restrict its missile programme. 

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Date of recording: 30 March 2021

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In this episode, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Tom Waldwyn, Research Associate for Defence Procurement, and Haena Jo, Research Analyst for Defence and Military Analysis, to discuss the increasingly diversified landscape of defence industry and defence procurement.

With successive governments in Turkey, South Korea, Brazil and Poland having invested heavily in their defence industries in recent years, could these countries soon provide greater competition for Western and Russian defence companies? While the big defence companies are still at the top of the pecking order, Tom and Haena explain that today’s defence-industrial landscape is more diversified. 

Meia, Tom and Haena also discuss the export successes of other emerging defence-industrial nations, as well as the challenges they are facing. Drawing in particular on examples from Turkey, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, they highlight the importance of politics and political will in driving defence-industrial growth, and they note the different approaches that emerging defence-industrial countries have taken to get where they are today.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 18 March 2021

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In this episode, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Benjamin Petrini, Research Fellow for Conflict, Security and Development, and Dr Umberto Profazio, Associate Fellow for Conflict, Security and Development, to reflect on the concept of fragility.

Approaching the concept of fragility in a multidimensional way, Meia, Benjamin and Umberto examine the origins of the term, as well as the misconceptions often associated with it. Benjamin and Umberto explain what a fragile country is, highlighting that fragility is not limited to countries experiencing conflict.

Explaining that fragility affects stability through several different and interrelated channels, Benjamin and Umberto highlight various dimensions of fragility, including technological transformations and rapid changes in society, poverty, migration and forced displacement, weak institutions, environmental pressures, economic challenges and demographic pressures.

Meia, Benjamin and Umberto also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on fragility, stressing that the toll of the pandemic will be higher on fragile countries than more stable ones. Noting that more and more states are exerting their influence in fragile countries, Benjamin and Umberto conclude that fragility can now be viewed through the prism of foreign policy and geopolitics.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 5 March 2021

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, Meia Nouwens is joined by Fenella McGerty, Senior Fellow for Defence Economics, and Henry Boyd, Research Fellow for Defence and Military Analysis, to discuss the global defence developments identified in the latest edition of The Military Balance.

To mark the publication of The Military Balance 2021, launching today (25 February 2021),Meia, Fenella and Henry discuss recent developments in defence policy, military capability and defence economics. Highlighting the implications of the coronavirus pandemic and the landmark 2020 election in the United States for defence policymakers and industry, Fenella and Henry explore the current trajectory of global and regional defence spending, including in the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, and broader defence developments. Despite wider economic difficulties caused by the pandemic, the stronger growth in global defence spending that was achieved in 2019 was maintained in 2020, they explain.

Meia, Fenella and Henry also discuss China’s investment in R&D, the challenges of calculating Chinese defence spending, and the role of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Military Balance is the Institute’s annual assessment of global military capabilities and defence economics. The 2021 edition includes updated data on the military organisations, equipment inventories and defence budgets of 171 countries; region-by-region analysis of major developments affecting defence policy, procurement and defence economics; and assessment of key trends in the land, sea and air domains, as well as in cyberspace. Order your copy on Amazon or Routledge.

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Date of recording: 18 February 2021

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

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In this episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Euan Graham, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Security, and Joseph Dempsey, Research Associate for Defence and Military Analysis, to examine recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, including the current state of the relationships between the two Koreas and the United States, as well as other countries in the region.

In this episode, Meia, Euan and Joseph discuss the tumultuous relationships between the US and the two Koreas under former president Donald Trump, as well as how these relationships might evolve as President Joe Biden settles into the White House. The US−South Korea relationship is ‘badly in need of repair’, explains Euan, highlighting that there is a serious risk of strategic divergence in national-security interests between the two countries. The panel also explores the challenges facing Moon Jae-in’s presidency in its remaining years, noting that balancing relations with the US and regional neighbours will require a coherent national strategy.

Joseph gives an overview of recent developments in North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic-missile programme, explaining why Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions are worrying. The panel also considers the fragile state of the North Korean economy and the impact of COVID-19 on the country, how China views recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, and what to watch out for in 2021.

Date of recording: 3 February 2021

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

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In this episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Ben Rhode, Editor of The Adelphi Series and IISS Senior Fellow for Transatlantic Affairs, and Dr Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and former IISS Deputy Director-General. Together, they reflect on the legacy of the Trump presidency and also look ahead at what to expect from President Biden’s administration. 

Starting with the significance of Joe Biden being sworn in and the self-conscious attempt at the inauguration to project unity, the podcast panel discusses what it means for the US government to return to being ‘boring and competent’. Meia, Ben and Kori also consider what long-lasting effect the violent insurrection of 6 January 2021 will have on domestic policy, and the continuing challenges posed by right-wing and online radicalisation, as well as QAnon conspiracy theorists. 

The panel then explores what Trump’s legacy means both for Biden’s aim of ending the ‘uncivil war’, as well as for the Republican Party. They end by discussing what effect Trump’s legacy will have on US foreign policies and considering how Biden will use his first 100 days to signal his prioritisation between domestic and foreign priorities.

Date of recording: 21 January 2021

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

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In the first IISS Sounds Strategic podcast of 2021, to coincide with the audiobook release of Brendan Taylor’s Adelphi Series publication Dangerous Decade: Taiwan’s Security and Crisis Management, Meia Nouwens and Brendan discuss the geopolitical importance of Taiwan and the challenges it faces in the coming year and beyond.

Starting with President Tsai Ing-Wen’s re-election in January 2020 and her government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that won international praise, the discussion moves to look ahead to potential security crises facing Taiwan. Brendan identifies US-China rivalry as a potential flashpoint and argues, ‘perhaps controversially’, that the next crisis brewing over Taiwan will be more serious than previous ones as the geopolitical status quo affecting Taiwan begins to fracture.

Meia and Brendan go on to discuss why Taiwan is strategically important for China, the likelihood of reunification and independence, whether there will be a major change in US-Taiwan relations under President Biden’s administration, Taiwan’s international standing, and where Taiwan could take advantage of the US-China trade war. 

Date of recording: 18 December 2020

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

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After an unprecedented year in world affairs, Meia Nouwens speaks with Sarah Raine, IISS Consulting Senior Fellow for Geopolitics and Strategy, and Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Editor of IISS’ Strategic Survey and Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia in this special end-of-year episode. 

Researchers from across the IISS contributed their thoughts on the key geopolitical and security challenges from 2020 that will likely continue far into 2021. Among these, Meia, Sarah and Nigel discuss the continuing decline of multilateralism and the rules-based international order, the challenge of growing extraterritoriality in the Middle East and elsewhere, as well as the future of the US–China rivalry during a Biden presidency. 

Despite the difficulties of 2020, both Nigel and Sarah end on some points of optimism that could improve international relations in the coming year.

We hope you enjoyed this special episode of Sounds Strategic and from all of us at the IISS, we wish you have a safe and festive new year. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 17 December 2020

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

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In this episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Samir Puri, The IISS’ new Senior Fellow for Hybrid Warfare, for a discussion about the concept of ‘hybrid warfare’ and its potential applications in the Asia-Pacific. 

Having observed the realities of hybrid warfare in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, Samir highlights the differences between ‘grey zone’ and ‘hybrid warfare’ activities.

Meia and Samir then explore the possible applications of hybrid warfare in the Asia-Pacific, with a particular focus on how China could expand its regional influence through hybrid strategies and tactics. 

Samir also predicts that grey zone activity will likely become an increasingly common feature in international affairs in the 2020s as the United States clashes with China’s efforts to establish its own informal empire. As a result, Samir suggests Western powers may need to revisit their hybrid warfare capabilities in this new multi-polar world order. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 2 December 2020

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In this special episode of Sounds Strategic, recorded ahead of the IISS Manama Dialogue 2020, Sir Tom Beckett speaks with Hasan Alhasan and Camille Lons about the key geopolitical challenges the Middle East has faced in 2020.

Hasan and Camille highlight the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to countries across the Middle East and how the pandemic has worsened the humanitarian situation in many of the region's ongoing conflicts, from Yemen to Libya.

They also assess the wider geopolitical implications of the recent Abraham Accords between Israel and several Gulf states and how ongoing US–China competition may impact regional politics in 2021. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 24 November 2020

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In this week’s episode, Meia Nouwens speaks with Helena Legarda, Senior Analyst at Mercator Institute for China Studies, on NATO’s evolving, and often complex, relationship with China.

Meia and Helena trace the history of the relationship, from the early antagonism following the 1998 Belgrade bombing of the Chinese embassy, through several years of tentative cooperation in the early 2000s, to growing hostility in the late 2010s as China’s global ambitions and capabilities expanded.

Both Helena and Meia agree that 2019 was a critical turning point in NATO–China relations and explore why NATO, and the EU, may struggle in developing a coordinated and robust policy to confront the multi-faceted strategic challenge presented by a rising China.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 17 November 2020

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Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections on 4 October threw the country into political crisis. Claims that the elections were rigged sparked mass popular protests on the streets of Bishkek, the capital, which led to the resignation of Kyrgyzstani president, Sooronbay Jeyenbekov, on 15 October.

In this special episode of Sounds Strategic, Nigel Gould-Davies, IISS Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia, speaks with the Kyrgyzstan Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Edil Baisalov on what the recent political upheaval means for Kyrgyzstan and the possible paths forward for the country.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 19 October 2020

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In the second part of our US election podcast, Meia Nouwens speaks with Nigel Gould-Davies, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia, and Irene Mia, Senior Fellow for Latin America, on the policy challenges the incoming Biden administration will face in both Russia and Latin America.

Nigel explains that the election of Biden will strengthen American resolve to counter Russian influence in Europe and elsewhere. Nigel predicts renewed US engagement in the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Belarus as part of the new administration’s wider efforts to bolster democracy and human rights internationally. However, the maintenance of the New START agreement will likely be Biden’s first priority once in office from 20 January 2020.

Irene details the vast array of challenges President-elect Biden will face in Latin America, from political instability in Venezuela to continued immigration from Mexico and Central America. Irene raises concerns over possible political instability in the region, due to the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to many Latin American economies. However, Irene also notes that the region offers opportunities for the new US administration to support local efforts to address these emerging crises.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 9 November 2020

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In this two-part episode, Meia Nouwens speaks with IISS experts on the foreign-policy priorities the incoming Biden administration will likely address over the next four years.

In part one, Euan Graham, Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Security, discusses how leaders in the Asia-Pacific, including China, have reacted to the election result and the policy implications a Biden presidency may have. He foresees alliances making a welcome return to the region, but warns that domestic concerns over COVID-19 could limit US foreign-policy ambitions.

John Raine, IISS Senior Adviser, focuses on the possible policy changes a Biden administration would introduce to the Middle East. He expects Biden will take a much different approach towards the Gulf states and recommit to defending human rights across the region. However, any US attempts at re-engagement with Iran and ongoing conflicts in the region may become hamstrung by political considerations back home.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 9 November 2020

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The upcoming US presidential election between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joseph Biden may prove to be one of the most contentious in US history. In this episode, Dana Allin, Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy and Transatlantic Affairs, and David Gordon, Senior Adviser for Geo-Economics and Strategy, discuss each candidate’s prospects and how the Trump administration has impacted the United States’ political system and international reputation.

David and Dana agree that this election will prove pivotal for the future of America and its place in the world. They also discuss the policy implications of a two-term Trump presidency or a new Biden administration for US allies and adversaries alike. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 20 October 2020

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The collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty last year increased concerns that the international architecture around arms control was weakening further. With other agreements up for renewal or under renewed scrutiny, what does the future hold for arms control between the US, Russia and China? 

In this week’s episode, Meia Nouwens speaks with three IISS Missile Dialogue Initiative specialists on the current politics around arms control and the new technologies that risk complicating future arms-control efforts.

Douglas Barrie and Timothy Wright from the IISS and Pavel Podvig from the UN Institute for Disarmament Research explain why it is such a critical time for arms control and the importance of agreements such as the Open Skies Treaty and the NEW Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for regional and global stability. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 5 October 2020

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The recent dispute between Greece and Turkey has again raised questions around the sustainability of the NATO Alliance. However, one of the Alliance’s loudest critics in recent years has been US President Donald Trump, despite the United States' critical role within it. But are such criticisms political rhetoric or are they part of a wider strategic recalculation by the US as its national security concerns outside of Europe multiply?

Meia Nouwens discusses this question with IISS–Americas Executive Director EJ Herold and Research Fellow Henry Boyd in this episode of Sounds Strategic. As Henry and EJ explain, there is increasing evidence that the US Department of Defense considers China, rather than a resurgent Russia, as its greatest strategic challenge for the foreseeable future. 

They also discuss how this rebalancing of US strategic priorities towards the Asia-Pacific will adversely affect the European member states of NATO, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 22 September 2020

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This week, Antonio Sampaio is joined by Ignacio Cano, Alice Hills and Tessa Diphoorn for a wide-ranging discussion on the challenges of policing in the developing world, with a particular focus on Brazil, Kenya and Somalia.

Ignacio, Alice and Tessa each describe the different forms of policing in each country, from extreme militarisation in Rio de Janeiro to sporadic and limited policing in Somalia and Kenya. 

However, they all highlight how corruption, limited state capacity and domestic politics impact policing and undermine a state’s willingness and ability to police in vulnerable and marginalised communities.

They also examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted policing in recent months, as well as explore some of the positive signs in police reform coming out of Kenya.

Dr Ignacio Cano is a member of the Laboratory of Violence at Rio de Janeiro State University and is currently visiting researcher at the Safety Lab in Cape Town, South Africa.

Dr Alice Hills is Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds focusing on police development in sub-Saharan Africa and Somali security governance.

Dr Tessa Diphoorn is Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands and is currently researching policing in Kenya. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 28 August 2020

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On 6 and 9 August 1945, the US military bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki using a weapon of unprecedented destructive capability, the atom bomb. These bombings marked the beginning of the nuclear age and remain the only use of a nuclear weapon in an active conflict.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of these events, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dana Allin, Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy and Transatlantic Affairs, and Mark Fitzpatrick, Associate Fellow and former Executive Director of IISS–Americas, to discuss the legacy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the lessons that are at risk of being forgotten today.

They discuss the narrative around the use of the atom bomb, its impact on the national psyche of Japan and its role in creating the nuclear taboo and, eventually, the concept of nuclear deterrence through mutually assured destruction. Both Dana and Mark argue that it falls to today’s leaders to remember the lessons of the past and to slow the recent erosion of nuclear arms controls.

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Date of recording: 25 August 2020

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In this week’s episode of Sounds Strategic, Meia Nouwens is joined by John Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence, and Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia and Editor of the Strategic Survey, for a discussion on political risk and ‘corporate foreign policy’.

The economic instability caused by the COVID-19 crisis, coupled with the intensifying geo-economic rivalry between the US and China, has increased economic instability and dampened corporate prospects globally. 

John and Nigel argue that these factors have increased the need for robust ‘foreign policy’ among all public-facing organisations, from multinational corporations to universities. For them, good corporate foreign policy assesses, plans for and proactively addresses political risk in its many forms to better insulate companies and organisations from the highly politicised economic headwinds already gathering in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

John and Nigel also discuss the growing power of corporations within the international system and the underlying risks created by the intermingling of economic and defence concerns most clearly seen in the current US–China tech war.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 12 August 2020

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To celebrate the 50th episode of Sounds Strategic, Robert Ward, Director of the Geo-economics and Strategy programme at the IISS, hosts Meia Nouwens and Nigel Inkster for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation on China, its foreign-policy motivations and what its possible dominance in technology could mean for the West.

In the episode, Meia and Nigel examine the limits of China’s assertive, ‘wolf-warrior’ approach to foreign affairs. They discuss whether China’s recent behaviour is part of a grand strategic vision or simple opportunism at a time of increased international instability during the COVID-19 crisis.

At the heart of Western concerns around Huawei is China’s potential to dominate the tech sector in the future. Meia and Nigel both highlight the dangers of decoupling from China and instead stress the importance of effective engagement as a means to ensure the West’s continued prosperity and to manage the political and economic challenge China represents in the 21st century.

Meia and Nigel also discuss the possible futures of Taiwan and Hong Kong, the impact of COVID-19 on the political authority of President Xi Jinping and whether a possible Biden presidency could meaningfully change US–China relations.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 29 July 2020

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Following a special presentation by US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Meia and Antônio speak with Research Fellow Aaron Connelly on how the United States’ strategy towards Southeast Asia is viewed by Southeast Asian countries themselves.

In the episode, Aaron explains why Secretary Esper’s recent remarks may indicate US policymakers are moving away from large-scale multilateral initiatives and towards ‘minilateralism’. Aaron also explores why some Southeast Asian states stand by a policy of non-alignment, despite Beijing’s heavy-handedness in recent years.

In addition, Meia, Antônio and Aaron discuss how US Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea have changed over the years, recent tensions within the US–Philippines relationship, and upcoming elections in Malaysia.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 22 July 2020

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With the return of great-power competition to the forefront of international affairs, there has been a renewed focus among the world’s advanced militaries on what capabilities will be required to win or compete in possible conflicts in the future. 

In this week’s episode, Franz-Stefan Gady joins Meia and Antônio to discuss the concepts that underpin debates around future warfighting, and why doctrinal and organisational considerations will play an equal, if not greater, role for military planners looking to prepare for the future.

They also discuss the limits of ‘grey-zone’ conflict, why authoritarian regimes may struggle to develop effective military organisational structures and how COVID-19 could impact military operations.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 15 July 2020

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Europe was already facing a host of complex geopolitical and economic challenges at the start of 2020, even before the COVID-19 crisis. In this week’s episode, Meia is joined by Sarah Raine and Fabrice Pothier for a wide-ranging and in-depth discussion on how the EU’s political agenda has been impacted by the pandemic and what issues remain at the forefront of its policy priorities.

Domestically, the EU has experienced profound disruption because of COVID-19. Fabrice and Sarah examine how European states and the EU have responded to the crisis, as well as what this disruption means for Germany’s presidency of the Council of the European Union. They also discuss the prospects and dynamics of upcoming UK–EU negotiations.

The EU is also managing a busy foreign-policy portfolio. Fabrice and Sarah explore the EU’s complex relationship with China, which is at once a ‘systemic rival’ to the EU as well as its global ‘partner’. They also assess the state of transatlantic affairs, NATO and the possibility of French-led rapprochement with Russia. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 2 July 2020

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China has been expanding its economic and diplomatic reach in the Gulf for little over a decade, but should growing Gulf–China relations concern the United States? In this week’s episode, Camille Lons speaks with Antônio and Meia on the dynamics of China’s growing presence in the Gulf, how it has evolved in recent years and its limitations. 

At its core, China’s interest in the Gulf remains primarily economic rather than security driven. As a result, Gulf states will continue to look to the US as the region’s security guarantor. However, as Camille explains, the recent development of a Chinese base in Djibouti and increasing arms sales to the Gulf from China are significant additions in the Gulf–China relationship.

Much will be determined by the post-COVID-19 recovery. Camille explains that the increasing diversity in China’s energy mix may in turn weaken revenues in the Gulf. It is not yet clear how Belt and Road Initiative projects in the region will be affected, but, with increasing collaboration on high-technology projects, China’s presence in the Gulf will likely continue to grow into the future.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 23 June 2020

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Japan was already heading towards economic difficulties before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world’s economy. How will Japan’s economy fare in the post-COVID period? And will it affect the country’s geostrategic and geo-economic ambitions? In this week’s episode, Meia discusses these questions with Robert Ward and Yuka Koshino.

Robert explains that Japan will likely experience a severe economic shock in the post-COVID period. This will likely have negative implications for the re-election prospects of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but Robert asserts that Japan will seek to maintain its position as a counterbalance to China in the Asia-Pacific region.

Yuka highlights the various defence concerns facing Japan, including an increasingly assertive China and a hostile regime in North Korea. She explains how Japan remains committed to the US alliance and engaged with regional and extra-regional partners.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 16 June 2020

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The profound economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has led some to question the utility and necessity of traditional defence spending as a means of ensuring national security, especially in Europe. In this week’s episode of Sounds Strategic, Antônio speaks with Bastian Giegerich and Fenella McGerty on why defence spending remains important and the implications of the COVID-19 crisis for European defence projects, NATO and the future of the transatlantic relationship.

Fenella explains how this current economic crisis is fundamentally different compared to the financial crisis in 2008–09 and why its impact on defence spending will be more complex as a result. Bastian argues that effective defence spending will be critical for Europe in the post-COVID period and highlights the challenges the EU and NATO will face if the US becomes a less reliable ally in the defence of Europe at a time of heightened global competition. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 10 June 2020

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In this week’s episode, Meia is joined by Lynn Kuok and Euan Graham for an in-depth discussion on what China’s activity in the South China Sea means for ASEAN, Australia, the US and Europe, and whether such actions are indicative of shifting geopolitical power dynamics.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, China has maintained a constant presence in the South China Sea, even encroaching on the Exclusive Economic Zones of several Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Lynn explains the factors hindering ASEAN’s ability to curtail such Chinese activity and Euan assesses how Australia is adapting its foreign relations in response to China’s rising status within the international community.

Meia, Lynn and Euan also consider the strategic implications of the new Chinese national security laws being imposed on Hong Kong and how they may impact China’s policy towards Taiwan and its foreign policy more broadly.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 4 June 2020

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This week, Meia and Antônio are joined by Nick Childs, Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security, for a conversation on the increasingly contested realm of maritime security, how Russia and China are developing their naval capabilities, and what technologies could revolutionise defence affairs at sea in the near future.

During the episode, Nick explains why the traditional naval supremacy the US and its allies have enjoyed in recent decades is now eroding, as Russia and China develop their own maritime capabilities, and what impact this may have on both US power projection and global security at sea.

They also discuss the specific capabilities Russia and China are adding to their respective navies and why uninhabited systems may be the new frontier for naval competition. 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 2 June 2020

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This week, Antonio and Meia are joined by Franck Bousquet, Senior Director of the World Bank's Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group, to discuss a new strategy that aims to enhance the organisation’s ability to support fragile states.

By 2030 up to two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor will live in fragile or conflict-afflicted states. The World Bank Group Strategy for Fragility, Conflict and Violence marks an evolution in how the World Bank aims to address the root causes of state fragility and violence. Franck explains how this strategy empowers the World Bank to work across the ‘fragility spectrum’, including a renewed focus on conflict prevention.

Meia, Antonio and Franck also discuss the important role public, private and civil-society partnerships play within World Bank projects, the benefits of technology in monitoring and capacity-building in fragile states, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Date of recording: Tuesday 29 April 2020

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In this special episode of Sounds Strategic, Meia Nouwens and Antônio Sampaio discuss the major trends in modern armed conflict with contributors from the Armed Conflict Survey 2020, the annual review of the political, military and humanitarian dimensions of all active armed conflicts from the IISS.

Meia speaks with Virginia Comolli and Eleanor Beevor on the key features of this year’s edition. The book examines 33 armed conflicts and details their respective conflict groups, strategic implications and prospects for resolution. Virginia explains why the growing intractability and internationalisation of conflicts were chosen as two of the key themes in this year’s edition. Eleanor explores the perceived value of armed UAVs for non-state armed groups and how internal dynamics within conflict groups can influence their activities.

Antônio meanwhile chats with Tuesday Reitano from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime on the practical and political challenges of combatting human trafficking in and out of armed conflict.

The Armed Conflict Survey will be published on 27 May 2020. For more information on this year’s edition and how to register for the online launch event please visit theIISS website.

Date of recording: Tuesday 19 May 2020

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In this week’s episode, Meia Nouwens speaks with Viraj Solanki and Antoine Levesques on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected South Asia.

Viraj discusses the ways India’s nationwide lockdown has evolved since it was initially imposed in late March and the impact this response has had on India’s society and economic prospects.

Antoine, meanwhile, examines Pakistan’s own response to COVID-19, including the role the military has played in combatting the virus and what this crisis may mean for Pakistan’s economic future.

Meia, Antoine and Viraj also discuss China’s burgeoning presence in the region, from the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the technical and medical assistance China has given to small island nations in the Indian Ocean.

Finally, Viraj explains India’s own efforts to develop its regional leadership credentials by reinforcing its bilateral and multilateral relationships in South Asia and beyond.

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Date of recording: 12 May 2020

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This week, Meia speaks with her co-host, Antônio Sampaio, Research Fellow for Conflict, Security and Development, on how Brazil has been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has made headlines due to his unorthodox response to the COVID-19 virus, sacking his health minister, Luiz Mandetta, and largely disregarding or undermining the medical community’s advice on how best to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Brazil. As Antônio explains, this has left the onus on state governments to develop their own responses to the pandemic and put extreme pressure on Brazil’s public health system.

Amid this pandemic, Brazil is also experiencing an acute political crisis following the resignation of Bolsonaro’s popular Minister of Justice and Public Security, Sérgio Moro. Antônio assesses how this scandal could impact the Bolsonaro government and Brazilian politics in the future.

Finally, in the absence of strong federal leadership, Antonio explores how civil societies, and even some criminal organisations, are taking on new responsibilities to combat COVID-19.

We hope you enjoy listening and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to podcasts.

Date of recording: 5 May 2020

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In this week’s episode of Sounds Strategic, Antônio Sampaio speaks with Senior Fellow Virginia Comolli and Research Associate Eleanor Beevor from the Conflict, Security and Development Programme at the IISS. They discuss the challenges fragile states face in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, why international organisations are struggling to deliver humanitarian aid and how non-state armed groups have been responding to this global crisis.International organisations, such as the UN and the African Union, have struggled to maintain their commitments in conflict-afflicted countries during the pandemic. Virginia details why this has been the case and how the delivery of humanitarian assistance has been impacted. She also looks at the second-order effects this crisis is having on food security.Non-state armed groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia are also complicating responses to the COVID-19 virus. As Eleanor explains, many armed groups are restricting humanitarian access to areas they control, as well as generating counter-narratives on how to best fight the spread of the virus. These factors will likely only worsen the virus among some of the most vulnerable populations.We hope you enjoy listening and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to podcasts.Date of recording: 28 April 2020Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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In this week’s episode of Sounds Strategic, Meia Nouwens speaks with Executive Director of IISS–Asia, Dr Tim Huxley, on how countries in Southeast Asia have been handling the COVID-19 pandemic and the wider geopolitical impact the crisis may have on the region.Although a hugely diverse region in political, economic and cultural terms, Tim explains how and why Southeast Asia has, for the most part, managed the COVID-19 crisis more successfully than many Western countries. Crucially, Tim warns that as the economic cost of the COVID-19 pandemic becomes more pronounced, traditional Western security commitments in Southeast Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region more broadly, could weaken further. This possible absence of Western support could provide a committed China an opportunity to change the balance of power in the region in its favour.Tim and Meia also discuss the political risks present in how Indonesia and the Philippines have handled the crisis and why this pandemic could mark a historic shift in geopolitical authority away from the West and towards the East.We hope you enjoy listening and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to podcasts.Date of recording: 22 April 2020Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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In this week’s episode, Antonio and Meia are joined by David Gordon, IISS Senior Adviser for Geo-Economics and Strategy, to discuss how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the global economy, why this crisis is so unique and the prospects for an eventual recovery.The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented and, crucially, near-universal closing of the world’s economy. As David explains, the synchronicity of this shutdown and the simmering rivalry between the US and China are key factors that will likely worsen the economic impact of the crisis and complicate the recovery. David predicts that we will see major changes to global supply-chain dynamics as a result of this crisis, as well as challenges ahead for the international institutions tasked with restoring the global economy in the post-crisis period.During the episode, Antonio, Meia and David also explore how COVID-19 has affected emerging markets, countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and domestic politics in China.We hope you enjoy listening and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to podcasts.Date of recording: 17 April 2020Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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This week, Meia and Antonio are joined by Nigel Gould-Davies, the new IISS Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia and Editor of Strategic Survey, for a discussion on how Russia has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite a slow initial response, the Russian government has started enacting stricter controls in an effort to control the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. However, Putin has remained notably absent in the public management of the crisis and Nigel explores why Putin is instead delegating this key task to trusted allies.While the reliability of official Russian statistics on the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak may be in doubt, Nigel notes the real concerns that this crisis, coupled with a serious drop in the price of oil and gas, could have an even more detrimental impact on Russia’s economy than the 2008 financial crash.Finally, Meia, Antonio and Nigel discuss the methods and motivations behind persistent Russian efforts to use the pandemic to sow further divisions among Western states. Nigel also explores how the COVID-19 crisis has derailed Putin’s domestic agenda, harming his popularity and delaying the planned constitutional amendments that would allow him to remain in power until 2036.We hope you enjoy listening and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to podcasts.Date of recording: 7 April 2020Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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In this episode, Mahsa Rouhi and Emile Hokayem join Meia Nouwens for a discussion on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected countries in the Middle East.Iran has been one of the most severely affected countries in the world, with over 3,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 (as of 2 April 2020). Mahsa explains how the Iranian public has responded to this crisis and why the combination of US sanctions and regime negligence has worsened the outbreak in the country.Conflict-afflicted countries, such as Syria and Yemen, also stand to be gravely affected by this pandemic for a series of reasons, including the lack of medical facilities after years of conflict. Emile explores how this pandemic presents a ‘cascade of problems’ for these countries and will likely exacerbate existing insecurities, especially among vulnerable IDP and refugee populations.Both Mahsa and Emile speak on the mixed role non-state groups have had in combating the virus and why a lack of trust in state institutions has led to weakened public adherence to restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. They finish the episode by noting some positive diplomatic signs occurring during this crisis that could form the basis for renewed regional engagement after the pandemic has passed.We hope you enjoy listening and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to podcasts.Date of recording: 31 March 2020Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, Antonio and Meia are joined by David Kilcullen, Professor of International and Political Studies at the University of New South Wales in Canberra, and former special adviser to the US Secretary of State between 2007 and 2009. Over the past five years, the world has witnessed some of the largest city-based battles since World War Two. The sieges of Mosul in Iraq and Aleppo in Syria indicate that urban warfighting is to become a key feature of future conflicts. As a result, David argues, traditional Western military doctrine needs to adapt to meet the new challenges of asymmetric urban conflict.David also discusses why the very concept of ‘war’ may become an area of diplomatic tension as China and the West disagree on what constitutes ‘war-like behaviour’, even in peace time.Finally, Antonio, Meia and David explore some of the positive steps NATO has taken to integrate a whole-of-society approach to modern inter-state competition; the possible hazards of the Trump administration’s recent peace deal in Afghanistan; and the common misconceptions around what makes effective counter-insurgency policy.We hope you enjoy the episode but don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Date of recording: 4 March 2020Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks

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James Hackett, Senior Fellow for Defence and Military Analysis, and Tom Waldwyn, Research Associate for Defence and Military Analysis, join Meia and Antonio for this episode to discuss the key trends in defence procurement and capabilities identified in the latest edition of The Military Balance, the Institute’s annual assessment of global military capabilities and defence economics. In recent years, China’s military shipbuilding output has consistently dwarfed that of other countries. Tom and James explain why China requires such an extensive military modernisation programme and identify the practical limitations these new Chinese capabilities may face.James also discusses the re-emergence of peer-to-peer and near-peer competition among the advanced militaries of the US, China and Russia, and what this means for modern international relations.Tom and James also explore the processes and challenges of open-source investigations, how they became interested in military analysis and their reading recommendations for other aspiring military and defence analysts.Reading Recommendations:Michael Howard, The First World War, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002)Bruce Pascoe, Dark Emu: Black Seeds: Agriculture or Accident?, (Victoria: Magabala, 2014)Orr Kelly, King of the Killing Zone: The Story of the M-1, America’s Super Tank, (New Tork: W.W. Norton, 1989)We hope you enjoy the episode and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

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Sir Tom Beckett, Executive Director of IISS−Middle East, joins podcast hosts Meia Nouwens and Antônio Sampaio for this episode of Sounds Strategic.Tom, Meia and Antônio discuss how countries in the Middle East have reacted to United States President Donald Trump’s proposed plan for Israeli−Palestinian peace. Their discussion also highlights why the peace plan might be difficult to implement. Tom gives a short description of the history of the Middle East and examines the role of non-state armed groups in the region, highlighting the recently published IISS Strategic Dossier Iran’s Networks of Influence in the Middle East. Tom, Meia and Antônio also discuss the role of the US and its policy position towards the region at a time when Middle Eastern countries are looking to diversify their relations for the sake of economic protection. Finally, Tom and Meia briefly touch on China’s interests in the region and Chinese arms exports to the Middle East.We hope you enjoy the episode and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe Sounds Strategic wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

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In the first episode of the new season of Sounds Strategic, Robert Ward welcomes his new co-hosts Meia Nouwens and Antônio Sampaio on to the podcast.During the episode they discuss the recent election results in Taiwan, the protests in Hong Kong and how the recent coronavirus outbreak has impacted China’s economy and Taiwan. Taken together, these crises have brought new challenges for China’s president, Xi Jinping, suggesting that 2020 may prove to be an especially difficult year for the Chinese leader.New co-hosts Meia and Antônio also reveal their most challenging piece of work at the IISS and what their fantasy research project would be.We hope you enjoy the episode and don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe Sounds Strategic wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

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In her final episode as host of Sounds Strategic, Kori Schake is joined by the new director of the IISS Geo-economics and Strategy programme and Japan Chair, Robert Ward.During the episode, Kori and Robert discuss how ageing demographics and economic stagnation severely undercut the optimism that surrounded hopes for Japan’s economic future in the late 1980s. Robert goes on to assess whether China risks following Japan’s path or if there are sufficient differences between the two East Asian countries for China’s economy to continue its growth into the 21st century. Kori and Robert also highlight the vital importance of geo-economics as a means of understanding contemporary international relations, diplomacy and statecraft, and the possible consequences of the increasing bifurcation of the global economy. Finally, Robert explains why the idea that China is carefully following a detailed hundred-year plan towards world domination is the myth that he would most want to dispel from the popular discourse.

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Bill Emmott, Chairman of the IISS Trustees, joins Dr Kori Schake for this episode of Sounds Strategic.From President Trump’s questioning of traditional US allies and commitments, to growing Russian and Chinese influence in international and regional affairs, 2019 has seen a further erosion of the liberal world order established after the Second World War. In this end-of-year special, Bill Emmott and Kori Schake discuss the challenges the liberal rules-based order has faced over the course of 2019, both from within and without. Bill argues that middle powers such as Japan, France and South Korea may have to adapt to an emerging ‘G2’ world where US–China competition determines relations between states. Kori and Bill also discuss the differences between the regimes of Vladimir Putin’s Russia and Xi Jinping’s China, South Korean and Japanese politics, as well as the need for reinvigorated German leadership in the EU.Date of recording: 9 December 2019Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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In this special episode, Kori Schake, Deputy Director-General of the IISS, leads a panel of experts to reflect on the major themes of the debate at the IISS Manama Dialogue 2019.Opening the discussion is John Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence, who addresses the changes to the political geography of the Middle East already underway and what they mean for the myriad of internationalised challenges the region is currently facing.Hasan Alhasan, IISS Associate Fellow, notes the deepening geo-economic relationship between the Gulf and Asia, and especially China and India. One challenge Hasan foresees is how Gulf states will effectively convert these burgeoning economic relationships into greater diplomatic and security support from Asian countries. Senior Fellow for Middle East Security, Emile Hokayem, stresses the need to avoid complacency at a time of intense instability in the region. For Emile, battlefield dynamics continue to determine outcomes far more than political processes. Until the various geopolitical competitions being played out across the Middle East are resolved, Emile predicts instability will likely continue. Finally, Bastian Giegerich, IISS Director of Defence and Military Analysis, voices his concerns over NATO as it struggles with a series of internal challenges that have limited its ability to reassure its partners in the Middle East and to present a unified front against pressing regional concerns.Date of recording: 24 November 2019This episode was recorded at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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