Battlegrounds: International Perspectives

Join Mr. Bilal Bilici, a member of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Türkiye's evolving role on the global stage, its central role in the volatile Black Sea and Middle East regions, and its future in NATO. In light of the recent arrest of Istanbul mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu in March 2025, Mr. Bilici reflects on the state of Turkish politics today, the country's prospects for democracy, US-Türkiye relations and the most pressing issues both countries should align on, his take on Syria following the collapse of Assad, and the future of the tumultuous Turkish-Israeli relationship. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Bilal Bilici is a member of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye representing the province of Adana and a former member of the Foreign Policy Committee. Mr. Bilici began his political career in the Good Party, serving as an advisor to the Party Chair. He was the Good Party's representative to the United States before transitioning to the main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), in 2024. In addition to his political career, Bilici has been influential in Turkish business. He has held leadership roles in the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye, including as Vice President of the Türkiye-Central American and Caribbean Business Council, and has served as Honorary Consul of Guatemala in Istanbul. Mr. Bilici earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Boston University and a master's degree in global affairs from Bahçeşehir University. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Join General Sir Nick Carter, the United Kingdom's former Chief of the Defence Staff, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the future of warfare through the lens of conflicts in Israel, Ukraine, and Africa. Drawing on his extensive military career - serving in Western Germany, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, General Carter provides his thoughts on the Trump administration's approach to the conflict in Ukraine, Putin's ambitions in Europe, and Russia and China's revanchist power in Africa. He discusses how conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and Europe are connected to the looming crisis in the Indo-Pacific associated with China's revanchist agenda, as well as the US-UK relationship and whether he is optimistic for the future prospects of the Free World. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS General Sir Nick Carter served as the United Kingdom's Chief of the Defence Staff from 2018 to 2021, where he led the British Armed Forces as the most senior uniformed military advisor to the British Prime Minister. General Carter previously served in Western Germany during the end of the Cold War, Northern Ireland during The Troubles, and in Bosnia and Kosovo during NATO peacekeeping operations. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan, including command of regional command south in Kandahar.  He also commanded British forces in Basra, Iraq. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Join Colombia's former Minister of Defense and two-time Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, Juan Carlos Pinzón, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Colombia's evolving security landscape, its relationship with the United States, Venezuela's central role in the issues facing the region, and international politics in the Western Hemisphere. Reflecting on the 2022 election of President Gustavo Petro, Pinzón provides an insight into the consequences of Colombia's political shift to a far-left government, including increased lawlessness, territorial control and weakened security, how public sentiment is shifting ahead of the country's 2026 presidential election, his views on Colombia as the key strategic player in guaranteeing the stability of Latin America, and how Colombia can build a path towards a better future. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Juan Carlos Pinzón is the former Minister of Defense of Colombia and a two-time Ambassador of Colombia to the United States. Pinzón served as Minister of Defense from 2011 to 2015. He was first appointed Ambassador to the United States in 2015 and later returned to Washington for a second term in 2021. Between his diplomatic posts, he served as President of ProBogotá, a private nonprofit dedicated to support economic progress in Bogotá. Pinzón has also held senior government roles, including Chief of Staff to the President of Colombia and Deputy Minister of Defense, and served as a senior adviser to the Executive Director at the World Bank. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in economics from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a master's in public policy from Princeton University, and an honorary degree in defense and national security from the Colombian National War College. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. ​

Join Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, Gilberto Teodoro, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the history of US-Philippine relations, defense cooperation, and security in Southeast Asia. In light of the new US administration, Teodoro reflects on America's long alliance with the Philippines and his expectations for the relationship over the coming years, how the Philippine government has evolved over the last several administrations in countering Chinese coercion, and the connection between Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the impact of the war in the Middle East on the security of the Philippines.  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Gilberto Teodoro is Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines. Teodoro has served as Secretary since 2023, after holding the position from 2007 to 2009. Teodoro was previously Congressman of the First District of Tarlac for three consecutive terms, starting in 1998. While in Congress, he authored 106 bills, served as Assistant Majority Leader, and was head of the Nationalist People's Coalition House members. Teodoro holds a bachelor's degree from De La Salle University, studied law at the University of the Philippines, and earned his Master of Laws at Harvard. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Join Lithuania's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis immediately following his departure from government, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the outcome of the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election and the opportunities and challenges facing the new coalition governing the country. Amid growing geopolitical tensions, Landsbergis reflects on Russia's sustained campaign against Europe and the Free World, the global threat from China, North Korea and Iran, the importance of sustained support for Ukraine and whether Ukraine can prevail, Lithuania's role in countering authoritarianism in Eastern Europe, and the future of U.S.-Lithuanian relations. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Gabrielius Landsbergis most recently served as Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister Landsbergis was elected Chairman of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats in 2015, a role he served in until October of 2024. In 2020, Landsbergis became the Minister of Foreign Affairs under the leadership of Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė (see Battlegrounds Episode #42). Landsbergis previously held roles at the Lithuanian Embassies in Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as at the Office of the Government. Landsbergis has been a member of the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania since 2016 and is actively involved in the European Council on Foreign Relations. He holds a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy and a Bachelor's degree in History from Vilnius University. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Join award-winning director, producer and screenwriter, Djo Munga, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Munga's films depicting life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African regional challenges, and opportunities for unleashing the potential of this resource rich country in service of its long-suffering population. Having received widespread acclaim for his work, Munga reflects on how the arts, including film, drama and literature can help us understand complex challenges facing the world from a political, economic and social perspective, how he uses film to understand the root causes of conflict in the DRC, why resilience is so important to the Congo, and what he hopes to portray through his future projects. ​ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Djo Tunda Wa Munga is an award-winning director, producer, and screenwriter. Munga was born in the DRC's capital, Kinshasa. He pursued fine arts while attending boarding school in Belgium, and a cinema workshop inspired him to attend the National Film School of Belgium, INSAS. Munga then returned to the Congo and established the first film and television production company in the DRC, Suka! Productions, as well as its first film and television school. His debut film VIVA RIVA! received widespread acclaim. Munga has produced documentary and historical films for the World Bank, BBC, and numerous international development agencies. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Join Bethany Coates, founder and CEO of BreakLine, an education and employment company helping outstanding veterans, women, people of color, and people with disabilities accelerate into their next careers, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss BreakLine's crucial role in preparing veterans for civilian careers and educating employers on the tremendous value veterans bring to American businesses and civil society. Former Assistant Dean at Stanford Graduate School of Business leading social impact education, Coates reflects on how veterans are often misrepresented in popular culture, the rewards of service, and values such as honor, duty, courage, loyalty and serving others that veterans bring to a workforce. Coates provides insight on what employers should know on hiring and retaining veterans and advice for servicemembers, veterans and military spouses as they approach a transition to civilian employment. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Bethany Coates is the founder and CEO of BreakLine, a social venture that helps outstanding veterans, women, people of color, and people with disabilities accelerate into their next careers. Ms. Coates was previously an Assistant Dean at Stanford Graduate School of Business leading social impact education. She also worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Co. Ms. Coates earned her BA from Princeton and her MBA from Stanford. She has served on the advisory boards of a number of nonprofits and social ventures. In 2018, Ms. Coates was honored to receive the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service on behalf of the BreakLine team. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Former Naval Flight Officer and Naval Physician Dr. Alta DeRoo and Vietnam War infrantryman Dr. Don Elverd from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation join Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss substance use disorder, ways to prevent and treat addiction, and its implications for national security. As experts in treating substance use disorders and supporting service members through recovery, Drs. DeRoo and Elverd share insights on the addiction crisis affecting Americans, mental healthcare and addiction treatment for veterans, and how communities can support individuals undergoing substance use disorder treatment. They emphasize a focus on resilience, growth, and emerging stronger from overcoming a substance use disorder. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Dr. Alta DeRoo is medical director of the Betty Ford Center's three California facilities. She served 24 years in the US Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and Naval Physician and was among the first cohort of women to fly in combat. Dr. DeRoo is board-certified in OB-GYN and addiction medicine and is a leading expert on maternal and fetal health implications of substance use disorder treatment. She currently serves on the American Society of Addiction Medicine's board. Dr. Don Elverd served as an Army combat infantryman in the Vietnam War, where he received three purple hearts, a bronze star of valor, and the combat infantry badge. He then earned his doctorate in clinical psychology. Dr. Elverd is an expert on multicultural approaches to healing and speaks on healing and recovery from psychological trauma. Dr. Elverd's clinical focus is supporting active duty and veteran service members. He has worked with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation for thirty-three years. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Leopoldo López discuss ongoing protests in Venezuela, the Maduro regime's tactics of repression, and prospects for the restoration of the Venezuelan constitution and the end of Maduro's despotic rule. Join former mayor of Caracas and Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they examine Venezuela's authoritarian socialist regime and prospects for the restoration of the Venezuelan constitution. Reflecting on the country's stolen presidential election in July 2024, López shares his insights on the Maduro regime's mechanisms of internal control, how the axis of authoritarians are using Venezuela against the US and the rest of the free world, the next steps for the Venezuelan opposition movement, and what can be done within Venezuela and internationally to help support the Venezuelan people and end Maduro's despotic rule. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Leopoldo López is a Venezuelan political leader, pro-democracy activist and Sakharov prize laureate. He is the founder and national coordinator of the Voluntad Popular political party and the former mayor of the municipality of Chacao in Caracas. In 2014 López was unjustly detained by the Maduro regime and sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. He spent four years in a military prison, a year and a half in house arrest and another year and a half in the Spanish embassy in Caracas under political asylum. In October 2020, López escaped from Venezuela through Colombia to join his family in Spain. López holds a Bachelor's degree cum laude in sociology and economics from Kenyon College, and a Master´s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was awarded a honoris causa doctorate in Law from Kenyon College in 2007. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. ​

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Adela Raz discuss the humanitarian catastrophe and systemic human rights abuses under Taliban rule, the lessons and consequences of the collapse of the Afghanistan Republic, and the future of Afghanistan and its diaspora. Join former Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States, Adela Raz, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they reflect on the geostrategic consequences of the 2021 collapse of Afghanistan. Ambassador Raz shares her insights on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the humanitarian catastrophe and systemic human rights abuses currently facing the country, the Taliban's repressive control over women, and her hope for the future of Afghanistan and its diaspora. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Adela Raz served as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States from July 2021 to February 2022. Ambassador Raz was first woman to hold the post of Deputy Chief of Staff for an Afghan president's administrative office. She served in this post both in President Hamid Karzai's Administration and in President Ashraf Ghani's. She was the Deputy Minister for Economic Cooperation at Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2018. From 2018 to July of 2021, Raz served as Afghanistan's first female Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, where she was the Vice President of the 75th session of the General Assembly. Since 2022, Raz has served as the director of the Afghanistan Policy Lab at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Ambassador Raz has a Master's degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Lobsang Sangay discuss China's repression of the Tibetan people, Tibet's efforts to advocate for freedom and rule of law, and prospects for the future in Tibet and in East Asia, on Wednesday July 31, 2024. Join former prime minister in exile of the Central Tibetan Administration Lobsang Sangay and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss China's repression of the Tibetan people, Tibet's efforts to advocate for freedom and rule of law, and prospects for the future in Tibet and in East Asia. Prime Minister Sangay shares his insights on how the Chinese Community Party subjugates the Tibetan people, how to foster unity and strengthen a movement in exile, his assessment of the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act, recently signed by President Biden, and what Americans can do to advocate for the rights of the Tibetan people. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Lobsang Sangay served as the sikyong, or prime minister in exile, of the Central Tibetan Administration from 2011 to 2021. Prior to taking this role, Sangay was an academic at Harvard Law School, where he organized multiple conferences between Tibetan, Western, and Chinese scholars, including the Dalai Lama. He was selected as one of the Asia Society's Asia 21 Fellows in 2007. Sangay holds doctor of juridical science and master of laws degrees from Harvard Law School and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Delhi. He served as a senior visiting fellow at Harvard Law School's East Asian Legal Studies Program in Fall 2023. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Join Israel Defense Forces (IDF) brigadier general Meir Finkel and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster as they examine the current state of the Israel-Gaza war and the geopolitics of the broader Middle East. In this episode of Battlegrounds, Dr. Finkel shares his insights on the Israeli campaign to destroy Hamas in Gaza, examining the objectives of Hamas and how the IDF is responding to prevent civilian casualties during a humanitarian crisis. They also discuss the Israel-Iran proxy conflict and how the wars in the Middle East might evolve in the coming months and years. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Brigadier General (res.) Meir Finkel of the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, is a soldier-scholar who holds three PhDs. Finkel is the head of research of the Dado Center for Interdisciplinary Military Studies, a think tank designed to further the success of the IDF and its military and political strategies. Finkel served for 20 years in the IDF Armored Corps, including as the commander of the 847th Armored Brigade during the Second Lebanon War. He also headed the IDF's Ground Forces Doctrine and Concept Development Department for seven years. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. For more information, visit: https://www.hoover.org/battlegrounds_perspectives Pick up a copy of "Battlegrounds: The Fight To Defend The Free World," by H.R. McMaster here - https://www.hoover.org/research/battlegrounds-fight-defend-free-world  The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. © 2024 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ahmet Üzümcü discuss the vital role of Turkey in advancing peace and prosperity in a time of economic distress; strained relations between Ankara and Washington over Turkey's acquisition of Russian air defense systems; disagreements over US support for Syrian Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS in Syria; and concerns about Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's authoritarian tendencies and his support for the terrorist organization Hamas, on Wednesday June 26, 2024. Join former director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Ahmet Üzümcü, and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster in a deep dive into the current state of US-Turkey (Türkiye) and NATO-Turkey relations. In this episode of Battlegrounds, Ambassador Üzümcü, who has previously served as Turkey's permanent representative to the United Nations and NATO, Turkish ambassador to Israel, and deputy undersecretary of state for bilateral political affairs, shares his expert insights on the evolving dynamics between Ankara and Washington, Turkey's controversial acquisition of Russian air defense systems, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's authoritarian policies and support for Hamas, and the broader implications of all these aspects for NATO and stability in the Middle East. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ahmet Üzümcü served as director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) from 2010 to 2018. Ambassador Üzümcü accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 on behalf of the OPCW for the organization's extensive work toward eliminating chemical weapons. Prior to serving this role he was Turkey's (Türkiye's) permanent representative to the United Nations, its permanent representative to NATO, Turkish ambassador to Israel, and deputy undersecretary of state for bilateral political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ambassador Üzümcü holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Ankara University. He currently serves as a senior network member for the European Leadership Network and as a senior advisor for the Council on Strategic Risks. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. ​

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Jorge Castañeda discuss the future of Mexico and Mexican-US relations, on Friday, May 31, 2024. Former foreign minister of Mexico and renowned public intellectual, political scientist, and prolific writer Jorge Castañeda Gutman joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to share his insights on current Mexican security concerns and the future of Mexico and Mexican-US relations. Reflecting on Mexico's 2024 presidential election, Castañeda discusses the significance of the election as a milestone in Mexico's history, including the implications on Mexico's economy, efforts to address climate change, and how Mexico will navigate geopolitical tensions between the world's major powers. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Jorge Castañeda Gutman was foreign minister of Mexico from 2000 to 2003. He is a renowned public intellectual, political scientist, and prolific writer, with an interest in Mexican and Latin American politics, comparative politics, and US-Mexican and US–Latin American relations. He is the global distinguished professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University, where he has taught since 1997, and previously taught at Mexico's National Autonomous University, Princeton University, and the University of California–Berkeley. Dr. Castañeda is the author of more than more than 15 books, most recently America through Foreign Eyes (Oxford University Press, 2020). He is a regular columnist for Revista Nexos, the Spanish daily El País, and the New York Times. Dr. Castañeda received BAs from Princeton University and the Université Paris 1 (Panthéon-Sorbonne), an M.A from the École Pratique de Hautes Études, and a PhD in economic history from the Université Paris 1. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Elbegdorj Tsakhia discuss Mongolian security concerns, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the continued threat of warfare in the Pacific, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Former president of Mongolia, key leader of the Mongolian Democratic Revolution, and Mongolian prime minister in 1998 and between 2004 to 2006, Elbegdorj Tsakhia joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to share his thoughts on current Mongolian security concerns, his assessment of Russia's war in Ukraine, and the continued threat of warfare in the Pacific. A pivotal figure in peace and democracy movements across Asia, Elbegdorj discusses Mongolia's shift from an authoritarian, communist government to a democracy and free-market economy, the motivations driving the Chinese Communist Party, and the dangers that the Iranian-Russian-Chinese relationship poses to the world. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Elbegdorj Tsakhia served as president of Mongolia from 2009 to 2017. Prior to taking this role, he was a key leader of the Mongolian Democratic Revolution and served as Mongolia's prime minister in 1998 and again from 2004 to 2006. Elbegdorj holds a master of public administration from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Land Forces Military Academy of Lviv, Ukraine. He is a pivotal figure in peace and democracy movements across Asia. Elbegdorj spearheaded the establishment of the Asian Partnership for Democracy initiative and serves as commissioner of the International Commission against the Death Penalty, patron of the World Sustainable Development Forum, member of the World Leadership Alliance–Club de Madrid, and member of the Elders. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Vladimir Milov discuss the war in Ukraine, the status of the Russian opposition, and prospects for the restoration of peace, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Vladimir Milov, Russian opposition politician, publicist, economist, and former advisor to the late Russian opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny, joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to share insights on Russia's recent presidential election, the state of political opposition in Russia, and the country's war against Ukraine. A vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and the hypernationalist group of leaders who dominate the government, Milov reflects on the significance of Navalny's recent murder, his own vision and the prospects for the opposition movement, and the effects of Russia's war against Ukraine on the Russian people, its economy, and on Putin's grip on power. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Vladimir Milov is a Russian opposition politician, publicist, economist, and former advisor to the late Russian opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny. Milov served as Russia's deputy minister of energy in 2002. In 2003, he founded the Institute of Energy Policy, a think tank. Milov is a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and the hypernationalist group of leaders who dominate the government. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Pål Jonson discuss European security concerns, NATO, Russia's war in Ukraine, and Sweden's defense technology and innovation, Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Insights from Sweden's minister for defense, Pål Jonson, shed light on Nordic, Baltic, and European security and the importance of the transatlantic relationship. Reflecting on Sweden as a longtime US partner and new NATO ally, Minister Jonson addresses the country's key security concerns and priorities, his assessment on the war in Ukraine, Sweden's strong defense industry, the importance of technological innovation, and lessons around supply-chain resilience, as well as the significance of Sweden's bilateral relationship with the US.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Sebastian Junger discuss the necessity of unity, the importance of the tribe, and the future of American democracy, Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger joins Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster to explore the lessons that can be drawn from his books on the necessity of unity and the importance of the tribe for the future of American democracy. Reflecting on his own observations about war, society, and freedom, Junger discusses how civilians can better understand the experiences of those who fight on their behalf, the importance of shared responsibility and communal values, and how Western societies can regain a sense of belonging.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Richie McCaw discuss the state of rugby and the lessons the sport offers for developing leaders, fostering teamwork, strengthening communities, and building a better future, Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby captains in history, Richie McCaw, former captain of New Zealand's national rugby team, joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss New Zealand as a multicultural society and the significant role that rugby plays in the life of the country. Drawing on his 15-year rugby career, McCaw reflects on lessons the sport offers for developing leaders and strengthening communities and how to apply the values it teaches—respect, teamwork, perseverance, vision—to today's society to build a better future.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Kai Sauer discuss the war in Ukraine, Finland's priorities in the areas of defense and the economy, digital and energy security, and the future of Europe and the transatlantic relationship, on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Insights from the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland shed light on European security and the transatlantic relationship from the perspective of Finland. Reflecting on Finland's position as a U.S. ally, strategic partner and new member of NATO, Mr. Kai Sauer assesses the strategic value Finland brings to the Alliance, the country's key security concerns including Russian aggression and the war in Ukraine, Finland's priorities in the areas of defense, the economy, digital and energy security, and the importance of the US sustaining commitments in Europe in defense of our common values. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Mr. Kai Sauer is currently the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland since June 2019. Previously he served as the Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations (2014-2019), and as the Ambassador of Finland to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN (2010-2014). Mr. Sauer has worked for the Finnish Foreign Ministry for nearly 25 years and served also in Croatia, Kosovo, Austria and the US. He has held several senior UN positions. He has been appointed as Finland's next Ambassador to Germany, taking up his post in Berlin later this year. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador John Sullivan discuss Russia's aggression, its impact on the US and NATO, and the future of Ukraine on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Reflecting on Russia's history of aggression and Putin's imperial ambitions, former US ambassador to Russia John Sullivan joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss the 2022 reinvasion of Ukraine and its impact on the US and NATO. Drawing on his experience under the Biden administration in the lead-up to the reinvasion, Ambassador Sullivan assesses the current state of the war, its historical similarities with Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939, the uncertain future facing Putin, and how the war in Ukraine may come to an end.   ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ambassador John J. Sullivan served as US ambassador to Russia from December 2019 to October 2022 under presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. During his tenure, he led the US embassy in Moscow through Russia's 2022 reinvasion of Ukraine. Sullivan completed his law degree at Columbia University and has held senior positions in the Departments of Justice, Defense, and Commerce from the George W. Bush to Obama administrations. He served as deputy secretary of commerce from 2008 to 2009 and chaired the US-Iraq Business Dialogue from 2010 to 2016. Sullivan served as deputy secretary of state from 2017 to 2019. He is a distinguished fellow of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Sullivan is currently a partner in Mayer Brown's Washington, DC, and New York offices. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Tong Yi discuss the history of the Chinese Communist Party, competition with China, and prospects for human freedom on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Insights from a Chinese human rights advocate and Chinese labor camp survivor shed light on the history and current state of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and People's Republic of China. Drawing on her experiences as assistant and interpreter to prominent Chinese democracy advocate and dissident Wei Jingsheng and as a political activist during the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Beijing, Tong Yi joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss what motivates the CCP, the influence of Chinese imperial culture on the party's authoritarianism, current conditions of those under CCP rule, and why competition with the CCP matters to Americans. ​ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ms. Tong Yi is a Chinese human rights advocate. She became a political activist during the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Beijing and witnessed killings of civilians by the People's Liberation Army on June 3–4, 1989. After the massacre, she moved in dissident circles in Beijing. She helped to locate bereaved families and connect them with the Tiananmen Mothers, a group led by Professor Ding Zilin. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Clarence Moniba, Liberian Presidential Candidate, Head of Liberian National Union (LINU), discuss Liberia's future and political and economic trends in West Africa on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. This perspective from a Liberian presidential candidate sheds light on challenges facing West Africa. Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster hosts Dr. Clarence Moniba to discuss pressing issues of governance and security on the African continent.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Julio Guzmán discuss Peruvian politics, increasing Chinese influence in Latin America, and political, security, and economic trends in the region. Insights from a Peruvian policy scholar and practitioner shed light on political and economic trends in Latin America. Drawing on his experiences in the Peruvian government and as a presidential candidate, Dr. Julio Guzmán joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss Peruvian politics and instability, trends in Latin American politics and leadership, and the benefits and drawbacks to foreign investment in the region. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Julio Guzmán, Former Secretary General of the Office of the Prime Minister, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and General Carter discuss his experiences in the British military, the war in Ukraine, the implications of the US and Coalition withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the future of warfare. H. R. McMaster in conversation with General Sir Nick Carter, Former Chief of UK Defense Force, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H. R. McMaster and Afghan General Sami Sadat discuss the events that contributed to the fall of Afghanistan, the flawed assumptions that led to U.S. withdrawal, and how the U.S. government and Afghan resistance can jointly support both the Afghan state, in turn, global security. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat, Afghan National Army, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

In this special episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster discusses priorities for international cooperation between the United States and its European allies. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Mark Sedwill, Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, and Ambassador Phillippe Etienne on Wednesday, March 23, 2023.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Dr. Krewasky Salter, President of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. In this special episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Krewasky Salter discuss Salter's scholarship on Black American military history and the implications of that history for the military and society today. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Dr. Krewasky Salter is President of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Alexandros Papaioannou, Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN and International Organizations, on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Alexandros Papaioannou discuss Greece's perspective on international security, energy security, migration, and competitions with authoritarian, hostile regimes. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Alexandros Papaioannou is the Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN and International Organizations. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Vera Songwe, Chair of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility and co-chair of the High Level Panel on Climate Finance, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Vera Songwe discuss the future of the United Nations and security, economic growth, and development on the African continent.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with His Excellency Shaikh Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah Rashid Al Khalifa discuss developments in Bahrain, regional dynamics, and the future of peace and security in the Middle East.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and activist, on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Masih Alinejad discuss the protests in Iran, their implications, and Alinejad's vision for the future of her country.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Lithuania, on Monday, November 21 at 9:00am PST. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discuss how to overcome today's threats and strengthen the alliance for the future.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Vladimir Milov, Russian opposition politician, economist, and advisor to Alexei Navalny, on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Vladimir Milov discuss the status of the Russian opposition and what more can be done to advance Ukraine's fight for freedom.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ingrida Šimonytė, Prime Minister of Lithuania, on Wednesday, October 19 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė discuss the future of European security, energy security, the future of NATO, Russia's reinvasion of Ukraine and aggression against Europe and the West, and prospects for strengthening the free world for the long competition against authoritarianism.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi discuss the future of Iraq and the Middle East, the threat of Iranian influence in the region, and how to break the cycle of sectarian violence. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Haider al-Abadi on September 28, 2022 at 9:00am PT. Dr. Haider al-Abadi was the Prime Minister of Iraq and led the country's successful military campaign against the Islamic State (Daesh) as Commander in Chief. He was born in Baghdad in 1952 into a professional, middle class family. He lived in exile in the United Kingdom in for twenty-seven years due to his involvement with the political opposition to Saddam Hussein. During his exile, Dr Abadi founded his own company specializing in rapid transit systems. He also led the Islamic Dawa Party in the UK and was a member of the party's leadership worldwide. In 2003, he returned to Iraq to join the new government, occupying the positions of Minister of Communications, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Chair of the Parliamentary Finance and Economic Committees and Deputy Speaker of Parliament between the years 2006 and 2014.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Paul Carrese discuss the need for civics and history education and opportunities to foster an understanding of our nation's history that acknowledges contradictions and imperfections while extolling the virtues and great promise of our republic.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with Paul Carrese, September 7, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Nader Nadery discuss human rights law, the dire situation in Afghanistan, and what more might be done to foster peace and protect innocents. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Nader Nadery, August 10, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan discuss Singapore's economic and social innovations, the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew; the competition with revanchist authoritarian powers, and how to preserve peace and promote prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on July 27, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ine Søreide discuss geopolitical realities after Russia's renewed invasion of Ukraine and implications for European security, the European Union, NATO, and the transatlantic relationship. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ine Eriksen on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ine Eriksen Søreide is a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party and current chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense.  She served as the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2021 and the Minister of Defense from 2013 to 2017. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and David Schwendiman discuss the evolution of human rights law, international criminal justice, investigations and prosecutions, and its implications for prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with David Schwendiman on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS David Schwendiman served for over twenty-five years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Utah. He was the Chief Prosecutor of the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor's Office in The Hague from 2016 to 2018 and previously oversaw investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo in 1998, 1999 and 2000 as the Lead Prosecutor of the EU's Special Investigative Task Force (SITF). Schwendiman investigated and prosecuted atrocities committed during the war in the Former Yugoslavia as an international prosecutor in the Special Department for War Crimes of the State Prosecutor's Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also served as the U.S. Justice Attaché in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2010 through 2013 and spent 2014 as the Assistant Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) and Director of Forward Operations for SIGAR.  He is now an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law.   H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan discuss Jordan-US relations; Jordan's perspective on the most significant challenges in the Middle East; and opportunities for multi-lateral cooperation to improve security and prosperity in the region.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:00am PT.