Brussels Sprouts: Recent Episodes

Center for a New American Security | CNAS

Small bites on Transatlantic Security, NATO, the EU, Russia, and all things Europe. Hosted by Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend at the Center for a New American Security.

On Sunday, May 5th, Chinese President Xi Jinping will begin his first trip to Europe in five years. On this trip, Xi will make a high-profile two-day visit to France, where he is likely to encourage President Emmanuel Macron to continue pursuing an independent path from the United States regarding relations with Beijing. Xi will also make stops in Hungary and Serbia, which have cultivated close ties with China in recent years despite calls for de-risking from U.S. and other European leaders. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently returned from a visit to China, during which he met with Xi and other senior Chinese officials amidst the context of persistent simmering tensions between Washington and Beijing. What should we make of these two international trips, and what can they tell us about the current state of the relationships between China, Europe, and the United States? To discuss all of this and more, Noah Barkin and Bonnie Glaser join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Noah Barkin is a Senior Advisor with Rhodium Group's China practice, focusing on Europe-China relations and transatlantic China policy.

Bonnie Glaser is managing director of the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific program.

As the war in Ukraine continues into its third year, the mood has become increasingly dark. While territorial changes continue to be minor, Russia’s slow but steady advances along the front lines could become large losses for Ukraine. This is especially likely if Kyiv is unable to overcome worsening shortages of both material and personnel. As military aid continues to be stalled in Congress, the head of U.S. European Command has warned that Ukraine may be in danger of losing the war unless it soon receives additional ammunition from Washington. Amidst all this apparent doom and gloom, how concerned should we be about the trajectory of the war, and what glimmers of hope may still lie on the horizon? To discuss all of this and more, Mike Kofman joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Mike Kofman is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on the Russian military and Eurasian security issues.

Just under a year ago, Turkish President Erdogan won another five years in power in the Turkish presidential election. Last week, however, local election results in Turkey delivered a harsh blow to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Although the gap at the national level wasn’t huge, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) won about 38 percent of the vote and Erdogan’s AKP garnered approximately 35 percent, in major Turkish cities such as Istanbul and Ankara the gulf was significant. Following disappointing results for the CHP during last year’s general election, this significant defeat, the largest since the AKP's founding in 2001, proved a surprise. To discuss how we should interpret these election results and their implications for Turkish democracy, Asli Aydintaşbaş and Steven Cook join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Steven A. Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies and Director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of numerous books, including his most recent work, The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East, which is set to be released on June 3, 2024.

Asli Aydintaşbaş is a visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings, as well as a former Global Opinions columnist at The Washington Post and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there has been a notable evolution in France’s approach toward Moscow. In the initial months following the invasion, French President Emmanuel Macron continued to engage diplomatically with Vladimir Putin, controversially insisting that the West must not humiliate Moscow, prompting harsh criticism from France’s NATO allies. After apologizing last year for France’s previous failure to listen to the warning of its Central and Eastern European allies about Russian intentions, however, the French President notably pushed last month for greater Western strategic ambiguity regarding the war, stating that he had not ruled out the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine. This once again prompted an outcry from NATO allies wary of escalation, such as Germany and the United States. To discuss how to interpret this apparent shift in French thinking and its possible implications going forward, Tara Varma and Bruno Tertrais join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on Brussels Sprouts.

Tara Varma is a visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution.

Bruno Tertrais is the Deputy Director of the Foundation for Strategic Research, a leading French think-tank on international security issues. 

This past weekend, Russians went to the polls for the country’s presidential election. To the surprise of no one, Vladimir Putin emerged victorious with a record-high 87 percent of the vote—or so the Kremlin claims. In the wake of the death of Alexey Navalny and Putin’s bans on attempts of alternative candidates, such as Boris Nadezhdin, to compete in the elections, political opposition was limited to an informal agreement among thousands of voters to go to the polls at noon to express their discontent. Yet regardless of the fraudulent nature of the election, Putin is likely to take this result as evidence of a popular mandate to continue his policies of aggression abroad and repression at home. As we look ahead to Putin’s fifth term in office, how should we expect Russian domestic politics and foreign policy to evolve in the years to come? To discuss all this and more, Angela Stent and Joshua Yaffa join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Angela Stent is senior adviser to the Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies and professor emerita of government and foreign service at Georgetown University. She is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and co-chairs its Hewett Forum on Post- Soviet Affairs. Stent is additionally the author of Putin’s World: Russia Against the West and With the Rest (2019).

Joshua Yaffa is a contributing writer for The New Yorker. He is also the author of Between Two Fires: Truth, Ambition, and Compromise in Putin’s Russia, published in January 2020 by Tim Duggan Books, which won the Orwell Prize in 2021.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macon made waves when he said that he had not ruled out sending ground troops to fight in Ukraine. This statement prompted a strong reaction from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and for many of France’s NATO allies to distance themselves from Macron’s statement and potential escalation. One of the most notable instances of this came from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who asserted that soldiers from NATO countries should not “actively participate in war events.” This latest Franco-German spat fits within a larger trend of disagreements between Paris and Berlin and comes at a time when unified European leadership is desperately needed to aid Kyiv. To discuss the implications of these recent events for the future of Western support to Ukraine, Camille Grand and Claudia Major join Andrea Kendall- Taylor and Jim Townsend on Brussels Sprouts.

Camille Grand is a Distinguished Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He leads the organization’s work on defense and disruptive technologies in European security.

Claudia Major is head of the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. Her research focuses on European and transatlantic security and defense policy.

Throughout January, Germany witnessed weeks of mass protests against the far-right in numerous towns and cities across the country. The immediate impetus for these demonstrations was the revelation that leaders of the Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, had met with neo-Nazis to discuss potential large-scale deportations of certain segments of the country’s population. While the scale of participation in these protests demonstrates backlash among many Germans against the far-right’s xenophobic ideology, the AfD nonetheless retains significant popularity, particularly in eastern Germany. As the country looks ahead to various regional elections this fall that could see the AfD come to power, as well as to national elections in 2025, how significant of a threat does the far-right represent? To discuss the implications of the increasing mainstreaming of the far-right both in Germany and in Europe more broadly, Liana Fix and Erika Solomon join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Liana Fix is a Fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Erika Solomon is the Berlin correspondent for the New York Times.

February 24 marks the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Heading into the third year of war, Ukraine faces a challenging outlook. No longer are U.S. and European leaders talking about Russia’s strategic failure in its invasion. Indeed, the Kremlin appears confident that things are heading in Russia’s direction after Ukraine’s 2023 offensive and signs of U.S. reticence to sustain military support to the Ukrainian effort. Anxiety over this outlook was running high at the Munich security conference, where allies grappled with the reality of a rising threat from Russia underscored by the killing of Alexei Navalny, the disclosure of Russian plans to put a nuclear weapon in space, and the transatlantic community’s lack of preparedness to address Russia’s rising challenge. To discuss where Ukraine stands two years after Russia’s brutal invasion, two former U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine, Bill Taylor and Marie Yovanovitch, join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts.

William Taylor is the vice president for Europe and Russia at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Prior to this, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009, and as the chargé d'affaires at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv in 2019.

Marie Yovanovitch is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a nonresident fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy of Georgetown University. She served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2016 to 2019, having previously held this post in the Republic of Armenia and the Kyrgyz Republic

During the past two years, the world has seen the eruption of two major conflicts in two different regions. In Europe, Russia has launched a war of aggression against Ukraine in an attempt to reclaim a sphere of influence, while in the Middle East, Iran’s longstanding policy of enabling proxies including Hamas has resulted in a major war in Gaza and widespread violence throughout the region. In the meantime, tensions continue to simmer in East Asia, where China’s ambitions of primacy have stoked fears of a potential future conflict over Taiwan. While these three regional competitions may seem separate, they are in reality becoming increasingly interconnected as ties among Eurasia’s revisionist powers become stronger—a dynamic similar to that observed in the prelude to World War II. What lessons should we draw from the past as we attempt to make sense of today’s global turmoil and its implications for the future? Hal Brands joins the podcast to discuss all of this and more.

Hal Brands is the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

In March of 2024, Russia will hold a presidential election. While Vladimir Putin is nearly certain to win another term in office given the Kremlin’s efforts to control the outcome and repress the opposition, it is far from certain how domestic dynamics in the country more broadly will play out in the months and years to come. As we approach the two-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, how is the Russian public viewing the war, how is Putin exploiting the conflict domestically, and what might be the potential risks to regime stability going forward? Graeme Robertson and Sam Greene joined the podcast to discuss all of this and more.

Graeme Robertson is a Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Director of the Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies.

Sam Greene is the Director for Democratic Resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis and a Professor of Russian Politics at King's College London.

This week’s Brussels Sprouts discusses expectations for Russia in the pivotal year ahead. As we approach the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine this February, how is the Kremlin viewing prospects for success going forward and the West’s capacity to sustain its support? Moreover, what is the potential impact of further instability in the Middle East, and how will Russia cultivate its relationships with China, Iran, and North Korea in 2024? With the upcoming elections in both Russia and the U.S., moreover, there is also much to consider regarding Putin’s domestic hold on power and the implications of American results for Russia. To address all of this and more, we’re pleased to have Fiona Hill with us on the podcast.

Fiona Hill is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe within the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. She also holds the position of chancellor at Durham University in the United Kingdom and was recently elected to the Harvard University Board of Overseers.

On this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts, we are setting out to identify some of the big-picture trends shaping the transatlantic relationship and international affairs more broadly. As we look ahead to 2024, what are the biggest challenges facing the United States, Europe, and the world at-large, and what opportunities do policymakers have to address these challenges? To help us get a better sense of what to expect in the year ahead, Richard Fontaine and Michèle Flournoy join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the podcast.

Richard Fontaine is the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security. Prior to coming to CNAS, he was foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain and worked at the State Department, the National Security Council, and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Michèle Flournoy is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors, and former Co- Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CNAS, where she currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. She also served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012.

Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas this past fall, many have feared the possibility that the fighting could metastasize into a broader regional conflict. Such fears have only grown in recent weeks, as violence has risen across the Middle East. With increasing regional turbulence, the United States and Europe will face mounting pressure to take actions geared towards restabilization, complicating their ability to devote resources to other ongoing challenges such as the war in Ukraine. To unpack recent events and their likely implications for the transatlantic partners, Jon Alterman joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Jon Alterman is a senior vice president, holds the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy, and is director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

As we enter 2024, one of the biggest issues likely to face transatlantic partners is the rise of far-right parties in Europe, which have recently gained significant electoral support in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. After strong showings several years ago, these parties seemingly receded into the background as the leaders of more traditional parties steered Europe through major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. As we observe the far-right become more prominent in the political mainstream, what are the reasons behind this trend, and what are its likely implications for Europe going forward? To tackle these crucial questions, Catherine Fieschi and Erik Jones join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Catherine Fieschi is a leading European political analyst and a Fellow of the Robert Schuman Centre in Florence

Erik Jones is the Director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute

As 2023 came to a close, many people began to characterize the war in Ukraine as a stalemate. Though it is true that very little has recently changed along the front lines and that neither side will be able to make a breakthrough, this label is misleading. Indeed, as 2024 takes hold both Moscow and Kyiv are working to rebuild their offensive capacity. Developments this year regarding both sides’ access to munitions, capacity to train fighters, and the extent of casualties in the war will be critical in shaping the conflict’s long-term trajectory. As such, 2024 is likely to be a decisive year for the war in Ukraine. To discuss where things stand and where they could go, Michael Kofman and Shashank Joshi join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Mike Kofman is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on the Russian military and Eurasian security issues.

Shashank Joshi is the Defense Editor at The Economist and a Visiting Fellow at The Department of War Studies at King’s College London

At last week’s European Council summit, EU heads of state and government agreed to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova as well as to grant candidate status to Georgia. These historic decisions demonstrate the new momentum in the European Union’s enlargement process following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has forced the bloc to think more strategically about integrating its neighbors to the east. But while enlargement may be back on the political agenda, there are many obstacles in its way, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the need for substantial political reforms in candidate countries, and the need for the European Union to reform its own institutions to be able to welcome new members. As we look towards what is sure to be a long and difficult process, what are the true prospects for enlargement’s success, and what will need to happen before a new set of member states can join the European Union? To discuss all of this and more Veronica Anghel and Engjellushe Morina join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Nick Lokker on this episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Veronica Anghel is a Lecturer at SAIS Europe and a Visiting Fellow in the Robert Schuman Center at the European University Institute.

Engjellushe Morina is a senior policy fellow with the Wider Europe Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

On November 29, former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger died at the age of 100. With a long career spanning many decades as both a scholar and a statesman, Kissinger leaves behind a controversial legacy. While many have celebrated his success in resolutely pursuing U.S. global interests, others have denounced Kissinger’s apparent disregard for values such as human rights. To unpack Kissinger’s immense and complicated impact on both the United States and the world, David Sanger and Stephen Sestanovich join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

David Sanger is the White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times, reporting on President Biden and his administration, with a particular focus on foreign policy and its intersection with technology, politics, and superpower conflict.

Stephen Sestanovich is the George F. Kennan senior fellow for Russian and Eurasian studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis professor of international diplomacy at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. He is the author of Maximalist: America in the World from Truman to Obama, published by Knopf in February 2014.

As winter approaches and territorial changes along the frontlines in Ukraine continue to be minimal, the realization is setting in that a long war likely lies ahead. To continue to defend itself against Russia’s aggression in the months and years to come, Kyiv will need the full support of its Western backers. Yet continued aid from the United States—Ukraine’s largest provider of weapons by far—is looking increasingly doubtful. To unpack the political reality around Ukraine support in the United States and the likely implications for Kyiv’s war effort, Ivo Daalder joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Ivo Daalder is President of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. From 2009-2013, he served as the United States’ Ambassador to NATO.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many observers have focused on the consolidation of Western unity in responding to Moscow’s aggression. However, attitudes toward the war differ significantly in many places outside of the United States and Europe. The apparent split between the West and the so-called “Global South” has also attracted increasing attention as non-Western countries such as China, India, and Brazil have taken on a more influential role on the world stage. What explains these differing attitudes, and how can the United States and Europe engage the rest of the world productively on key global issues in the years to come? On this episode of Brussels Sprouts Nathalie Tocci and Timothy Garton Ash join Andrea Kendall- Taylor and Jim Townsend to help us make sense of all of this and more.

Nathalie Tocci is the director of the Italian Institute of International Affairs. In her formal role as Special Advisor to EU High Representatives Federica Mogherini and Josep Borrell, she wrote the European Global Strategy and worked on its implementation.

Timothy Garton Ash is a professor of European Studies at Oxford University. He is the author of eleven books that have charted the transformation of Europe over the last half century.

Nathalie Tocci The Guardian Op-Ed Mentioned in Podcast: Nathalie Tocci, “War in Ukraine is revealing a new global order – and the ‘power south’ is the winner,” The Guardian, September 20, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/20/war-ukraine-new-global-order-power-south-india-china

For more about the report on the Global South mentioned by Timothy Garton Ash in the podcast:Timothy Garton Ash, Ivan Krastev, and Mark Leonard, Living in an à la carte world: What European policymakers should learn from global public opinion (European Council on Foreign Relations, November 2023),https://europeanmoments.com/sites/default/files/2023-11/ECFR-CITRUS-joint-report-nov2023.pdf.

During the past several weeks, a string of attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea has highlighted the challenges NATO faces in protecting itself against hybrid threats. After the discovery of damage done to a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, news soon broke that a data cable connecting Estonia and Sweden had also been damaged. While investigations point to a Chinese commercial vessel as the most likely culprit, the difficulty of attributing the incident directly to Beijing illustrates a common problem in defending against grey zone aggression more broadly. On this episode of Brussels Sprouts, Bruce Jones and Elisabeth Braw join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to help us make sense of recent incidents and what they can tell us about future threats posed by hybrid warfare.

Bruce Jones is a Senior Fellow with the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution.

Elisabeth Braw is a Senior Associate Fellow at the European Leadership Network and a columnist with Foreign Policy. Her work focuses on deterrence against emerging forms of aggression, such as hybrid and grey zone threats.

More than a year and a half after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sustained Western support for Kyiv is as critical as ever. With the future trajectory of the war remaining highly uncertain, continued military aid from both the United States and Europe will be essential in enabling further Ukrainian successes on the battlefield. Yet commitment to such support is not guaranteed. In particular, recent global events have raised concerns about the degree to which European allies will continue to stand behind Kyiv. To discuss how we should be thinking about these various developments and their potential impact on the Russia-Ukraine war, Liana Fix, Tara Varma, and Justyna Gotkowska join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a historian and political scientist, with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, and Eastern Europe.

Tara Varma is a visiting fellow in the Center for the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. She focuses on current French defense and security proposals in the European framework, as well as ongoing efforts to materialize European sovereignty in health, economics, climate, energy, and more traditional security fields.

Justyna Gotkowska is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Eastern Studies based in Warsaw, Poland. Her work focuses on security and defense issues in Northern and Central Europe, including defense policies and armed forces’ developments in Germany as well as in the Nordic and Baltic states.

Two weekends ago, news broke that Hamas had infiltrated Israeli territory, killing hundreds of civilians while taking many others hostage. In the wake of these attacks, Western leaders offered their support to Israel, condemning the actions of the Palestinian militant organization. However, some in Europe question how far to go, taking issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s unqualified commitment to “Israel’s right to defend itself.” As the crisis now verges toward possible escalation, Europe must grapple with not just the consequences for the region itself but the possible ripple effects on interests farther afield. In particular, Ukraine’s ongoing struggle is likely to be top of mind, with Moscow exploiting the current conflict. To discuss all of this and more, Julien Barnes-Dacey and Hanna Notte join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Julien Barnes-Dacey is the director of the Middle East & North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He works on European policy towards the wider region, with a particular focus on Syria and regional geopolitics.

Hanna Notte is the director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Her work focuses on Russian foreign policy, including Russia’s relations with the “Global South” and the Middle East in particular.

Nearly 20 months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, questions are beginning to mount about the future of Western aid to Kyiv. In addition to worrying signs of faltering support in Europe, perhaps the most concerning case is in the United States, where turmoil in Congress is stalling the approval of additional military assistance. Molly Reynolds and Max Bergmann join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss the implications of these recent political developments.

Molly Reynolds is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. She studies the U.S. Congress, with an emphasis on how congressional rules and procedure affect domestic policy outcomes.

Max Bergmann is the director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. From 2011 to 2017, he served in the U.S. Department of State in a number of different positions, including as a member of the secretary of state’s policy planning staff.

On October 15, all eyes will be on Poland as the country holds critical parliamentary elections. The months leading up to this event have seen a fiercely contested campaign, with an opposition bloc, led by the centrist Civic Coalition, attempting to prevent the ruling rightwing coalition, led by the Law and Justice party, from winning a third term in office. While the outcome of the race remains highly uncertain, its potential implications are profound, with some going so far as to claim that the future of Polish democracy itself is on the line. However, the implications of the election are also likely to extend beyond Poland, affecting political dynamics within the European Union and Poland’s broader role on the international stage. On this Episode of Brussels Sprouts Dan Kelemen and Michal Baranowski join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the high stakes of next week’s outcome in Poland.

R. Daniel Kelemen is the McCourt Chair at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. His research interests include the politics and law of the European Union, comparative politics and law, and comparative public policy.

Michal Baranowski is a managing director at the German Marshall Fund, where he provides overall strategic direction and leadership for the organization’s work in Poland, the Baltic states, and the Visegrad 4 countries

Heading into the January 2024 Finnish presidential elections, the spotlight remains on foreign policy, an area where the Finnish head of state wields considerable influence. At the forefront of Finland’s foreign policy, however, is Russia and the nature of Helsinki’s future relationship with its neighbor. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Helsinki broke from its decades-long policy of formal military non-alignment by applying for and receiving membership in NATO. Outgoing president Niinistö had a crucial role in executing this monumental shift, helping set Finland down a new path, but considerable questions and issues remain. On this bonus episode of Brussels Sprouts, join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend as they moderate a debate between Finland’s leading presidential candidates, Dr. Mika Aaltola, Pekka Haavisto, and Alex Stubb, on the future of Finnish foreign policy.

Dr. Mika Aaltola is running as an independent candidate in the 2024 Finnish elections. He is currently on a leave of absence from his position as the Director of the Finish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA).

Pekka Haavisto is a member of the Green Party and the Finnish Parliament. He previously served as the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2019 to 2023.

Alex Stubb is running as the National Coalition candidate in the 2024 Finnish Presidential Race. Prior to this, he served as Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, and Trade and Europe Minister of Finland. Additionally, he was a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2008.

On September 19, Azerbaijani forces began attacking Nagorno Karabakh, the long-disputed Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan. Within 24 hours, Azerbaijan had established full control over the territory, triggering a mass exodus of Karabakh Armenians from their homeland amid fears of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the Azerbaijani military. This latest violence in the long-running conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh raises numerous questions. How will Russia’s role and influence in the region shift amidst warming tides between Armenia and the West, and what does Baku’s relationship with Turkey mean for the conflict’s trajectory? To discuss recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Thomas de Waal and Ambassador Philip Reeker join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this Week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Ambassador Philip Reeker is a partner and the lead of the Europe and Eurasia Practice at the Albright Stonebridge Group. He has more than 30 years of diplomatic experience, including previous roles as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, and as the Secretary of State’s Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations.

Thomas de Waal is a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. He is the author of numerous publications about the region, including his authoritative book on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War

This past Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to the Russian Far East for a summit with Vladimir Putin. After more than four hours of talks, Kim vowed to provide “full and unconditional support” to Russia, a clear indication of just how closely aligned Russian and North Korean interests have become. This deepening partnership between Russia and North Korea is part of a larger trend that has seen the emergence of a broad axis of authoritarian countries bound through opposition to the United States and its allies. To assess the significance of Russia’s increasingly close relationships with Pyongyang and Tehran for U.S. national security, Hanna Notte and Markus Garlauskas join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Hanna Notte is the Director for Eurasia at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies as well as a Senior Associate in the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies.

Markus Garlauskas is the director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. He previously served in the US government for nearly twenty years, including as National Intelligence Officer for North Korea.

Over the past several months, the world’s attention has been focused on the ongoing counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army. Many of Ukraine’s supporters had high hopes for this operation, with the United States and its European allies having provided unprecedented levels of military aid to Kyiv in preparation. Yet as the summer concludes without evidence of decisive territorial gains by Ukraine, perspectives on the conflict’s trajectory are becoming increasingly pessimistic. Nonetheless, some observers have pushed back against this narrative, noting Ukraine’s steady progress in the face of formidable challenges, and calling supporters to not give up hope. In this episode of Brussels Sprouts, hosts Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend are joined by Mike Kofman and Lieutenant General Mark Hertling to discuss the state of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Mike Kofman is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he focuses on the Russian military and Eurasian security issues.

Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling is a former United States Army officer who previously served as commander of U.S. Army Europe from 2011-2012.

Last week, the world learned the shocking news that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the notorious head of Wagner private military company, died in a plane crash north of Moscow. Prigozhin’s demise came exactly two months after he launched a mutiny against Russian military leadership, which may be called the most significant and direct threat to Vladimir Putin’s regime since he came to power two decades ago. Now, it is far from certain whether Wagner can replicate its previous success without Prigozhin at the helm, and if not, whether other groups can effectively fill the vacuum. To discuss the post-Prigozhin future, Kim Marten and Vanda Felbab-Brown join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Kimberly Marten is a professor of political science at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her current research focuses on Russian foreign and security policies, NATO enlargement, and the global politics of climate change.

Vanda Felbab-Brown is a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. She is an expert on international and internal conflicts and nontraditional security threats, including insurgency, organized crime, urban violence, and illicit economies

Last month, Germany adopted its first ever strategy on China. Looking forward, Berlin’s implementation of this strategy will impact Germany, as well as the broader cohesion of the transatlantic partnership, as issues surrounding relations with China continue to grow in importance in both Europe and the United States. To discuss key takeaways from the strategy as well as its potential implications, Janka Oertel and Andrew Small join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Janka Oertel is director of the Asia program and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She is the author of Ende der China-Illusion.

Andrew Small is a senior transatlantic fellow with the German Marshall Fund’s Indo-Pacific Program. He is the author of No Limits: The Inside Story of China's War with the West.

Over the past month, Belarus has been increasingly in the spotlight, with the announcement of the Wagner Group’s relocation to the country following its aborted mutiny in Russia at the end of June. While it remains to be seen exactly what role Wagner forces will have in Belarus going forward, their presence is likely to have significant implications for the future of Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko’s regime and its relations with the Kremlin. This most recent development comes within a broader context of closer ties between Belarus and Russia over the past couple of years, including a renewed push for integration under the Union State framework and notable moves such as the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. At the same time, the legacy of mass protests in Belarus following stolen elections in 2020 continues to exert a powerful influence, as significant questions remain about the stability of the Lukashenko regime despite its increasingly repressive measures. To discuss all of this and more, Brian Whitmore and Ryhor Astapenia join the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Brian Whitmore is a nonresident senior fellow at The Atlantic Council in Washington D.C. as well as a Russia and Eurasia specialist and assistant professor of practice at The University of Texas at Arlington. He is also the author of The Power Vertical Blog and host of The Power Vertical Podcast, both of which focus on Russian affairs.

Ryhor Astapenia is an academy associate and director of the Belarus Initiative in the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House. He focuses on Belarusian domestic politics and foreign policy.

We hope you enjoy this bonus episode of Brussels Sprouts, a collaboration between Foreign Policy and the Center for a New American Security.

It’s been a mixed summer for Ukraine. Kyiv’s counteroffensive is progressing slowly, and the country was stymied in its bid to join NATO. But Russia has suffered military setbacks, and the West continues to offer Ukraine important security guarantees. Andrea Kendall-Taylor joins FP Live host Ravi Agrawal to discuss the latest in the war and assess where things might head next. Kendall-Taylor is the director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for New American Security.

On July 11 and 12, NATO held its widely anticipated Vilnius Summit to discuss current functions of the alliance as well as the future of Ukrainian membership. Despite hope that NATO may provide a clearer path for Ukraine’s accession into NATO, the alliance reiterated its commitment to Ukrainian membership once allies agree and conditions are met, leaving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy upset. Despite a high emphasis on Russia's war in Ukraine, the Aaliance also discussed Chinese influence, defense expenditures, and cybersecurity. To discuss the key takeaways of the Vilnius Summit, Ambassador Kurt Volker and Ambassador Douglas Lute join Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Ambassador Douglas Lute is the former U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council. He currently serves as the chair of International and Defense Practices at BGR Group.

Ambassador Kurt Volker is the former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017-2019. He is also the former U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2008-2009. He currently serves as co-chair of the BGR’s advisory board.

In collaboration Foreign Policy Magazine, today we bring you a special bonus episode featuring Paul Scharre, Executive Vice President and Director of Studies here at CNAS. He joins host Ravi Agrawal and the Foreign Policy Live podcast to discuss his latest book Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, his Foreign Policy cover article, and the global state of AI.

We return with a new episode this Friday.

As NATO prepares for its annual summit in Vilnius this July, one of the biggest topics on the agenda will be how to guarantee long-term security for Ukraine. Given that membership in the alliance is unrealistic before the end of active fighting with Russia, the West will need to find an alternative arrangement that allows Ukraine to remain secure in the interim. While there is no consensus yet on what such an arrangement might look like, numerous proposals have emerged in recent months—including from both of our guests on today’s episode. To discuss their ideas for what it will take to guarantee Ukraine’s security as well as the future of Western support for Kyiv more broadly, Liana Fix and Eric Ciaramella join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a historian and political scientist, with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, and Eastern Europe.

Eric Ciaramella is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where his work focuses on Ukraine and Russia. Prior to joining Carnegie, Ciaramella served for twelve years in the U.S. government as an intelligence analyst and policy official.

Last weekend, the outbreak of an insurgency against the Russian state by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group shocked observers across the world. After accusing the Russian Ministry of Defense of having attacked Wagner troops on Friday, Prigozhin vowed to retaliate and proceeded to lead his forces into Russia, seizing the city of Rostov-on-Don and coming within 200 kilometers of Moscow. While the insurgency came to an abrupt end on Saturday with the announcement of a deal brokered by Belarusian President Aleksandr Luksahenko, its implications for the future political stability of Russia are likely to be profound. After facing the greatest threat to his rule since taking office 23 years ago, how secure is Vladimir Putin’s hold on power, and how is he likely to respond going forward? To discuss all of this and more, we’re happy to have Angela Stent with us on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Angela Stent is a professor emerita of government and foreign service at Georgetown University as well as a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Over the weekend, infighting between Prigozhin and Shoigu led to seismic shifts in Russian domestic stability. This episode was recorded on Friday, June 23, prior to start of the Wagner Group’s insurgency within Russia. The implications of Wagner’s armed rebellion remain uncertain. This Brussels Sprouts, released in conjunction with the launch of the CNAS Russia Stability Tracker, focuses on the broader context of Russian domestic stability. As the war in Ukraine continues and elite fissures begin to emerge, Catherine Belton and Arkady Ostrovksy join the conversation to discuss Putin’s hold on power, and how we might expect Russian domestic dynamics to evolve moving forward.

Catherine Belton reports on Russia for The Washington Post. She is the author of Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and Then Took On the West.

Arkady Ostrovsky is the Russia and eastern Europe editor for The Economist. He is the author of The Invention of Russia: The Journey from Gorbachev’s Freedom to Putin’s War and The Invention of Russia: The Rise of Putin and the Age of Fake News.

Three weeks ago, Ukraine began its widely anticipated counteroffensive. Observers are watching for key developments on the battlefield as Ukraine attempts to regain territory, which is unfolding slower than hoped. Mike Kofman and Konrad Muzyka join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how the conflict will likely evolve and what it means for Western resolve on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Mike Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Konrad Muzyka is the Director of Rochan Consulting and an independent defense analyst. He provides consultancy and advisory services on the Russian and Belarusian Armed Forces.

On Wednesday, June 14th, the German government presented the country’s first ever National Security Strategy, laying out Germany’s commitment to three key pillars: active defense, resilience, and sustainability. Following Scholz’s “Zeitenwende” paradigm shift, experts wonder whether Germany is ready to assume a more prominent role in the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. In the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts, Christian Mölling and Constanze Stelzenmüller join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of Germany’s security landscape.

Christian Mölling is deputy director of the Research Institute and head of the Center for Security and Defense at the German Council on Foreign Relations. He is an expert on German defense policy, European security, and NATO.

Constanze Stelzenmüller is an expert on German, European, and trans-Atlantic foreign and security policy and strategy. She is the director of the Center on the United States and Europe and the inaugural holder of the Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and trans- Atlantic Relations at the Brookings Institution.

In this special episode marking the podcast’s 5-year anniversary, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a conversation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing response to the war from NATO allies, lessons learned from the conflict, and the future of the alliance.

Jens Stoltenberg became NATO Secretary General in October 2014, following a distinguished international and domestic career. As a former Prime Minister of Norway and UN Special Envoy, Mr. Stoltenberg has been a strong supporter of greater global and transatlantic cooperation. Mr. Stoltenberg’s mandate as NATO Secretary General has been extended until the end of September 2023.

Ambassador Julianne Smith assumed her position as the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO in November 2021. Prior to her current position, she served as a Senior Advisor to Secretary Blinken at the Department of State. Previously, she served as the Director of the Asia and Geopolitics Programs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States

On May 30-31, the fourth ministerial meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council was held in Luleå, Sweden. All eyes were on this meeting, after previous ministerials failed to produce concrete results due to fissures in transatlantic industrial policy. Items on the agenda for Luleå included artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and new initiatives for green transitions. To discuss the key takeaways from this latest TTC meeting, Fran Burwell and Tyson Barker join Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend in the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Frances G. Burwell is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and a senior director at McLarty Associates.

Tyson Barker is a senior advisor for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. He previously served as the head of the Technology and Global Affairs program at the German Council on Foreign Relations

The trajectory of the war in Ukraine hinges on the outcome of the widely anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. Recent events spell trouble for Russia as Pro-Ukrainian Russian fighters launched attacks on Russian soil in Belgorod this week and the United States promised to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. With battlefield developments shifting daily, the future of the war in Ukraine remains uncertain. To discuss how all of this impacts the Ukrainian war effort, we are pleased to welcome Gustav Gressel to the podcast.

Gustav Gressel is a senior policy fellow with the Wider Europe Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. His topics of focus include Russia, Eastern Europe, and defense policy.

Turkey’s presidential election is headed to a second round after no candidate won an outright majority on May 14. Ahead of the rematch between current President Erdoğan and opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on May 28, many observers are wondering what the results could mean for the future of Turkish democracy, society, and foreign policy. Steven Cook and Aslı Aydıntaşbaş join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss the implications of the Turkish presidential race.

Steven Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Aslı Aydıntaşbaş is a visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, as well as a Global Opinions columnist at The Washington Post and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

In July, NATO will host its annual summit in Vilnius to discuss the path forward for the European security architecture. NATO Allies have provided critical support to Kyiv ahead of its much-anticipated counteroffensive. However, there are increased calls for more decisive action by NATO. Alexander Vershbow and Ian Brzezinski join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss their latest Atlantic Council memo laying out new recommendations for NATO’s defense and deterrence posture. Alexander Vershbow is a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and Eurasia Center. He previously served as the deputy secretary general of NATO, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, and US ambassador to Russia. Ian Brzezinski is a resident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and is a member of the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Advisors Group. He has more than two decades of experience in US national security matters, having served in senior policy positions in both the US Department of Defense and the US Congres

While transatlantic partners remain supportive of Ukraine, there are questions about the success of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. Many Western leaders harbor doubts about how a protracted war could impact the future of transatlantic support of Ukraine. In this context, how will the Ukrainian counteroffensive shape the future trajectory both of the battlefield and transatlantic unity? Michael Kofman joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss all of this and more.

Michael Kofman is the Research Program Director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses and an adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

Macron's comments on strategic autonomy and Europe's role on Taiwan have sparked criticism amongst transatlantic partners. While the Biden administration and some European Union officials have downplayed the comments, questions remain over whether Macron's views reflect larger European attitudes on the future of the transatlantic partnership.

Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a historian and political scientist, with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, and Eastern Europe.

Tara Varma is a visiting fellow in the Center for the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. She focuses on French defense and security policy in the European framework, as well as ongoing efforts to materialize European sovereignty.

Following the release of the book, Evaluating NATO Enlargement: From Cold War Victory to the Russia-Ukraine War, we are discussing NATO enlargement from a historical perspective. The editors, Joshua Shifrinson and James Goldgeier, join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to evaluate the impacts of post-Cold War NATO enlargement on Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Josh Shifrinson is an associate professor for the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland. He is an expert on contemporary international security as it relates to great power politics, U.S. foreign policy, and diplomatic history.

James Goldgeier is a professor for the School of International Service at American University. He is a visiting scholar at Stanford University’s center on International Security and Cooperation as well as a visiting fellow for the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution.

As Russia has become increasingly isolated on the international stage following its invasion of Ukraine last February, it has sought to deepen its ties with remaining partners such as China. While Beijing has so far provided only limited support to Moscow over the past year, reports that it may be considering sending lethal aid to bolster the Russian war effort suggest a potential inflection point in the relationship.

This special edition of Brussels Sprouts includes a recording of a live CNAS event from Wednesday, March 29th. The discussion features a panel of experts to discuss the deepening relationship between Russia and China.

Yusuke Anami is a professor of Modern Chinese Political History and Contemporary Chinese Politics at Tohoku University.

Bonnie Glaser is the managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund.

Dmitry Gorenburg is a senior research scientist of Russia studies at the Center for Naval Analyses.

Richard Weitz is the senior fellow and director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute.

What do the visits to the White House by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mean for the transatlantic partnership? Max Bergmann and David Kleimann join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the issues facing the transatlantic partnership today.

Max Bergmann is the director of the Europe Program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

David Kleimann is a visiting fellow at Bruegel, where he focuses on the climate and trade policy nexus as well as legal and diplomatic challenges arising from transatlantic and international climate and trade cooperation.

How should we assess the state of democracy around the world today? Larry Diamond and Sheri Berman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the signs of democratic revitalization across the globe.

Larry Diamond is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University.

Sheri Berman is a professor of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her research interests include European history and politics; the development of democracy; populism and fascism; and the history of the left.

As we pass the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, numerous factors such as the Russian military’s poor performance, Putin’s botched mobilization, mounting casualties, economic challenges resulting from sanctions and export controls, and increasingly visible elite fissures are raising questions about the political stability of the Russian regime.

This special edition of Brussels Sprouts includes a recording of a live CNAS event from Thursday, March 2nd. We dive into all of this and more during a conversation with a group of the leading scholars on Putin and authoritarianism. This conversation builds on our recently released Russian stability tracker, which you can find on the CNAS website.

Dr. Timothy Frye is the Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Post-Soviet Policy at Columbia University, where he researches comparative politics and the political economy focusing on the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Dr. Marlene Laruelle is the Director for the Institute of European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies and the Illiberalism Studies Program at The George Washington University. She studies the rise of populist and illiberal movements in post-Soviet Eurasia, Europe, and the United States.

Dr. Brian Taylor is the Director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs as well as a professor of political science at Syracuse University. His research focuses on the development of the Russian state, with particular interest in its use of state coercive organizations.

Dr. Daniel Treisman is a professor of political science at UCLA as well as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. He studies Russian politics and economics, focusing on democratization, political decentralization, and corruption.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the reality is setting in that we are facing a drawn out and protracted conflict. Both the United States and Europe are grappling with this reality, and it is likely that Russia is grappling with this reality as well. This special edition of Brussels Sprouts includes a recording of a live CNAS event from Wednesday, February 22nd. The first half of the discussion will feature a panel looking at the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine, including what we should expect and what Ukraine requires to restore its borders and its sovereignty. A second panel will then dive into the nature of ongoing Western support, including views from Europe and the United States.

Jeff Edmonds is a Research Scientist with the Center for Naval Analyses’ (CNA) Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on the Russian military, foreign policy, Russian threat perceptions, and Russian information and cyber operations.

Rob Lee is a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia Program. He is a former Marine infantry officer, and is currently completing his PhD on Russian defense policy at King’s College London’s War Studies Department.

Shashank Joshi is The Economist‘s defense editor. Prior to joining The Economist, he served as a Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and Research Associate at Oxford University’s Changing Character of War Programme.

Steve Biegun is the Weiser International Policymaker in Residence with the Weiser Diplomacy Center at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. He has over two decades of high-level government experience, most recently serving as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State.

Kadri Liik is a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Her research focuses on Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic region.

Dr. Claudia Major is head of the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin (SWP). Her research and publications focus on security and defense policy in Europe in a transatlantic context.

Over the past year, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reinvigorated NATO, with the presence of major war on the European continent highlighting the alliance’s importance for collective defense. While NATO is not directly involved in the conflict, it has assumed a leading role in both coordinating aid to Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s deterrence posture. Benedetta Berti and David Cattler join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how NATO is confronting this fundamentally altered security environment.

Benedetta Berti is the Head of Policy Planning in the office of the Secretary General of NATO. She is a foreign policy and security researcher, analyst, consultant, author, and lecturer.

David Cattler is NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary General he was a senior national and defense intelligence official of the United States.

To continue our “New Year” series on Brussels Sprouts, we turn to the state of transatlantic relations going into 2023. The past year has demanded extensive coordination between the United States and Europe in responding to Russia’s war against Ukraine, acting as a stress test for the strength of the transatlantic relationship. So far, unity has largely held, though Germany’s recent hesitation to send tanks to Ukraine and persistent tensions in the economic domain continue to challenge the relationship. Wolfgang Ischinger and Sophia Besch join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss these recent developments in transatlantic relations from a German perspective.

Wolfgang Ischinger is the former chairman of the Munich Security Conference. He also previously served in the German government as State Secretary and Ambassador to the United States.

Sophia Besch is a fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her area of expertise is European defense policy.

Over the past year, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has spurred Europe to devote greater attention to its defense capabilities. Yet rather than providing momentum to Europe’s stated ambitions of strategic autonomy, the war has instead seemed to underscore its continued dependence on the US and NATO for defense. In this seemingly paradoxical moment, what future may lie in store for European strategic autonomy? Liana Fix, Tara Varma, and Justyna Gotkowska join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw view the outlook for European strategic autonomy.

Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a historian and political scientist, with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, and Eastern Europe.

Justyna Gotkowska is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Eastern Studies based in Warsaw, Poland. Her work focuses on security and defense issues in Northern and Central Europe, including defense policies and armed forces’ developments in Germany as well as in the Nordic and Baltic states.

Tara Varma is a visiting fellow in the Center for the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. She focuses on current French defense and security proposals in the European framework, as well as ongoing efforts to materialize European sovereignty in health, economics, climate, energy, and more traditional security fields.

In the latest installment of our “New Year” series, we take stock of where things stand in Ukraine as we head into 2023. Over the past couple of months, the lines of territorial control have remained mostly stable between Ukraine and Russia following Kyiv’s liberation of Kherson in November. However, many are now looking ahead to intensification of the fighting in the coming weeks. Lawrence Freedman and Mike Kofman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how the situation in Ukraine is likely to evolve during the second year of fighting. Lawrence Freedman is an Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London and the author of the recently published book Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine. Mike Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

To continue our “New Year” series on Brussels Sprouts, we turn our attention to recent events in the United States Congress and their implications for the transatlantic relationship. The beginning of 2023 was marked by significant turmoil in the House of Representatives, as Republicans struggled for nearly a week to elect a new Speaker of the House. Questions about what to expect from this Congress are relevant not only to Americans but also to our allies, including those in Europe. Peter Baker and Sarah Binder join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to break down the short- and long-term implications of the events in Congress as well as how Europeans should view the situation in the U.S.

Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, responsible for reporting on President Biden, the fifth president he has covered. He previously wrote about Presidents Donald J. Trump and Barack Obama for The New York Times, and Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush for The Washington Post.

Sarah Binder is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and professor of political science at George Washington University, where she specializes in Congress and legislative politics.

2022 brought about a number of developments in Europe-China relations. While there was continued convergence between European and U.S. policy on China, there are still areas of disagreement when it comes to Beijing. What should we expect for Europe’s relationship with China heading into 2023? Noah Barkin and Mikko Huotari join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the state of Europe-China relations and the outlook for the year ahead. Noah Barkin is a Managing Editor with Rhodium Group's China practice and a Senior Visiting Fellow in the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund. Mikko Huotari is the Executive Director of MERICS. His research focuses on China’s foreign policy, China-Europe relations and global (economic) governance and competition.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, the media environment inside Russia has become increasingly restricted. This represents the acceleration of the Putin regime’s crackdown on the information space over the past several years, including through the targeting of journalists, activists, and news outlets. In this atmosphere, pushing back against efforts by the Kremlin to control the narrative is both more important and more difficult than ever. Two organizations that are continuing to do this work are Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Current Time, which make use of online platforms and anticensorship tools to reach audiences inside Russia who are seeking reliable and trustworthy information. Jamie Fly, Andrey Shary, and Pavel Butorin join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss their work at RFE/RL and Current Time as well as the state of civil society in Russia more broadly.

▪ Jamie Fly is the President and Chief Executive Officer of RFE/RL.

▪ Andrey Shary is the director of RFE/RL's Russian Service, Radio Svoboda.

▪ Pavel Butorin is the Director of Current Time TV, a Russian language digital and TV network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with the Voice of America.

In recent weeks, Turkey has been grabbing the headlines with a series of major moves. Just a few days ago, Turkish President Erdogan provoked anxiety in the U.S. and Europe by threatening to strike Athens with ballistic missiles, raising tensions with Greece. Meanwhile, Erdogan and Russian President Putin are reportedly discussing making Turkey a regional hub for Russian natural gas headed to Europe. All of this is occurring against the backdrop of Turkey’s increasingly contentious position within NATO, including its delays in approving membership bids by Finland and Sweden. How might these developments in Turkish foreign policy impact European security and transatlantic relations? Asli Aydintasbas and Steven Cook join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Turkey’s role on the international stage.-Asli Aydintasbas is a visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. Prior to joining the foreign policy community, she had a long career in journalism, during which she focused on Turkey, its domestic evolution, and foreign policy in an age of regional reshuffling and geopolitical competition.-Steven Cook is the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy.

What were the key outcomes from the third meeting of the Trade and Technology Council? Tyson Barker and Frances Burwell join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss their top takeaways and what to look out for in the months ahead.Tyson Barker is the head of Technology and Global Affairs at the German Council on Foreign Relations. He previously worked at Aspen Germany where, as deputy executive director and fellow, he was responsible for the institute’s digital and transatlantic programs.Frances G. Burwell is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and a senior director at McLarty Associates. Her work focuses on the European Union and US-EU relations as well as a range of transatlantic economic, political, and defense issues.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Washington for the first state visit of the Biden administration. This visit comes on the heels of many months of strong transatlantic cooperation in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. More recently, however, there have been signs of new strains on the transatlantic relationship, in particular with respect to trade issues. There have also been accusations that the United States is attempting to profit from the energy crisis by selling LNG at high prices to Europe. How might these ongoing tensions affect transatlantic cooperation going forward? Liana Fix, Mathieu Droin, and David Kleimann join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how Paris, Berlin, and Brussels view the status of transatlantic relations.▪ Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is a historian and political scientist, with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, and Eastern Europe.▪ Mathieu Droin is a visiting fellow in the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he focuses on transatlantic European security and defense. Prior to joining CSIS, Mathieu served as deputy head of the strategic affairs unit at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.▪ David Kleimann is a visiting fellow at Bruegel, where he focuses on the climate and trade policy nexus as well as legal and diplomatic challenges arising from transatlantic and international climate and trade cooperation. David is an expert on trade issues with 15 years of experience in law, policy, and institutions governing EU and international trade.

Last week, Kiev reached an important milestone when Russian troops withdrew from the city of Kherson. This retreat has both strategic and symbolic significance, given that Kherson was the only regional capital that Moscow had managed to take since beginning its invasion in February. It also further adds to Ukraine’s momentum over the past few months, during which Kiev has liberated nearly half of the territory originally occupied by Russia. Nevertheless, serious questions remain about the months ahead.Where can Ukraine go from here? How might the U.S. and Europe support Ukraine to end the war sooner rather than later? What are the new risks Kiev may face in the coming months? Michael Kofman and Mick Ryan join Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss the implications of the Russian withdrawal from Kherson, and what it means for Ukraine going forward. Michael Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.Mick Ryan is an Adjunct Fellow with the Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is also a retired major general in the Australian army as well as the author of "War Transformed: The Future of 21st Century Great Power Competition and Conflict."

On Tuesday, November 8th, voters went to the polls in the United States for the first federal elections since President Joe Biden took office. With control of both chambers of the U.S. Congress hanging in the balance, the results of these midterm elections have been highly anticipated not only in the United States but around the world. Although full results are not yet in, it looks likely that Democrats will lose their majority in the House of Representatives, while the Senate remains up for grabs. The shift in Congressional power will raise questions about the Biden Administration’s future ability to execute on its foreign policy agenda. Most significantly, it is unclear to what extent Congress will continue to provide support for Ukraine amidst considerable isolationist sentiment in the Republican party. Other issues of particular concern to allies in Europe include U.S. efforts to tackle climate change, persistent trade tensions, the future U.S. policy toward China, and more. Steve Erlanger and Doug Kriner join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to unpack what the election results could mean for the future of the transatlantic relationship and international relations more broadly. Steve Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times. A two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, he has previously served as the Times’ bureau chief in seven countries, including posts in London, Paris, Moscow, and Berlin.Doug Kriner is The Clinton Rossiter Professor in American Institutions in the Department of Government at Cornell University. His research and teaching interests focus on American political institutions and the separation of powers, as well as on US foreign policy.

With the conclusion of the Chinese Communist Party’s 20th National Party Congress last week, Xi Jinping has now secured a precedent-breaking third term as general secretary. The Congress was also notable for Xi’s moves to replace the Politburo Standing Committee with a slate of his most committed loyalists, cementing his authoritarian grasp on power. Against the backdrop of these events, E.U. leaders met last week in Brussels to discuss their approach to Beijing, raising concerns over Europe’s continued dependence on China for technology and raw materials. How has the war in Ukraine impacted European attitudes and policies toward China? Will German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s planned visit to the PRC this week pose a risk to future European cohesion on China? Bonnie Glaser and Dave Shullman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to unpack the party congress and what a third term for Xi means for Europe.  Bonnie Glaser is director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. She was previously senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, while also serving as a nonresident fellow with the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, and a senior associate with the Pacific Forum.  Dave Shullman is senior director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council, where he leads the council’s work on China. He has served as one of the US Government’s top experts on East Asia, most recently as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for East Asia on the National Intelligence Council, where he led the IC’s strategic analysis on East Asia.

As the war in Ukraine continues into its tenth month, it appears to have entered its most dangerous phase yet. During the past week, Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian civilians have intensified, in apparent retaliation for last weekend’s destruction of the Kerch Strait Bridge. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons following the annexation of four Ukrainian regions in the east and south have raised alarms across the world, even causing U.S. President Joe Biden to make warnings about the risks of “nuclear Armageddon.” Finally, the Ukrainian counteroffensive continues to make significant progress in reclaiming occupied territory, though it remains unclear to what extent Russia’s partial military mobilization may be able to turn back the tide. Ambassadors Bill Taylor and John Tefft join Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss the most recent developments in this increasingly dangerous phase of the war, and how Putin might maneuver going forward.

Bill Taylor is the Vice President for Russia and Eurasia at the United States Institute of Peace. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009.

John Tefft is a retired U.S. diplomat with more than 45 years of experience in the foreign service. He has previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Lithuania.

Nine years after the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s flagship global infrastructure investment program is at a critical juncture. While many countries were initially eager to sign up for the initiative, the BRI has recently lost some of its luster in the face of mounting obstacles including delays, corruption, and heavy debt burdens associated with its projects. Over the past year, CNAS researchers have been thinking through how the BRI might develop in the two key regions of Europe and the Indo-Pacific, forecasting different scenarios for its evolution along with their respective consequences. This research recently culminated in the launch of a report entitled “Competitive Connectivity: Crafting Transatlantic Responses to the Belt and Road Initiative,” which outlines how the United States and Europe can work together to compete against the BRI. The authors of the report join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how the BRI stands up nearly a decade after its launch, and how Europe and the U.S. might push against it going forward.

Lisa Curtis is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS.

Jake Stokes is a Fellow with the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS.

Josh Fitt is an Associate Fellow with the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS.

Carisa Nietsche is an Associate Fellow with the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS.

Nicholas Lokker is a Research Assistant with the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS.

This past weekend, voters in Italy went to the polls for national parliamentary elections. As expected, the elections resulted in a victory for the alliance led by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, which received enough votes to govern without support from the center-left. How significant of a change does this result represent for Italy, and how worried should we be about its implications for Europe and the transatlantic community? Nathalie Tocci and Cecilia Sottilotta join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to move beyond the headlines and assess what Meloni’s victory means for Italian and European politics.

Nathalie Tocci is Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali and an Honorary Professor at the University of Tübingen. She was previously Special Advisor to EU High Representatives Federica Mogherini and Josep Borrell, during which she wrote the European Union’s Global Strategy and worked on its implementation.

Cecilia Sottilotta is an Assistant Professor at the American University of Rome. She is a leading expert on political risk analysis and is a frequent media commentator on Italian and European affairs.

How have recent Ukrainian counteroffensives changed the trajectory of the war? Will Putin’s announcement of Russian mobilization increase the risk of potential escalation? After a highly successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in the North, Putin has now sought to turn the tables with two important developments. First, Kremlin proxies in four Ukrainian regions have announced plans for sham referenda on annexation to Russia. Additionally, Putin has announced a “partial” mobilization in which he plans to bring 300,000 reservists into Ukraine. Mick Ryan and Robert Lee join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the most recent developments shaping the war in both Ukraine and Russia.

Mick Ryan is an Adjunct Fellow with the Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is also a retired major general in the Australian army as well as the author of War Transformed: The Future of 21st Century Great Power Competition and Conflict.

Rob Lee is a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia Program and a former Marine infantry officer. He is currently completing his PhD on Russian defense policy at King’s College London’s War Studies Department.

What do the war in Ukraine and prospects of E.U. enlargement mean for the Balkans? Damir Marusic and Majda Ruge join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Nick Lokker to discuss how the shifting dynamics across the continent could impact the region’s politics.

Damir Marusic is a resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center. He works principally on the Council’s Balkans Forward Initiative, an effort working to foster a democratic, secure, and prosperous Western Balkans firmly integrated into the transatlantic community.

Majda Ruge is a senior policy fellow with the Wider Europe program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, based in Berlin. Before joining ECFR, she spent three years as a fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute/SAIS at Johns Hopkins University.

During recent weeks and months, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly been in the spotlight, drawing both praise and criticism from observers in Germany and abroad. On the one hand, he has received positive attention for his efforts to promote an ambitious agenda that would transform both Germany and the European Union, attempting to meet the pivotal current moment sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, Scholz has encountered significant challenges in executing on this political agenda, facing a worsening energy crisis, a fractious coalition government, and a series of personal scandals. Jana Puglierin and Sam Denney join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Scholz’s recent speech in Prague, and the shifting dynamics within the European Union that could impact the future of the war in Ukraine.

Jana Puglierin is the head of the Berlin office and a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Her work focuses on German and European foreign, security, and defense policy, as well as Germany’s role in Europe and transatlantic relations.

Sam Denney is a German Chancellor Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung. He specializes in U.S. foreign policy, transatlantic relations, German domestic and foreign policy, and threats to democracy in Europe.

How does the crisis provoked by Nancy Pelosi’s recent trip to Taiwan illustrate the broader state of U.S.-China relations?Jude Blanchette and Zack Cooper join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the likely trajectory of the crisis and its broader implications for the transatlantic community.

Jude Blanchette holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Previously, he was engagement director at The Conference Board’s China Center for Economics and Business in Beijing, where he researched China’s political environment with a focus on the workings of the Communist Party of China and its impact on foreign companies and investors.

Zack Cooper is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies U.S. strategy in Asia, including alliance dynamics and U.S.-China competition. He also teaches at Princeton University, co-directs the Alliance for Securing Democracy, and cohosts the “Net Assessment” podcast.

Has the war in Ukraine reached a critical turning point? Mike Kofman and Jeff Edmonds join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the evolution of the military situation and what we might expect from a forthcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Mike Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Jeff Edmonds is a Research Scientist with CNA’s Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on the Russian military, foreign policy, Russian threat perceptions, and Russian information and cyber operations.

What do the recent upheavals in European politics mean for the future of transatlantic cooperation? Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook and Max Bergmann join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the path ahead for Europe.

Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook serves as executive vice president at the Bertelsmann Foundation. Her prior positions include director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations as well as executive director of the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Max Bergmann is the director of the Europe Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Prior to joining CSIS, he was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he focused on Europe, Russia, and U.S. security cooperation.

What have been the latest key developments in EU-China relations? Noah Barkin and Francesca Ghiretti join Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend to discuss milestones in the relationship and its prospects going forward.

Noah Barkin is a Managing Editor with Rhodium Group's China practice and a Senior Visiting Fellow in the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund.

Francesca Ghiretti is an Analyst at MERICS, where she focuses on EU-China relations with an emphasis on economic security, China's global investments, China's footprint in Southern Europe, and UK-China relations.

What are the most important takeaways from this week’s NATO summit in Madrid? Ivo Daalder and Doug Lute join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how the alliance is adapting to meet the challenges of a new era

Ivo Daalder is president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He served as the U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013.

Doug Lute served as the United States Ambassador to NATO from 2013 to 2017. A career Army officer, he retired from active duty in 2010 as a lieutenant general after 35 years of service.

During the CNAS 2022 National Security Conference, Julianne Smith, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, joined Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend in conversation about Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Then Andrea and Jim were joined by Steven Erlanger and David Sanger of The New York Times to continue the conversation.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine drags on with little progress toward a resolution, fractures are beginning to appear in the European response. While the European Union successfully came together to take swift and decisive action during the early stages of the conflict, unity has been harder to come by in recent weeks, with differing perceptions and attitudes leading to more frequent disagreements among member states. There has been particularly harsh criticism directed against Germany and France, which some have accused of taking an overly conciliatory approach toward Russia, pointing to evidence such as German hesitation to deliver weapons to Ukraine and French statements calling for the West not to “humiliate” Russia. As Berlin and Paris receive increasing pushback from other member states who advocate for a bolder policy of unreserved support for Ukraine, the prospects for continued unity appear much less certain going forward. Pierre Morcos and Jeremy Shapiro join Jim Townsend and Nick Lokker to make sense of these differing European perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine war.

Pierre Morcos is a visiting fellow in the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies as well as a career diplomat with the French Foreign Service.

Jeremy Shapiro is the research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, where he focuses on U.S. foreign policy and transatlantic relations.

On May 15 and 16, the United States and European Union hosted the second Trade and Technology Council Meeting in Paris-Saclay, France. Since the inaugural TTC meeting, the TTC has emerged as an important venue for transatlantic coordination on export controls directed against Russia, providing a window for further transatlantic cooperation on technology policy. Capitalizing on this momentum, the joint statement from this meeting highlights shared initiatives the working groups have been advancing in the past months and plan to work on moving forward. Tyson Barker and Fran Burwell join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss takeaways from the TTC meeting as well as opportunities for transatlantic cooperation in technology policy.

Tyson Barker is the head of the Technology and Global Affairs at the German Council on Foreign Relations, or DGAP. He previously worked at Aspen Germany where, as deputy executive director and fellow, he was responsible for the institute’s digital and transatlantic programs.

Frances G. Burwell is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and a senior director at McLarty Associates. Her work focuses on the European Union and U.S.–EU relations as well as a range of transatlantic economic, political, and defense issues.

More than two months after Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine, the war has now entered a second phase, with the two sides facing off in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Looking forward, it remains unclear how the conflict will evolve as well as how it could eventually come to an end, given the numerous difficulties that stand in the way of achieving any sort of negotiated settlement. Mike Kofman and Jeff Edmonds join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend discuss where the war now stands and what the future may hold for Ukraine, Russia, and the broader international community.

Mike Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Jeff Edmonds is a Research Scientist with CNA’s Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on the Russian military, foreign policy, Russian threat perceptions, and Russian information and cyber operations.

What can we expect from the final round of the French presidential election? The possibility of a Le Pen presidency poses major concerns for the future of the European Union and the transatlantic alliance, given her expressed desire to take actions such as leaving NATO’s integrated military command, seeking rapprochement with Russia, and enshrining the supremacy of French legislation over EU law. Another term for Macron, by contrast, would likely see a continuation of his strong pro-European and internationalist vision for France. Célia Belin and Ben Haddad join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss this high-stakes political event, as well as what might unfold and what that might mean for France and the international community.

Célia Belin is a visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. Her areas of expertise include transatlantic relations, U.S. foreign policy toward Europe, and French politics and foreign policy.

Benjamin Haddad is the senior director of the Europe Center at the Atlantic Council. He is an expert in European politics and transatlantic relations, and his work has notably advocated for transatlantic unity in the face of Russian aggression, greater European responsibility, and investment on strategic matters.

Will Finland and Sweden join NATO? Since Russia launched its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine in late February, European political and security dynamics have changed in profound ways. For Finland and Sweden, the invasion has ignited a new round of debate around the question of NATO membership, causing both countries to reexamine their longstanding policy of remaining outside the transatlantic military alliance. Despite this movement, no political decision has yet been made in either country, and obstacles may remain in the way of membership. Nevertheless, it appears that a seismic shift in foreign and security policy could be on the horizon for both countries. Anna Wieslander and Mika Aaltola join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss what we might expect to see going forward.

Anna Wieslander serves as director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council. In addition to her role at the Atlantic Council, she chairs the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm and serves as secretary general of the Swedish Defense Association.

Mika Aaltola is the Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. He is also a tenured professor of International Relations and European Union Affairs at Tallinn University in Estonia and holds the rank of docent at Tampere University.

What does Viktor Orbán’s win in Hungary mean for the future of Europe? On April 3rd, voters in Hungary went to the polls for national parliamentary elections. Despite efforts by the opposition to unite around a single candidate, Viktor Orbán easily managed to win a fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister, as his right-wing Fidesz party retained the two-thirds super majority that has allowed it to drastically reshape Hungarian politics and society over the past twelve years. The European Union and the transatlantic alliance are certain to face major challenges from Orbán’s continued leadership of Hungary, including his consistent pro-Putin stance amidst the war in Ukraine, his ongoing efforts to undermine the rule of law, and his hardline stance on critical issues such as migration. Dan Kelemen joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss this and more.

Dan Kelemen is Professor of Political Science and Law and Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Politics at Rutgers University. He is the author or editor of six books, including The Transformation of Law and Regulation in the European Union, which won the Best Book award from the European Union Studies Association in 2013.

What role will China choose to play within the Russia-Ukrainian war? Beijing has notably refused to condemn Moscow for its military aggression, instead putting the blame on the West for sparking the crisis. Moreover, there are concerns that China may come to Russia’s aid by providing military assistance or helping it to evade sanctions, though it remains unclear whether China will ultimately act so blatantly in Russia’s favor. In any case, it is certain that the evolving relationship between Russia and China will be a key factor in both the current crisis and the emerging new world order more broadly. Jude Blanchette and Dave Shullman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss all of this and more.

Jude Blanchette holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Previously, he was engagement director at The Conference Board’s China Center for Economics and Business in Beijing, where he researched China’s political environment with a focus on the workings of the Communist Party of China and its impact on foreign companies and investors.

Dave Shullman is Senior Director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council, where he leads the council’s work on China. David’s research focuses on China’s foreign policy and grand strategy, U.S.-China relations, China-Russia relations, and the implications of China’s rise for global order and the future of democracy.

With the war in Ukraine now entering its second month, we are seeing few day-to-day changes on the battlefield. Russia’s focus appears to be primarily on the south and the east of the country, as it looks less and less likely that it will be able to muster sufficient forces to take Kyiv. Meanwhile, there has been limited progress in negotiations—while President Zelenskyy has said he is amenable to neutrality for Ukraine, there nonetheless remains a deep political divide when it comes to territorial integrity. Taken together, it seems that we are likely to see a long, drawn-out conflict with no real end in sight. Carl Bildt joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss all of this and more.

Carl Bildt is the co-chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations. He previously served as both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden. Under his leadership, the government initiated major liberal economic reforms and negotiated Sweden’s accession to the EU.

As the war in Ukraine continues into its fourth week, the picture on the ground has largely remained the same in recent days, with the Russian military making only minimal progress toward its objectives. Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing but look highly unlikely to produce tangible results in the next couple of weeks—Putin knows that the conflict will eventually be settled at the negotiating table, and Russia is therefore likely to increase the brutality of its tactics in the short-term with the aim of compelling Zelensky into concessions. Finally, the risk of an expanded conflict remains, demonstrated by Moscow’s recent attack on a training facility near the Polish border as well as its warnings that Western arms convoys could be considered “legitimate targets” for attack. Mike Kofman and Jeff Edmonds join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to examine the continuing war and potential trajectories.

Mike Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Jeff Edmonds is a Research Scientist with CNA’s Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on the Russian military, foreign policy, Russian threat perceptions, and Russian information and cyber operations.

One week after Russia launched its invasion into Ukraine—an invasion that President Biden condemned as "premeditated and unprovoked" in his State of the Union address—Europe has become engulfed in its biggest war in decades. While Russia has expanded its assault on several key Ukrainian cities, a firm resistance from Ukrainian forces and civilians continues and the list of countries vowing immediate military aid to Ukraine continues to grow. On March 4, the Center for a New American Security hosted a panel featuring Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Richard Fontaine, Jeffrey Edmonds, and Michael Kofman to examine the unfolding crisis.

Jeffrey Edmonds is an expert on U.S. national security, especially as it relates to Russia. He works full time for CNA’s Russia Studies Program. Most recently, Jeff served as the Director for Russia on the National Security Council and acting Senior Director for Russia during the 2017 presidential transition. Prior to the NSC, Jeff served as a senior military analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, covering Eurasian militaries.

Michael Kofman serves as a Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses’ Russia Studies Program, and a Fellow at the Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C. His research focuses on the Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in the Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

The United States and its allies have released an unprecedented and sweeping set of sanctions and export controls in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This includes blocking sanctions on most major Russian banks, asset freezes on Russian elites, and a broad set of restrictions on exports of technology to Russia. Over the weekend, we saw the announcement of sanctions on Russia's central bank, along with removing select Russian banks from the SWIFT system and sanctions on Putin himself. On March 2, the Center for a New American Security hosted a panel moderated by Richard Fontaine and featuring Edward Fishman, Tom Keatinge, Emily Kilcrease, and Elina Ribakova to discuss what these new sanctions and export controls mean, how they will impact the Russian and global economies, and what to expect next in the economic domain from the United States and allies.

Edward Fishman is an Adjunct Fellow at the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

Tom Keatinge is the Director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute.

Emily Kilcrease is a Senior Fellow and Program Director of the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

Elina Ribakova is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, and she is the Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute of International Finance.

In response to the escalating crisis in Ukraine, Germany recently announced several historic policy shifts over the past few days. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated that Germany would deliver weapons to Ukraine, reversing Germany’s long-held refusal to deliver weapons to a conflict zone. Furthermore, Scholz announced that Germany would plan to spend more than 2% of GDP on defense spending year on year and would create a €100 billion investment fund for the armed forces. Claudia Major and Daniela Schwarzer join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to assess this monumental shift in German foreign policy.

Dr. Claudia Major is head of the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin (SWP). Her research, advisory work and publications focus on security and defense policy in Europe and in a transatlantic context, including NATO, EU, Germany, UK, and France. Previously, Claudia held positions at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, the German Council on Foreign Relations (Berlin), the EU Institute for Security Studies (Paris), the German Foreign Office (NATO desk) and Sciences Po Paris. Claudia is member in various boards, such as the Advisory Board for Civilian Crisis Prevention at the Federal Foreign Office and the German-British Koenigswinter Conference.

Dr. Daniela Schwarzer is executive director for Europe and Eurasia of the Open Society Foundations. Schwarzer is a renowned expert in European affairs and transatlantic and international relations. She is an honorary professor of political science at Freie Universität Berlin and a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. She has been a special advisor to European leaders such as EU High Representative Josep Borrell and to countries including Poland and France during the preparation of their EU Council presidencies.

Russia’s swift and unprovoked invasion of the country this past week has been met with insane condemnations from leaders across the globe, including in the United States and Europe. As Russian soldiers engage in a full air and land operation on a massive scale, questions remain about how their military campaign might unfold as well as what the geopolitical implications might be for surrounding countries and the NATO alliance. On February 25, the Center for a New American Security hosted a panel featuring Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Richard Fontaine, Jeffrey Edmonds, and Michael Kofman to examine the unfolding crisis.

Jeffrey Edmonds is an expert on US national security, especially as it relates to Russia. He works full time for CNA’s Russia Studies Program. Most recently, Jeff served as the Director for Russia on the National Security Council and acting Senior Director for Russia during the 2017 presidential transition. Prior to the NSC, Jeff served as a senior military analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, covering Eurasian militaries.

Michael Kofman serves as a Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses’ Russia Studies Program, and a Fellow at the Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, D.C. His research focuses on the Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in the Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Earlier this week, Russia escalated its ongoing aggression toward Ukraine by announcing that it would formally recognize the independence of the separatist territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, a decision that the Kremlin has backed up by deploying troops to both Eastern Ukrainian regions. In preparation for the possibility of a wider conflict, more serious sanctions have been threatened and additional troops have been moved to NATO’s eastern flank. Yet it remains unclear what Vladimir Putin’s next move will be—while many believe that he is poised to go further and launch a massive military attack against Ukraine, some have argued that he may stop short of a full-blown war. Rob Lee joins Andrea Kendall Taylor and Jim Townsend to assess the events and implications of this major global crisis.

Rob Lee is a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia Program, as well as a PhD student researching Russian defense policy at King’s College London’s War Studies Department. He is a former Marine infantry officer, Alfa Fellow, and visiting fellow at the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), a Russian think tank focused on defense policy.

Over the last 24-48 hours, there has been a dizzying number of new developments in the situation surrounding Ukraine and Russia, all of which are deeply concerning. This morning, the Kremlin formally accused the United States of ignoring the package nature of its proposal for security guarantees. This comes amid signs that Russia is creating pretexts for conflict, including spreading false claims of genocide in Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as shelling a Ukrainian village in the Donbas in an apparent attempt to bait Ukrainian forces into responded. Finally, Vladimir Putin is scheduled to soon address the entire Russian Federal Assembly, am ominous sign that a major action could be on the horizon. To make sense of this, Samuel Charap joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss these recent, concerning developments.

Samuel Charap is a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where he focuses on the foreign policies of Russia and the former Soviet states, as well as on European and Eurasian regional security. He has written widely on Ukraine, including his 2017 book titled Everyone Loses: The Ukraine Crisis and the Ruinous Contest for Post-Soviet Eurasia.

Over the past week, the situation in Ukraine has seemed to have approached a critical juncture. U.S. intelligence has warned of an imminent Russian invasion that could begin any day now; yet at the same time, Moscow has insisted that it does not seek a military conflict and declared its continued openness to a diplomatic solution. Given Estonia’s status as a crucial NATO ally during this conflict, Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss the current conflict.

Eva-Maria Liimets is the current Foreign Minister of Estonia. She previously served as the Estonian Ambassador to the Czech Republic as well as in numerous other posts throughout her long career as a foreign service professional.

Last Friday, the U.S. intelligence community revealed that it has reason to believe that Russian military action against Ukraine is imminent, with an invasion possibly occurring as soon as this week. Over the past few days, the Biden administration has begun evacuating the U.S. embassy in Kiev, instructed American citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, and reiterated its intention to forge a massive transatlantic response to any violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Mike Kofman and Jeff Edmonds join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to help us make sense of this development.

Mike Kofman is the Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA as well as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Jeff Edmonds is a Research Scientist with CNA’s Russia Studies Program and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS. His research focuses on the Russian military, foreign policy, Russian threat perceptions, and Russian information and cyber operations.

As the 2022 winter Olympics kicked off last Friday in Beijing, a high-profile meeting took place on the sidelines between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Following their meeting, Putin and Xi released a joint statement emphasizing their shared grievances with respect to the U.S.-led world order, condemning NATO enlargement as well as alleged attempts by outside forces to interfere in their internal affairs. Despite this show of solidarity, however, tensions remain in the relationship between Moscow and Beijing. Alexander Gabuev and David Shullman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to help us make sense of this development.

Alexander Gabuev is a senior fellow and the Chair of the Russia in the Asia-Pacific Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center. His research is focused on Russia’s policy toward East and Southeast Asia, political and ideological trends in China, and China’s relations with its neighbors.

David Shullman is Senior Director of the Global China Hub at the Atlantic Council, where he leads the council’s work on China. David’s research focuses on China’s foreign policy and grand strategy, U.S.-China relations, China-Russia relations, and the implications of China’s rise for global order and the future of democracy.

Vladimir Putin recently spoke about Ukraine for the first time since December—a speech in which he conveyed mixed messages about his intentions. On the one hand, he noted that he hoped to find a solution to the crisis, noting the extensive diplomacy that has been taking place. On the other hand, he emphasized that Russia’s security concerns have not been seriously addressed by the United States and Europe, underscoring the difficulty of coming to an agreement. Meanwhile, facts on the ground continue to suggest that conflict remains more likely than not, as Russian forces continue to increase—including, more units, logistics, and enablers such as blood supplies. Germany’s former UN Ambassador, Christoph Heusgen, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the rapidly evolving situation.

Christoph Heusgen is the former Ambassador of Germany to the United Nations, a role which he held from 2017 to 2021. He previously served as a top security and foreign affairs advisor to former Chancellor Angela Merkel, and later this year he will take over as Chairman of the Munich Security Conference.

The United States and its NATO allies have begun pursuing other courses of action to the Russia-Ukraine crisis besides diplomacy, including decisions to put military forces on standby and to send ships and fighter jets to reinforce Eastern Europe. Amid this flurry of activity, there has been a lack of clarity about the intentions behind these moves, lending support to the false Kremlin narrative that NATO forces are converging on Russia and pose a threat to the country’s security interests. Ben Hodges joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss what the U.S.-NATO response to Ukraine really means, along with discussing the potential trajectory of future events.

Lieutenant General (ret.)Ben Hodges holds the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis. He previously served in the U.S. Army for 38 years, completing his last assignment as commander of U.S. Army Europe from 2014-2017 in Wiesbaden, Germany.

The strength of Germany’s support for Ukraine and the overall cohesion of NATO has come under question after Germany blocked Estonia from sending German-made howitzer artillery to Ukraine. In continuation of our series of rapid reactions to this constantly developing crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Constanze Stelzenmüller and Jana Puglierin join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how events are likely to unfold in the upcoming weeks.

Constanze Stelzenmüller is an expert on German, European, and transatlantic foreign and security policy, and strategy. She is the inaugural holder of the Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Transatlantic Relations in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution.

Jana Puglierin is the head of the Berlin office and a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She directs ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project and has also advised the German Bundestag as an expert on arms control and non-proliferation.

France has entered a pivotal period that will determine its future political trajectory as it begins its six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union while also being a few months out from the country’s presidential election in April. What can we expect in the upcoming months? Célia Belin and Tara Varma join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the numerous opportunities and obstacles that the convergence of these two events poses for the future of France.

Célia Belin is a visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. Her areas of expertise include transatlantic relations, U.S. foreign policy toward Europe, and French politics and foreign policy.

Tara Varma is a senior policy fellow and head of the Paris office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, where she follows French foreign policy and European security developments.

Leaders in both the United States and Europe are scrambling to figure out how to deter Russia from invading Ukraine and how to respond if Moscow does in fact go through with military aggression. In continuation of our series of rapid reactions to this constantly developing crisis, Michael Kofman and Angela Stent join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how events are likely to unfold in the coming weeks.

Michael Kofman serves as an Adjunct Senior Fellow for the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, as well as Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA and as a Fellow at the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Angela Stent is Senior Adviser to the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies and professor emerita of government and foreign service at Georgetown University. She is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and co-chairs its Hewett Forum on Post-Soviet Affairs.

After a 2021 filled with both ups and downs, where do things stand between the United States and Europe as we head into 2022? Kori Schake and Steven Erlanger join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how transatlantic relations have fared over the past year.

Kori Schake is a senior fellow and the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Dr. Schake has previously served as the deputy director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, as well as in various positions in the U.S. government.

Steven Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times. A two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, he has previously served as the Times’ bureau chief in seven countries, including posts in London, Paris, Moscow, and Berlin.

As the situation in Ukraine continues to quickly evolve, what can we expect in the upcoming future? Fiona Hill joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss what these various meetings could mean for the future of Ukraine and European security more broadly.

Fiona Hill is a Senior Fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. She recently served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council from 2017 to 2019.

Could there be a diplomatic solution to avoid an armed escalation in Ukraine after initial diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia? Michael McFaul joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the result of the first round of dialogue between American and Russian officials in Geneva.

Michael McFaul is the Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. He served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council from 2009 to 2012, and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2014.

How should the U.S. and its Arctic allies approach relations with Russia in the region? In this special co-branded episode, Mikkel Runge Olesen and Flemming Splidsboel Hansen from the Danish Institute of International Studies join Jim Townsend to discuss the path toward a stable and secure Arctic.

Mikkel Runge Olesen is a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. His work focuses on NATO and transatlantic relations, the Arctic, Baltic Sea security, and Danish foreign policy.

Flemming Splidsboel Hansen is a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, where his research focuses on the post-Soviet space, including Russian foreign policy and military affairs.

How did the NATO expansion process during the 1990s influence the relationship between Russia and the West? Mary Sarotte joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss her new book, Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate.

Mary Sarotte is an expert in the history of international relations and the inaugural holder of the Kravis Chair at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC. In addition to Not One Inch, she is the author of numerous other works, including The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall and 1989: The Struggle to Create Post-Cold War Europe. Her books have been named Economist and Financial Times "Books of the Year", along with receiving other awards and commendations.

What does Germany’s new coalition treaty tell us about how the incoming government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz will approach security and defense policy? Christian Mölling and Claudia Major join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the implications of the transition for Germany, Europe, and the transatlantic relationship.

Christian Mölling is the research director at the German Council on Foreign Relations, where he also heads the Security and Defense Program.

Claudia Major is the Head of the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. Her work focuses on security and defense policy in Europe and in a transatlantic context.

How should the United States and Europe interpret and respond to Russia’s various efforts to exert pressure on its neighbors, including its military buildup on the border with Ukraine? Michael Kofman and Kadri Liik join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the implications of the Kremlin’s actions for the transatlantic community.

Michael Kofman serves as Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA and as a Fellow at the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.

Kadri Liikis a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Her research focuses on Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic region. Before joining ECFR, she was the director of the International Centre for Defence Studies in Estonia, where she also worked as a senior researcher and director of the Centre’s Lennart Meri Conference.

How should the U.S. and Europe endeavor to deter and defend themselves against aggression in the gray zone between peace and war? Elizabeth Braw joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the path towards creating greater transatlantic resilience to gray zone threats.

Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on defense against emerging national security challenges, such as hybrid and gray zone threats. Concurrently, she is a columnist with Foreign Policy, where she writes on national security and the globalized economy, and a member of the National Preparedness Commission (UK).

How should the U.S. government respond to recent calls for greater European strategic autonomy in security and defense? Hans Binnendijk and Ambassador Alexander Vershbow join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the path towards a transatlantic agreement on strategic autonomy.

Hans Binnendijk is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He formerly served as Senior Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council and as Director of the National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies.

Alexander Vershbow is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council. His previous positions include NATO Deputy Secretary General, United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and U.S. Ambassador to Russia.

What are the key takeaways from the first meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council? Tyson Barker and Frances Burwell join Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend to discuss the goals of the TTC and how it fits into the broader transatlantic technology relationship.

Tyson Barker is head of the Technology and Global Affairs at the German Council on Foreign Relations, or DGAP. He previously worked at Aspen Germany where, as deputy executive director and fellow, he was responsible for the institute’s digital and transatlantic programs.

Frances G. Burwell is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and a senior director at McLarty Associates. Her work focuses on the European Union and U.S.-EU relations as well as a range of transatlantic economic, political, and defense issues.

What do the recent elections in the Czech Republic mean for the future of the country? Martin Hála and Martina Hrvolova join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the fate of incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the key factors that decided the elections, and the significance of the vote for democracy in Central Europe more broadly.

Martina Hrvolova is a Visiting Fellow for Democracy Initiatives at the German Marshall Fund. She is an expert on Central and Eastern Europe, human rights, and democracy, and she has more than 15 years of extensive experience with high-stake negotiations, policymaking, and program management.

Martin Hála is a sinologist and lecturer with Charles University in Prague, and the founder and director of Sinopsis, a project that provides analysis of China-related topics in Europe. He has studied in Prague, Shanghai, Berkeley, and Harvard, taught in Prague and Bratislava and led projects in various countries in Asia.

What do the recent elections in Germany mean for the country’s foreign and security policy going forward? Sophia Besch and Jana Puglierin join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the different potential coalition options, the likelihood of continuity with the policies of Angel Merkel, and the future of German relations with Europe, the U.S., and China.

Sophia Besch is a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform. She works on European defense issues, with a focus on EU Common Defense and Security Policy, European defense industry co-operation, NATO and German foreign and defense policy. Sophia also hosts the CER podcast.

Jana Puglierin is the head of the Berlin office and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She directs ECFR’s Re:shape Global Europe project, which seeks to develop new strategies for Europeans to understand and engage with the changing international order. Jana has also advised the German Bundestag as an expert on arms control and non-proliferation.

What is the significance of the recent AUKUS deal for transatlantic relations? Thomas Wright and Benjamin Haddad join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the French reaction to the agreement, how it fits within broader trends of divergence between the U.S. and Europe, and how Europe might respond to a U.S. that is increasingly focused on the Indo-Pacific.

Thomas Wright is the director of the Center on the United States and Europe and a senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy at the Brookings Institution. At Brookings, Wright works on U.S. foreign policy, great power competition, the European Union, Brexit, and economic interdependence. He is the author of two books, including the recently published "Aftershocks: Pandemic Politics and the End of the Old International Order.”

Benjamin Haddad is the senior director of the Europe Center at the Atlantic Council. He is an expert in European politics and transatlantic relations. His work has notably advocated for transatlantic unity in the face of Russian aggression, greater European responsibility, and investment on strategic matters. His recent book “Paradise Lost: Europe in the World of Trump” makes the case for greater European unity in a world of new challenges and threats.

What does the Kremlin’s crackdown ahead of the recent Duma elections tell us about the current domestic political situation in Russia? Russian opposition leader Dmitri Gudkov and Maria Snegovaya, post-doctoral fellow in political science at Virginia Tech University, join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how the shrinking space for civil society in Russia demonstrates Vladimir Putin’s tightening grip over the country.

Dmitri Gudkov is a Russian opposition politician and a former deputy for A Just Russia, from which he was expelled after being elected to the Opposition Coordination Council. In 2014, he was one of the four deputies that did not approve the annexation of Crimea. In the beginning of 2021, he announced that he intended to run for the Russian parliament again, but he was prohibited from doing so.

Maria Snegovaya is a post-doctoral fellow in political science at Virginia Tech University and a visiting scholar at the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at George Washington University. Her research interests include party politics and political behavior, as well as Russia’s domestic and foreign policy.

What does the evolving political situation in Belarus mean for U.S. and European interests? Brian Whitmore and David Kramer join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how President Lukashenko has cracked down on civil society during the last year as well as the implications of tightening relations between Minsk and Moscow.

Brian Whitmore is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Texas-Arlington’s McDowell Center for Global Studies, and host of The Power Vertical Podcast.

David J. Kramer is Senior Fellow in the Vaclav Havel Program for Human Rights & Diplomacy and Director for European and Eurasian Studies at Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. Previously, Kramer served as president of Freedom House, and he has also worked at the McCain Institute and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

What is the significance of the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal for the future of transatlantic relations? Ulrike Franke and Giovanna De Maio join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how Europeans have reacted to the withdrawal and whether it may give new impetus to efforts for strategic autonomy.

Dr. Ulrike Franke is a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). She leads ECFR’s Technology and European Power initiative. Her areas of focus include German and European security and defense, the future of warfare, and the impact of new technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence on geopolitics and warfare.

Dr. Giovanna De Maio is a nonresident fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution and a visiting fellow with George Washington University’s Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies. She has a background in West-Russia relations and international security and focuses her research on transatlantic political and security relations.

What does Ukrainian President Zelensky’s White House visit tell us about the state of US-Ukrainian relations? Melinda Haring and Ambassador Alexander Vershbow join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the key issues in the relationship as well as how the US and Europe should shape their policy toward Ukraine in the future.

Melinda Haring is the deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. Previously, she was the editor of the Atlantic Council’s popular publication, the Ukraine Alert blog. Haring has also worked for Eurasia Foundation, Freedom House, and the National Democratic Institute, where she managed democracy assistance programs in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia.

Ambassador Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow is a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and Eurasia Center. Ambassador Vershbow was the deputy secretary general of NATO from February 2012 to October 2016. Prior to his post at NATO, Ambassador Vershbow served for three years as the US assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.

How can the transatlantic partners bolster their economic security and effectively compete for tech leadership vis-à-vis China? Mikko Huotari and Marietje Schaake join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the current state of U.S.-European alignment in their approaches to China in the economic and technological realms.

Mikko Huotari is the ExecutiveDirector of the Mercator Institute for China Studies. His research focuses on China’s foreign policy, China-Europe relations and global economic governance and competition. He has published on China’s rise as a financial power, trade and investment relations with Europe as well as on geopolitical shifts related to China's emergence as a global security actor.

Marietje Schaake is the international policy director at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center and international policy fellow at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. Between 2009 and 2019, Marietje served as a Member of European Parliament for the Dutch liberal democratic party where she focused on trade, foreign affairs and technology policies.

To what extent do the United States and Europe share a common approach to China? Boris Ruge and Bonnie Glaser join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the current state of transatlantic coordination on China policy and how the U.S. and Europe can work together on this front going forward. Ambassador Boris Ruge is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, a role which he has held since August 2019. He previously served as Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Foreign Office in Berlin, as German Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and as Deputy Ambassador to the U.S. Bonnie Glaser is director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. She was previously senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ms. Glaser is also a nonresident fellow with the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, and a senior associate with the Pacific Forum.

What does the deepening crisis of autocratization in Hungary and elsewhere in Central Europe mean for the future of the European Union? Dan Kelemen and Zselyke Csaky join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the roots of the current situation and how the EU and U.S. can push back against democratic backsliding going forward.

Dan Kelemen is Professor of Political Science and Law and Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Politics at Rutgers University. His research focuses on the politics of the European Union, law and politics, comparative political economy, and comparative public policy. He is the author or editor of six books, including The Transformation of Law and Regulation in the European Union, which won the Best Book award from the European Union Studies Association in 2013.

Zselyke Csaky is the Research Director for Europe and Eurasia at Freedom House. In this role, she leads work on Nations in Transit, Freedom House’s annual survey of democracy from Central Europe to Central Asia. Prior to joining Freedom House, she served as researcher at Amnesty International, the International Service for Human Rights, and the European Parliament.

What is the significance of Angela Merkel’s upcoming White House for the future of U.S.-German relations? Cathryn Clüver and Jeff Rathke join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the most important aspects of the July 15 meeting and how the U.S. and Germany can work together on a range of issues going forward.

Cathryn Clüver is the Director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations. She was previously executive director of The Future of Diplomacy Project and The Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center.

Jeff Rathke is the President of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC.Prior to joining AICGS, Jeff was a senior fellow and deputy director of the Europe Program at CSIS, where his work focused on transatlantic relations and U.S. security and defense policy.

What concrete outcomes were achieved during President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Europe? Jeremy Shapiro and Amy Mackinnon join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of the transatlantic alliance in the wake of a series of summits between Biden and America’s European allies as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Jeremy Shapiro is the research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, as well as a nonresident fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. Prior to Brookings, he was a member of the U.S. State Department’s policy planning staff, and previously served as senior advisor to Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon.

Amy Mackinnon is a national security and intelligence reporter atForeign Policy. She has reported from across Eastern Europe and was previously based in Moscow and in Tbilisi, Georgia, as senior editor for the crisis reporting siteCoda Story.

What is the future of political opposition in Russia? Leonid Volkov joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the June 16 Biden-Putin summit, the trajectory of U.S.-Russia relations, and political opposition in Russia.

Leonid Volkov is chief of staff for Alexey Navalny. He was his campaign manager for the 2013 mayoral campaign in Moscow, as well as for his attempt to get registered for the 2018 presidential election in Russia.

What are the implications for the transatlantic community of discussions held at the transatlantic June summits? Adm. James G. Stavridis (Ret.) joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss President Biden’s trip to Europe and his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Adm. James G. Stavridis (Ret.) is a retired four-star U.S. naval officer. He is currently an Operating Executive of The Carlyle Group and Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Rockefeller Foundation. Adm. Stavridis had a 37-year military career, during which he led the NATO Alliance in global operations from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander, where he was responsible for Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, counter piracy, and cyber security.

As part of Day 2 of the CNAS 2021 National Security Conference on June 9, 2021, the CNAS Transatlantic Security Program hosted a live, interactive recording of the Center’s Brussels Sprouts podcast with co-hosts Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend, featuring Steven Erlanger, Anne Gearan, Susan B. Glasser, and Constanze Stelzenmüller.

What is role of defense and security in the upcoming German election? Christian Mölling and Claudia Major join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of German security and defense policy under new leadership, what that might mean for the transatlantic alliance, and more.

Claudia Major is the Head of the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. Her work focusses on security and defense policy in Europe and in a transatlantic context. Christian Mölling became research director of German Council on Foreign Relations in February 2017, where he also heads the Security and Defense Program.

What are Russia’s goals are in their military posture in and around Ukraine, and how might the U.S. and NATO respond? General (Ret.) Curtis Scaparrotti and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Russia’s military presence on the Ukrainian border, the drawdown of Russian troops, and NATO’s broader posture in Eastern Europe.

General (Ret.) Curtis Scaparrotti is a senior counselor at the Cohen Group. In 2019, he completed a distinguished 41-year career in the US Army as the Commander, US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO. Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges holds the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis. He previously served in the U.S. Army for 38 years, completing his last assignment as commander of U.S. Army Europe from 2014-2017 in Wiesbaden, Germany.

How can the transatlantic alliance manage the political and security challenges presented by the Nord Stream 2 pipeline? Daniel Fried and Steven Piferjoin Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Nord Stream 2, diplomatic challenges, and more.

Daniel Fried is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He is also on the Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy and a Visiting Professor at Warsaw University. He previously had a forty-year career in Foreign Service, where he played a key role in designing and implementing American policy in Europe after the fall of the Soviet Union. He became one of the U.S. government’s foremost experts on Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. Steven Pifer is a fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin and a non-resident senior fellow with the Brookings Institution. In his previous career as a Foreign Service officer, his more than 25 years with the State Department focused on U.S. relations with the former Soviet Union and Europe, as well as arms control and security issues. His research focuses on nuclear arms control, Ukraine, Russia, and European security.

What does President Biden’s decision to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan mean for American allies? Federica Mogherini and Lisa Curtis join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the decision to withdraw, allied forces in Afghanistan, and more.

Federica Mogherini is Rector of the College of Europe. She previously served as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission from 2014-2019. Lisa Curtis is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She is a foreign policy and national security expert with over 20 years of service in the U.S. government, including at the NSC, CIA, State Department, and Capitol Hill.

Svein Efjestad and Janne Kuusela join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Nordic defense policy, Arctic security, and more.

Janne Kuusela has served as the Deputy Director General for Defense Policy at the Ministry of Defense of Finland since January 2016, where he also performs the duty of Defense Policy Director. Svein Efjestad became Policy Director at the Norwegian Ministry of Defense in 2013. He is also currently chairing the Coast Guard Council, where he represents Norway at the Political Steering Committee of the Nordic Defense Cooperation.

Sara Bjerg Moller and Ian Brzezinski join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of NATO and its ability to balance security challenges from both China and Russia.

Sara Bjerg Moller is an Assistant Professor at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, where she directs the International Security specialization. Ian Brzezinski is a resident senior fellow with the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and is on the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Advisors Group.

What is motivating Russia's recent military buildup on the Ukrainian border? On April 6, 2021, Maxim Samorukov and Michael Kofman joined Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Russian military activity on Ukraine’s border, the international community’s response, and more.

Mike Kofman is a Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses' Russia Studies Program, a Fellow at the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, as well as an adjunct senior fellow on the Transatlantic Security program at the Center for a New American Security. Maxim Samorukov is a fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center and deputy editor of the Center’s website.

Frances Burwell and Tyson Barker join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss transatlantic technology policy, the EU’s Digital Compass, and where the U.S. and European tech policies diverge.

Frances (Fran) Burwell is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and a senior adviser at McLarty Associates, and Tyson Barker leads the Technology and Global Affairs Program at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

Ambassadors Gaston Stronck, Mikko Hautala, and Jean-Arthur Régibeau join Andrea Kendall to discuss Russian foreign policy and the state of Russia-Europe relations. H.E. Gaston Stronck became Ambassador of Luxembourg to the United States in September 2019. He has a longstanding diplomatic and professional career spanning four decades, and previously served as Secretary general at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg from 2017 to 2019. H.E. Mikko Hautala became Ambassador of Finland to the United States in September 2020. He is a career diplomat, and previously served as Ambassador of Finland to Russia from 2016-2020. H.E. Jean-Arthur Régibeau became Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the United States in September 2020. He joined the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998 and previously served as the Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, and Uzbekistan.

Kadri Liik and Dmitri Trenin join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the current state of Europe-Russia relations and how the United States should approach Russia during the Biden presidency.

Liik is a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Trenin is the director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, where he also chairs the research council and the Foreign and Security Policy Program.

Emma Ashford and Thomas Wright join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the future of America's democracy promotion efforts abroad and what the U.S. government can do to preserve American democracy at home.

Emma Ashford is a resident senior fellow with the New American Engagement Initiative in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, where her work focuses on questions of grand strategy, international security, and the future of U.S. foreign policy. Thomas Wright is the director of the Center on the United States and Europe and a senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy at the Brookings Institution.

Constanze Stelzenmüller and Sam Denney join Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend to discuss German foreign and security policy, upcoming German elections, and what might change after Chancellor Angela Merkel steps down.

Constanze Stelzenmüller is an expert on German, European, and transatlantic foreign and security policy and strategy. She is the inaugural holder of the Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Transatlantic Relations in the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings.

Sam Denney is a Senior Research Assistant in the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings.

Sarah Wheaton joins Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend to discuss vaccine nationalism in the EU, the ongoing vaccine rollout, and what both mean for the future of European integration and transatlantic relations. Sarah Wheaton is the chief policy correspondent for Politico Europe. In this role, she focusses on top policy news, in-depth reporting, and special projects in collaboration with Politico’s policy-reporting teams. Prior to this, she served as a senior policy reporter on Politico Europe’s health team, and before moving to Brussels. Sarah was a White House correspondent for Politico in the United States. She spent much of her career at the New York Times, where she reported on breaking news on the 2008 and 2012 campaign in print and online.

Joshua Yaffa joins Carisa Nietsche to discuss recent protests across Russia, Alexei Navalny, the future of Vladimir Putin’s regime, and U.S.-Russia relations. Yaffa is a Moscow correspondent for the New Yorker, and the author of Between Two Fires: Trust, Ambition and Compromise in Putin’s Russia. He has also written for the Economist, the New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, Bloomberg Business Week, the New Republic, and Foreign Affairs. For his work in Russia, he has been named a fellow at New America, a recipient of the American Academy’s Berlin prize, and a finalist for the Livingston Award.

Lindsay Gorman and Martijn Rasser join Carisa Nietsche to discuss future priorities and approaches on technology policy within the transatlantic alliance. Gorman is the Fellow for Emerging Technologies at the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, and a consultant for Schmitt Futures. She has spent a decade at the intersection of technology development and national security policy. Rasser is a Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Prior to joining CNAS, Martijn served as a senior intelligence officer and analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency.

Noah Barkin joins Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend to discuss the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), the new investment agreement between China and the European Union, and its implications for the future of the transatlantic alliance. Barkin is a senior visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, managing editor in the China practice at the Rhodium Group, and former bureau chief for Reuters.

Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. and Alan Salazar join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how their communities in Arkansas and Colorado engage with foreign policy issues. Scott is the mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas. Salazar is the chief of staff to Michael Hancock, the mayor of Denver, Colorado.

Wess Mitchell joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on a special, live episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss the “NATO 2030” report’s findings on the future of the NATO Alliance. Mitchellc o-chaired the group of experts behind the NATO 2030 report unveiled last month. He is a co-founder of the Center for European Policy Analysis and former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

Olya Oliker and Paul Stronski join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss recent events across the former Soviet space and what they mean for Russia. Oliker is director of the Europe and Central Asia Program at the International Crisis Group. Stronski is a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia Program and a former director for Russia and Central Asia on the National Security Council.

Rose Gottemoeller and David J. Kramer join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss priorities and approaches to the new administration’s diplomacy with Moscow. Gottemoeller is a former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, former U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, and a chief negotiator of the New START treaty. Kramer is a senior fellow at Florida International University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and formerly served as president of Freedom House and in several senior roles in the State Department.

Steven Erlanger joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how Europe is reacting to the incoming Biden administration. Erlanger is the chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times. A two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient, he has previously served as the Times’ bureau chief in seven countries, including London, Paris, Moscow, and Berlin.

On a special episode of Brussels Sprouts, four high school honors students from Indianapolis join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of U.S. national security and international relations. Uredo Agada, Zoe Edwards, Sarah Konrad, and Logan Tullai are high school honors students in Indiana, all studying international relations and U.S. foreign policy.

Melanie Hart and Janka Oertel join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how the next administration can work with Europe to counter China. Hart is a senior fellow and director of China policy at the Center for American Progress. Oertel is the director of the Asia program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Noah Barkin and Peter Chase join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss prospects for greater U.S.-Europe cooperation on China under the next administration. This is the first episode in a two-part series highlighting the conclusions of the Transatlantic Security Program’s new report, “Charting a Transatlantic Course to Address China.” Barkin is a senior visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, managing editor in the China practice at the Rhodium Group, and former bureau chief for Reuters. Chase is a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, where his focus is transatlantic economic relations, particularly trade, investment, digital and energy policies. He previously served as a U.S. diplomat on European economic affairs.

Soner Cagaptay joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of Turkish politics and democracy, Turkey’s role in the NATO alliance, and why the U.S. should care about relations with Ankara. Cagaptay is a senior fellow and director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He has written extensively on Turkish politics and U.S.-Turkish relations and is the author of "Erdogan’s Empire: Turkey and the Politics of the Middle East."

Jana Puglierin joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how Europeans are thinking about the United States and a future transatlantic relationship. Puglierin is a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, where she is also head of the Berlin office and director of the “Rethink: Europe” initiative. She has also advised the German Bundestag as an expert on arms control and non-proliferation.

Judy Dempsey and Jonathan Katz join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the ongoing protests in Belarus and the country’s prospects for a democratic political transition. Dempsey is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, the editor-in-chief of the Strategic Europe blog, and a veteran journalist on European issues. Katz is a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and previously served as deputy assistant administrator of USAID for Europe and Eurasia.

Nina Jankowicz joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the continuing use of information warfare by malign actors, particularly Russia and China, and how democracies can counter it. Jankowicz is a research fellow at the Wilson Center and the author of the new book “How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Future of Conflict.”

In the first episode of our new season, Amb. Nicholas Burns joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss U.S.-Europe relations under the Trump administration and how the election could change their course. Burns is the former U.S. ambassador to NATO and Greece, a former career Foreign Service Officer, and a professor of diplomacy and international relations at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Amb. Emily Haber joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss U.S.-German relations and the EU’s response to the pandemic and economic crisis. Haber is the German ambassador to the United States and a longtime German senior diplomat with several previous roles in Moscow and Berlin.

Catherine Belton joins Andrea-Kendall Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss her new book, “Putin’s People,” and what she has learned from her reporting into Vladimir Putin’s rise to power. Belton is an investigative journalist for Reuters and a former Moscow correspondent for the Financial Times.

Melissa Hooper and Dalibor Rohac join Andrea-Kendall Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the results of Poland’s presidential election and the prospects for democracy in Poland. Hooper is a lawyer and rule of law expert. She is the director of the Foreign Policy and Human Rights Advocacy program at Human Rights First, where she researches anti-democratic trends in Russia and Central Europe. Rohac is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies transatlantic relations and political trends in Central and Eastern Europe, and a research associate at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.

Ambassador (ret.) Michael McFaul and Vladimir Kara-Murza join Andrea-Kendall Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss recent anti-democratic developments in Russian politics and U.S.-Russia relations. McFaul is a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and senior director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council. He is currently a professor and Hoover Institution fellow at Stanford University. Kara-Murza is a Russian democracy activist, politician, author and filmmaker. He currently serves as chairman of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom and vice president of the Free Russia Foundation.

Michèle Flournoy joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how a Biden administration can work with NATO to confront transnational threats. Flournoy has been a leader in defense policy under several administrations, including as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2009 to 2012. She is the managing partner of WestExec Advisors and former co-founder of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).

Ulrike Franke and Frank Sauer join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to break down the U.S. proposal to drawdown in Germany, nuclear sharing, and more on a joint Brussels Sprouts-Sicherheitshalber Podcast episode. Dr. Franke is a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Sauer is a senior researcher at Bundeswehr University in Munich, where he is also the head of research at Project Metis.

Mike Kofman and Alexander Gabuev join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to explain the Russia-China defense relationship on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts. Kofman is the Director of the Russia Studies Program at CNA and a Fellow at the Kennan Institute in the Woodrow Wilson International Center. Gabuev is aSenior Fellow and the Chair of the Russia in the Asia-Pacific Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center, CEIP.

Steven Pifer and Anna Wieslander join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty. Pifer is a nonresident senior fellow in the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative, Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, and the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. Wieslander is the Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council.

Kirsti Kauppi joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss her time as Finland’s Ambassador to the United States, Finland’s response to COVID-19, and more. Amb. Kauppi has been in her current post since 2015. She previously served as Director General of Political Affairs of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Mike Carpenter joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss lessons learned from Vladimir Putin’s time in office, how Putin views the United States, and more. Dr. Carpenter is the Managing Director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement and a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Edward Ferguson joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 response, post-pandemic foreign policy, and more. Ferguson is the Minister Counsellor Defence at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the MOD Director for the United States.

Ambassador John Tefft joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Vladimir Putin’s pandemic response, opportunities for U.S. diplomacy, and more. Amb. Tefft served for more than 45 years in the Foreign Service and was the U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2014-2017. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the RAND Corporation.

Kori Schake joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the possibility of a second Trump term, transatlantic relations, and more. Schake is the Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

How could a new Democratic President revitalize the transatlantic relationship? Julie Smith and Tom Wright join Andrea Kendall Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the potential challenges from COVID-19, China, and past U.S. leadership the next President may face. Smith is a Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Wright is the Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution and the author of All Measures Short of War: The Contest for the 21st Century and the Future of American Power.

In this week's episode of Brussels Sprouts, Constanze Stelzenmüller and Nathalie Tocci join Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, and a live virtual audience to discuss lessons learned from the initial European response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stelzenmüller is a Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy at the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution and the former Kissinger Chair on Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Library of Congress. Tocci is the Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome and an Honorary Professor at the University of Tübingen.

Daphne Halikiopoulou and Paul Taggart join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the populist response to the crisis and what type of political blowback we can expect in the future.

Halikiopoulou is an Associate Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Reading. Taggart is a Professor of Politics and the Director of the European Institute at the University of Sussex.

Ashley Feng and Kristine Lee join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to explain China’s response to COVID-19 on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts. Feng is a Research Associate in the Energy, Economics, and Security Program and CNAS. Lee is an Associate Fellow in the Asia-Pacific Security Program at CNAS.

Benjamin Haddad and Alice Pannier join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss France’s foreign policy and Emmanuel Macron’s latest comments on Russia.

Haddad is the Director of the Future Europe Initiative at the Atlantic Council and the author of Paradise Lost: Europe in the World of Trump. Pannier is an Assistant Professor of International Relations and European Studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and an Associate Research Fellow at the Security Studies Center of the French Institute of International Relations.

Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche on the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts to discuss their concept, “weaponized interdependence,” and how it intersects with transatlantic affairs. Farrell is a Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the Elliott School at The George Washington University. Newman is a Professor and Director of the Mortara Center for International Studies at Georgetown University.

On the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts, Torrey Taussig and Max Bergmann join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of progressive foreign policy. The "project of advancing free and open societies," Taussig tells the hosts, "has lost momentum and remains unfinished because we need to recommit to building broad and inclusive alliances." Taussig is a Research Director at the Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Bergmann is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

Thomas Wright, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss what took place at the Munich Security Conference.

William J. Burns, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Deputy Secretary of State, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the past, present, and future of American diplomacy. He tells them, "Our capacity to draw on alliances and mobilize coalitions sets us apart from lonelier powers like China or Russia."

Thomas Graham, Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and Senior Advisor at Kissinger Associates, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss Putin’s recent changes, U.S. strategy toward Russia, and where the two countries can cooperate. "We have to deal with the Russia we have and not the Russia we would want to have," he tells them.

Richard Fontaine, CEO of CNAS, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss conditions for military intervention, the future of the Iran crisis, and what he learned from the late Senator John McCain.

Ilan Goldenberg, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Security Program at CNAS, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the fallout from Qassem Soleimani's death, the state of the JCPOA, and Europe's changing posture in the Middle East.

Rose Gottemoeller, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the the state of the Alliance, arms control, and the challenges of a new decade.

Vladimir Milov, Russian politician and former Visiting Scholar with the Carnegie Endowment, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Russian opposition politics, the 2020 elections, and the prospects for change in Russia.

Kathleen McInnis, International Security Analyst for the Congressional Research Service, joins Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend to discuss her book, “The Heart of War: Misadventures at the Pentagon.”

Matti Anttonen, State Secretary of Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a conversation about Arctic security, Finland’s foreign policy, and European Union enlargement.

Celeste Wallander, President and CEO of the U.S. Russia Foundation, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Russian operations in Ukraine and the U.S. response.

Jim Goldgeier, Professor of International Relations at American University, and Josh Shifrinson, Professor of International Relations at Boston University, join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss NATO expansion, U.S.-Russia relations, and the upcoming NATO Summit.

In a period of such rapid global change, how does the Kremlin view China? Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss Russian foreign policy, the country's cooperation with China, and more.

Ambassador Dan Fried, Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the state of European and American democracy 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Reflecting on that critical juncture in history, this episode explains how 1989 shapes U.S. policy today, discusses the role of NATO expansion in U.S.-Russia relations today, and gives us a reason to be hopeful about the future of democracy in the United States and Europe.

Audun Halvorsen, State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Norwegian foreign policy, what the Arctic means to Norway, and the state of its relationship with NATO and the United States. As the High North opens up due to climate change and increased development, Norway will play a key role in the navigability, stability, and economic future of the Arctic region.

Julie Smith, Director of the Asia Program at The German Marshall Fund, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to recap her year as the Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin. Smith explains the state of German politics, foreign policy, and perceptions of the transatlantic relationship in Europe.

The United States’ withdrawal and the Turkish military’s incursion into the Kurdish-controlled northeast have completely changed the balance of power in Syria. Without American support and minimal humanitarian aid, Kurdish forces have said they cannot simultaneously hold off Turkey’s advance and maintain guard over thousands of former ISIS fighters and their families. CNAS Middle East Security Senior Fellow Nick Heras joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the latest developments, the Kurds' prospects in a prolonged conflict, and what this means for U.S. policy toward Syria and in the Middle East.

Camille Grand, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the 70th anniversary of NATO and the challenges ahead. While mutual defense and deterrence will remain the alliance’s core mission, the cyber domain, China’s strategic rise, and the future of out-of-area operations will challenge the alliance's character and purpose. Addressing these challenges will require greater investment and coordination.

Dr. Alice Pannier, Assistant Professor of International Relations and European Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a conversation about the state of NATO, French geopolitics, and the future of European security. This episode explores the effects of Emmanuel Macron's call for rapprochement with Russia and investigates whether this move will lead to greater insecurity instead of securing strategic stability.

Daniel Bagge, Cyber Attaché of the Czech Republic to the United States and Canada, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for an in-depth discussion on the security of 5G networks, the implications for transatlantic security, and the future governance of emerging technologies. Bagge explains how the Czech Republic’s pioneering regulatory, legal, and political moves in cyber security can be adapted to other nations’ needs and could reinforce transatlantic and NATO security.

Dr. Erik Jones, Director of European and Eurasian Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced and International Studies, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a rundown of what’s happening in Italian politics. Matteo Salvini’s defection from the previous coalition government set off a series of events that have resulted in Salvini’s League party on the outside and the incumbent Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, still in power. Dr. Jones explains what is likely to happen next and what the options are for Conte and Salvini going forward.

Luke Coffey of The Heritage Foundation and Dr. Amanda Sloat of the Brookings Institution join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a rundown of the latest Brexit developments. As the current government presses on to make good on its promise of a “do or die” Brexit, a diverse set of opponents in the House of Commons has responded with a parliamentary campaign to delay a no-deal Brexit. What could the future hold for British politics and the country's relationship with the European Union?

NatSecGirlSquad founder and Unicorn Strategies managing director Maggie Feldman-Piltch joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the importance of competent diversity in the national security apparatus.

Former Director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council Magnus Nordenman joins Jim Townsend and Carisa Nietsche to break down his latest book, The New Battle for the Atlantic. Their conversation focuses on Russia’s naval resurgence and military investment in the north Atlantic as well as NATO’s best strategies for securing its namesake territory.

CNAS Senior Fellow and Middle East Security Program Director Ilan Goldenberg joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for an in-depth look at the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz. With Iran seizing foreign oil tankers and Washington’s recalcitrance in the face of European diplomatic efforts, there’s an ever-present danger that escalation might lead to a conflict that no side wants.

Populism expert Dr. Sheri Berman of Barnard College joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a discussion about the history, present, and future of populism in Europe and the United States. How is populism reshaping young democracies in Eastern Europe, as well as more established democracies in Western Europe and the United States?

Dmitry Suslov, Deputy Director of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for an in-depth discussion about the state of Russian-American relations. How does each country view the other, and are their competing visions for world order irreconcilable?

Dr. Cas Mudde, Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss contemporary populism. Right- and left-wing populist movements have grown around the world in the last decade, but right- and left-wing populists feature remarkable differences. Dr. Mudde underlines that populism is a fundamental challenge to liberal democracies everywhere.

Senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Dr. Larry Diamond joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the health of global democracy and his latest book, Ill Winds: Saving Democracy from Russian Rage, Chinese Ambition, and American Complacency. Dr. Diamond discusses the electoral, institutional, and geopolitical threats to the world’s democracies and what solutions the United States, Europe, and their allies can forward to bolster against authoritarian states’ resurgence.

Dr. Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche for a discussion on the latest rerun of the Istanbul mayoral election. A decade of divisive AKP politics has turned Erdogan’s ‘stronghold’ of Istanbul against him, but his personalist regime is far from collapse. Going forward, Erdogan and the AKP will try to box in opposition urban mayors and retain as tight a grip on national-level politics as possible.

Dr. Brian D. Taylor, Chair of the Political Science Department at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor for a discussion about his book, The Code of Putinism. Russia’s institutions are generally weak, and authority resides within various circles and factions of actors, all secondary to the man at the top. Putinism is less an ideology than a code for staying in Vladimir Putin’s good graces, administering authority over the largest country on earth, and maintaining a grip on power in a nation whose economy continues to stagnate. This episode also tackles the question of succession and what Russian politics, and Vladimir Putin’s place in it, might look like after 2024.

Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Kathimerini and Skai TV Washington Correspondent Katerina Sokou joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the snap Greek elections set for July. PM Alexis Tsipras’ Syriza rode a left-wing populist surge in 2015 but has since stepped back from electoral promises and commitments. The Greek public responded by treating the latest EU parliamentary elections as a referendum on Tsipras’ government, forcing him to call an early election after Syriza came in behind the New Democracy party. Nonetheless, with Golden Dawn losing all but two if its EU parliament seats, Tsipras losing his coalition partner over the Prespas Agreement, and New Democracy surging in the polls, Greek politics are far from being settled.

Dr. John A. Gans, Jr., joins Jim Townsend and Carisa Nietsche to discuss his recent book "White House Warriors: How the National Security Council has Transformed the American Way of War." Dr. Gans discusses his experiences both researching and interacting with the NSC, its staff, and its wider impact as a ‘wartime’ NSC since 9/11. We conclude with a discussion about the concept of the NSC as an honest broker and whether it functions more effectively as an instrument of presidential administrations or as a mediator between the White House and other institutions that shape U.S. national security.

CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow Elsa B. Kania joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss 5G technology and its implications for transatlantic security. Elsa B. Kania broadly explains 5G, how it will affect societies’ economic futures, and the current state of the ‘race’ to adopt next generation networks. They also discuss Huawei, the support it receives from the Chinese government, and the advantages it gives back—as well as whether Huawei is actually as far ahead of its competition as it has touted in the past.

Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo are joined by recent George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs graduates Zlata Gogoleva, Rachel Long, and Sydney Simon to discuss their capstone project, studying Chinese and Russian media, investment, and political influence in the Balkan region. Their project focused on identifying the methods and techniques Chinese and Russian actors use to integrate into the Balkan economies, the targets they seek to influence, and how European and American actors might counteract those influences. While Russia is interested in keeping Balkans within its sphere of influence in the short-term, China is preparing the groundwork for a long-term economic and political strategy—whether the two will work in concert or compete has yet to be determined.

Latvian Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss the future of transatlantic, European, and Latvian security in an age of growing foreign influence, political fragmentation, and coordinated propaganda. Minister Pabriks says the Baltic states have long served as a litmus test for Russian foreign influence campaigns, and the United States and European allies should look to Latvia’s experience in combating various electoral and media manipulation strategies.

Dan Kliman joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the evolving nature of China’s relationship with Europe, how the Belt-and-Road Initiative is challenging the Transatlantic Partnership, and what the United States and NATO allies can do to counteract its regional and global influence. Dr. Kliman explains how China is dividing Europe and undercutting the crucial cohesion the continent will require to challenge China’s rise as an economic and strategic competitor. 5G is just one component in China’s drive to change the international model, legitimize autocracy, and put democracies on their back feet.

Dr. Angela Stent, Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University, provides an answer to the oft-asked question: what does Putin want? She weighs in on all things Russia, including whether Putin will accept junior partner status in Russia’s partnership with China. She also takes us beyond problems and identifies policy solutions for how the United States should move forward with Russia.

Edward Lucas, Senior Vice President at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss trends in European security, the future of populism in Europe, and emerging threats facing Europe. Lucas also focused his attention on the rise of China, including the role China will play in the transatlantic relationship and his take on Russian-Chinese cooperation.

Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo take Brussels Sprouts on the road in this special edition of the podcast recorded “live” from the April 3rd NATO Engages conference hosted by the Atlantic Council, German Marshall Fund, and Munich Security Conference. This special episode shares the insights of some of the most prominent voices on transatlantic relations. Experts shared with us their thoughts on whether the alliance is in crisis, the most critical challenges facing NATO, and why they’re optimistic about NATO’s future. This episode features commentary (in order of appearance) from:

· Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius

· Stanislava Mladenova, a former member of the NATO international staff

· Dr. Jim Goldgeier, Visiting Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations

· Damir Marusic, Executive Editor of The American Interest

· Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and Former Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO

· Ambassador Sandy Vershbow, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia

· Benjamin Haddad, Director of the Future Europe Initiative at the Atlantic Council

· Dr. Tom Wright, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution

· Ambassador Doug Lute, former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO and a Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

· Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller, Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution

· Rachel Hoff, Policy Director at the Ronald Reagan Institute

· Dr. Gale Mattox, a Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy and Director of the Foreign & Domestic Policy Program at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies

· Karlijn Jans, a Dutch defense expert

· Camille Grand, Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment at NATO

· Ambassador Azita Raji, former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden

Minister Jüri Luik, the Estonian Minister of Defense, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss Baltic security, NATO, and Russia.

Dr. Amanda Sloat, Robert Bosch Senior Fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss the latest Brexit developments.

Dr. Claudia Major, a Senior Associate in the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss European and German defense policy.

Josef Janning, Senior Policy Fellow and Head of ECFR Berlin, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of the transatlantic relationship, U.S.-German relations, and the European Union.

Deputy Prime Minister Radmila Šekerinska, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss the Prespa Agreement and North Macedonia’s future role in NATO and the EU.

Benjamin Haddad, Director of the Future Europe Initiative at the Atlantic Council, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss France’s Yellow Vest movement.

Andrew Weiss, James Family Chair and Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Russian domestic politics, Putin’s future aims, the Russia-China relationship, and the INF Treaty.

Molly Montgomery, a Vice President in Albright Stonebridge Group’s Europe Practice, joins Dr.Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the Balkans and the future of the Sino-Russian relationship.

Dr. John Manza, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Operations, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the future of NATO readiness, NATO’s training mission in Iraq, and some of the challenges facing NATO today.

Former Ambassador Ian Bond sits down with Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss his perspective on Brexit and what the future holds for the transatlantic relationship.

Dr. Amanda Sloat, the Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at Brookings and DC’s Brexit expert, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Rachel Rizzo to discuss Brexit: how it happened, why it’s still not resolved, and what comes next.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Azita Raji joins Jim Townsend and Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss Nordic security, European military capabilities, and Trident Juncture.

Dr. Alina Polyakova, the David M. Rubenstein Fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on the United States and Europe, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a special edition of Brussels Sprouts to discuss aggressive Russian behavior in the Sea of Azov and how it fits in with Russia’s broader international strategy.

Luke Coffey, Director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy at the Heritage Foundation, sits down with Jim Townsend to talk about the future of UK defense, Brexit, and the US-UK special relationship.

LtGen Jan Broeks, DG of the NATO International Military Staff, and LtGen Esa Pulkkinen, DG of the EU Military Staff, sat down with Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the state of EU/NATO military cooperation before an event at the CNAS offices on October 31.

Elisabeth Braw, an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), sits down with Jim Townsend and Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss what modern deterrence is, why it’s necessary, and how institutions can do their part.

Ulrike Franke, a Policy Fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, speaks with Jim Townsend and Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor about the rapidly shifting nature of German politics in a special mid-week episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Anna Wieslander, the Director of Northern Europe with the Future Europe Initiative at the Atlantic Council, speaks to Jim Townsend about this year's elections in Sweden, as well as the distinctly Nordic view of European defense.

Viktoras Daukšas, the Director of the Demaskuok.lt (DeBunk) Initiative, and Giedrius, one of the many “elves” fighting Russian trolls online throughout the Baltic region, sit down with Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Bacevich Fellow Rachel Rizzo to discuss their experiences with disinformation and how best to fight it.

Nick Gurr, the Director of International Security Policy at the UK Ministry of Defense, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the deep connections between the US and the UK, the benefits of a dynamic NATO, and the new normal in relations with Russia.

Christian Mölling, the deputy director of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), sits down with Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the conversations happening in the German Bundestag right now about defense spending, burden sharing, and strategic autonomy amid shifting transatlantic dynamics.

Julie Smith and Jim Townsend sit down for a bookend episode of Brussels Sprouts to look back on previous episodes and what they’ve learned from them. They also take the time to reflect on Julie’s time at CNAS as she sets out for Berlin and how her commitments to and ambitions in the transatlantic relationship evolved over her career.

Sophia Besch of the Center for European Reform joins Jim Townsend to discuss the shifting internal dynamics in Germany and what they mean for U.S.-German relations, defense spending, and how President Trump is changing things.

LTG (R) Ben Hodges, the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss his recent piece advocating against permanently basing U.S. troops in Poland, his time commanding United States Army Europe, the current health of the U.S.-German relationship, and prospects for NATO flotilla in the Black Sea.

The 2018 NATO Summit is one of the most anticipated events in transatlantic relations this year. Seven European embassy defense representatives join Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to offer their countries’ perspectives and expectations for the Summit as it quickly approaches.

The 2018 NATO Summit is just over the horizon but much remains uncertain and the transatlantic relationship is being tested. To give us a better grasp on what to expect in July, Julie Smith and Jim Townsend sat down with three former U.S. Permanent Representatives to NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland, Ambassador Doug Lute, and Ambassador Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow.

Lord Paddy Ashdown, former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, sits down with Julie Smith to discuss his thoughts on the damage done to the transatlantic relationship and gives us an update on the Balkans and Brexit.

In the run up to this year’s NATO Summit, the current NATO Permanent Representatives from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingom discuss what we can expect in Brussels, what binds NATO members together, and their experiences as women in national security.

Dr. Brad Roberts, the Director for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy, joins Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss NATO’s nuclear deterrence capabilities, the space domain, and the North Korean nuclear issue.

Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, Director of the German Marshal Fund's Paris Office, sits down with Brussels Sprouts to discuss Macron, Merkel, and the future of transatlantic relations after Trump's withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Edvinas Kerza, Vice Minister of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, sits down with Julie Smith and Rachel Rizzo to discuss the country's new cyber report, evolving threats in cyber space, information warfare, and the new cyber rapid response project proposed by Lithuania as part of PESCO.

Christian Mölling, Deputy Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the German perspective on President Macron’s and Chancellor Merkel’s recent visits to Washington, the evolution of European security initiatives, and the future of German leadership.

Danish Minister of Finance Kristian Jensen discusses the uncertain future of TTIP, the Danish decision to increase defense spending, the challenge of Nord Stream 2 to European security, and his belief in continued transatlantic values.

French Ambassador to the United States Gérard Araud discusses what we should expect from President Macron’s upcoming visit to Washington, the European perspective on the Iran deal, and the challenging global questions of today that Europe and the US need to answer together.

Norwegian Deputy Minister of Defense Tone Skogen joins with CNAS experts Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss challenges in the North Atlantic, the new NATO Command Structures, and her experience navigating a career as a woman in Norwegian national security.

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser sits down with CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow Jim Townsend to discuss his recent visit to Washington DC with the other Baltic Foreign Ministers and Baltic Presidents. He touches on the challenging and changing security situation facing his country, as well as the value of NATO to Estonia.

Dr. Karen Donfried, President of the German Marshall Fund and former Senior Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council, joins Brussels Sprouts to offer her perspective on the current state of transatlantic relations, reflect on this year’s Brussels Forum, and discuss takeaways from her time at the Obama White House.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius, sits down with CNAS’ Jim Townsend to discuss his recent visit to Washington, Baltic security concerns, and takes the time to reflect on Lithuania’s inspiring journey to NATO membership.

Peter Potman, Director of the Asia and Oceania Department at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joins Julie Smith and Dr. Dan Kliman of CNAS to discuss the Dutch and broader European assessment of China’s growing global influence, how Europe should respond to Beijing’s ambitions, and potential opportunities for transatlantic coordination on China.

Dr. Celeste Wallander sits down with Julianne Smith to reflect on the 2018 Munich Security Conference, and discuss what we can look forward to in terms of the future of US-Russia relations

French Director General for International Relations and Strategy Philippe Errera joins Brussels Sprouts to outline the French approach to the upcoming NATO summit and the burden sharing debate. They explore the leadership of President Macron in shaping French military capabilities and European security strategy, including PESCO and his European Intervention Initiative.

In the latest episode of Brussels Sprouts, CNAS experts Jim Townsend and Rachel Rizzo ask Spanish Ambassador to the US, Pedro Morenés Eulate, how Spain and the United States can tap into their history and heritage to strengthen their relationship today. The ambassador also discuss how the U.S.-Spanish defense relationship grew closer in the years after Benghazi, and offers a helpful description of the nuances in the Catalonia issue.

The Center for New American Security's new CEO Victoria Nuland joins Brussels Sprouts to discuss her storied 32-year diplomatic career working on European issues. She shares her thoughts regarding the ongoing relevancy of NATO, the continued threat of Russia to European and Transatlantic cooperation, the quality of the State Department's cafeteria, and takes a moment to reflect on her early lessons learned living on a Soviet fishing vessel.

Ambassador Elena Poptodorova, former Ambassador of Bulgaria to the United States and Vice President of the Atlantic Treaty Association, sits down with Brussels Sprouts to discuss what America first means for Europe, how the use of diplomacy has fundamentally changed, and who is filling the void of US leadership in Europe.

Danish Ambassador Lars Gert Lose recently visited Salt Lake City with the Transatlantic Security Team as a part of the Across The Pond, In The Field project. Hear Ambassador Lose and Julie Smith reflect on their visit including some of the challenges facing the transatlantic relationship, Danish trade and investment in the US, the world’s first Tech Ambassador from Denmark, and where else Ambassador Lose hopes to visit in the US during his post.

CNAS Senior Counselor for Defense and former Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work sits down with CNAS experts Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss Third Offset strategy and his work in developing, managing, and advancing it. In their discussion, they explore defense technology, the future of NATO, and working with the Nordics.

Dr. Amanda Sloat, Julie Smith, and Jim Townsend all recently visited different European cities, from Brussels to Munich to Berlin. The latest episode of Brussels Sprouts highlights some of the most surprising and note-worthy topics from their travels across the pond, including the latest on German politics, the wave of populism sweeping across Europe, and European views of U.S. foreign policy. What hot-button issues should transatlanticists look out for in 2018? The team covers that topic, too.

Christian Hänel, of the Robert Bosch Foundation, chats with CNAS expert Julie Smith about why he was “positively surprised” by his first visit to Pittsburgh—as part of the Across The Pond, In The Field project— and how important diversity is to the transatlantic relationship.

Andy Dlinn, President of the PA Republican Leadership Council and member of the National Council of the John Birch Society, sits down with CNAS expert Julie Smith to discuss transatlantic relations, the future of NATO and U.S. alliances, and the meaning behind "America first."

CNAS' new program “Across the Pond, In the Field” is taking foreign policy discussions on a national road trip—visiting 12 cities over a span of three years. During our first stop in Pittsburgh, CNAS Director of the Transatlantic Security Program Juliane Smith sat down with Mark Houser, Director of News and Information at Robert Morris University, to discuss the importance of people visiting other places outside the Washington bubble.

CNAS experts Julie Smith, Ilan Goldenberg and Elizabeth Rosenberg discuss President Trump’s decision to decertify the Iran nuclear deal. The discussion breaks down what the move means, what the implications are for the Transatlantic relationship and what happens next.

Constanze Stelzenmüller, the Robert Bosch senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, weighs in on Germany’s 2017 election. Just days away from Sunday’s vote, Constanze tells us why this election matters, things to look out for and what to expect.

Camille Grand, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO, offers an inside-the-building update from NATO HQ. Things are busy in Brussels, and Camille offers his views on the upcoming Zapad exercise, NATO defense spending, and what's on tap for NATO defense investments. He also offers a personal reflection on his time at NATO after almost a year on the job.

Mark Brzezinski, managing director at Makena Capital Management and former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, sits down with Julie and Jim to discuss the legacy of his father, Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, and the impact he had on U.S. foreign policy.

Julianne Smith and Jim Townsend discuss what the coming months might look like for transatlantic relations and the NATO alliance.

Dr. Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, stops by to discuss the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Dr. Robin Niblett discusses Britain's current political climate and how the country could find its own way post-Brexit. Dr. Niblett also provides a quick tutorial on chatham house rules.

Michael Fallon, the British Defence Secretary, stops by to discuss what's coming out of Brussels on defense. Hosted by Julie Smith and Jim Townsend.

Tomáš Valášek, the director of Carnegie Europe, sits down with Julie Smith to discuss Central Europe's perception of President Trump and an outlook on European defense capabilities.

Dr. Kori Schake, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, sits down with Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss the current transatlantic security landscape, President Trump's upcoming summit with Russian President Vladmir Putin, and how the West Coast perceives U.S. relations with European allies.

Norbert Röttgen, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag, shares his thoughts about the British election, German Chancellor Merkel's remarks following President Trump's visit to Europe, and Germany's perspective on the state of the transatlantic relationship.

Lithuanian and Estonian ministers of defence sit down with Jim Townsend to discuss the respective landscape and outlook on security, international affairs, and relationship with the United States.

Julie Smith and Jim Townsend discusses President Trump's visit to NATO and Sicily and the impressions from European foreign leaders. Julie also provides a lesson in European defense spending 101.

Peter Hultqvist, the Swedish Minister of Defense, joins Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to discuss Sweden's worldview, the current state of transatlantic alliances, Stockholm's relationship with Moscow, and President Trump's upcoming visit to the region.

Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, the Norwegian Minister of Defence, discusses the NATO defense landscape and Norway's role and investment in readiness. Hosted by Jim Townsend.

With the launch of the new Transatlantic Security Program, Julianne Smith, senior fellow and director of the program, sits down with Jim Townsend to discuss the program's focus on Europe, NATO, and the EU.

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, sits down with CNAS' Transatlantic Security team after a successful meeting in Washington with President Trump. Hosted by Jim Townsend and Rachel Rizzo.

Former PM of Sweden Carl Bildt sits down with Transatlantic Security experts Julie Smith and Jim Townsend to talk about the future of Europe and why every country in the transatlantic partnership, even the smallest like Malta, matters.

Transatlantic Security experts Jim Townsend and Julie Smith discuss this week's NATO Ministerial and why NATO is like a potluck dinner.