Podcasts about european leadership network

In this episode, we explore a redefined global security context with Róbert Ondrejcsák, Executive Director of the European Leadership Network, former Slovak Ambassador to the UK and former Deputy Defence Minister of Slovakia. We break down Xi Jinping's call for Russia and China to become ‘friends of steel' – in opposition to leaders in Kyiv and Washington – and the place of different V4 countries in this context.

Trade is the backbone of the global economy, but its workings are a mystery to many. What is a tariff? What is a trade war? Why is trade so complicated? The chaos wrought by Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico – despite a thirty-day reprieve negotiated for the latter two - makes these and many other questions imperative to answer.Ilana Bet-El is joined by Sylvia Chen, International Trade Policy and Compliance Consultant, and Sara Nordin, Partner in the Global Trade Practice of international law firm White & Case, to gain some understanding of how international trade works. Together, they outline the basics of trade law, how tariffs connect to policy measures, and how they influence modern trade and global supply chains. This episode is a necessary exploration of the actual trade underpinning any potential trade war on the horizon.This episode was recorded on 5 February 2025.ChaptersWhat does a trade lawyer do?Why are trade rules and laws necessary?What is a tariff?Why did Trump put tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China?MentionsTrade Experettes websiteWorld Trade statisticsOffice of the US Trade representative statisticsGATTWTOFollow our guestSylvia Chen LinkedIn, Trade Policy Expert AdvisorySara Nordin LinkedIn, White & Case websiteFollow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite just winning a seventh consecutive presidential term, a look at Alexander Lukashenko's early life reveals rather humbler origins.Brought up by a single mother in a poor village in eastern Belarus, he first made his mark as the manager of a farm in the late 1980s.After moving into politics at the end of that decade, he quickly established his reputation as a man with authoritarian instincts – and by 1994, he was elected president of Belarus for the first time.Ever since, he has managed a balancing act between Russia, his closest economic and political partner, and overtures to the West. But, the country's faced sanctions following its role in the invasion of Ukraine, while many Western governments have labelled this latest election as a sham.Stephen Smith takes a closer look at the man often referred to as Europe's last dictator.Production TeamProducers: Sally Abrahams, Charlotte McDonald and Nathan Gower Editor: Ben Mundy Sound: James Beard Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele and Jack YoungGuestsSvetlana Tikhanovskaya, leader of the democratic opposition of Belarus Olga Dryndova, Editor of Belarus-Analysen, University of Bremen Katia Glod, Russia-West Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network and Non-resident Fellow with Centre for European Policy Analysis, Washington DC Pavel Latushka, former Minister of Culture, Belarus government, now Belarus opposition politician Rosemary Thomas, former UK ambassador to Belarus CreditsAnimal Farm by George Orwell, recording produced by Ciaran Bermingham Narrated by Roger Ringrose

There can be no doubt the world changed on 20th of January 2025. As a matter of fact, a new US President was inaugurated — a second time for President Trump — whose return to power has spooked global friends and enemies alike since his election last November. The flurry of Executive Orders issued from day one says much about the determination of this US Administration to not only dismantle the work and legacy of the Biden Administration but potentially also many elements of the postwar multilateral order.Indeed, amongst the first measures taken by President Trump upon his return to the White House was the withdrawal of the US from both the Paris Climate Agreement, and the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, beyond the acts the bluster, the rhetoric on tariffs and bold promises to end both wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the vast majority of actions and orders have concerned domestic matters, focused upon issues such as immigration and equality. This begs the question: is the Trump Administration more concerned with bombastic rhetoric than bombastic action when it comes to global and geostrategic affairs?Dr Kathleen McInnis is definitely someone who can speak to this and many other related issues. Director and senior fellow of the Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and a former official at the US Department of Defence (DOD), she joins Ilana Bet-El in a wide-ranging conversation. From women and "dudes" in defence and foreign affairs to modern strategic challenges, and the future of NATO and EU-US relations, this is a strong and surprising discussion concerning rhetoric, reality and continuity in America's foreign policy under President Trump 2.0.This episode was recorded on 23 January 2025.MentionsThe Heart of War: Misadventures in the PentagonSmart Women, Smart Power podcast and resourcesThe NCI Global Trends 2035 ReportFollow our guest:Kathleen McInnis X/Twitter & LinkedInHer bioYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So much has been written and said about Mr Trump and how he will govern the country for the next four years.We brought together four people - Corina Lacatus from Queen Mary University in London, Julie Norman from University College London, Jane Kinninmont from the European Leadership Network and former US Secret Service Agent Barry DonAdio

As Women Leaders entered its fifth year (!!), it is apt to reflect on our turbulent world and the challenges that lie ahead. From wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan to the shifting power dynamics of global politics, there is a need to unpack the complexities of our current situation -- and look into the coming months with a strong dose of realism. Joined by Jessica Cox, Director of Defence Plans and Policy at the U.S. Mission to NATO, Ilana unpacks these and other pressing global issues. Together, they delve into the NATO and US perceptions and expectations in the coming months for Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, China, the Middle East ... and much more! A sharp, insightful conversation on our interconnected world at a time when many forces are trying to disconnect it.This episode was recorded on 8 January 2025.ChaptersNATO versus multilateral institutionsUkraine: NATO and US expected achievements for UkraineIs NATO at war with Russia?Collaboration between Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea against the international orderNATO and its relations with China, and the Indo-Pacific regionChina's unique stance on the international orderMiddle Eastern events as a NATO concernA bad year for Russia, Iran and ChinaMentionsThe Nuclear Nexus, previous Women Leaders episode with JessicaVolodymyr Zelenskyy in Lex Fridman PodcastFollow our guest:Jessica Cox X/Twitter & LinkedInYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was described as the wealth of fossil fuels battling with the science. The science that tells us that if we continue to burn oil, gas and coal, we will destroy the planet we call home. When the COP29 conference ended in Baku in Azerbaijan last weekend - a place that oil has been very good to - many reached the conclusion that science lost the battle. At stake was the money needed to help poor countries move to a low carbon economy, adapt their infrastructure to mitigate extreme weather and save their people from harm. Everyone agreed around one trillion dollars a year was needed by 2035 to do this and for the world to keep temperatures within the 1.5 degree limit. A deal was done; the wealthiest countries agreed to give 300 billion. Many described it as a betrayal- Christian Aid said people of the global south came to the talks needing a lifeboat - but all they got was a plank of wood to cling to. For others, they compared spending on saving lives to spending on wars: the developed nations spend 1.7% of global GDP on wars...1.4% on climate protection. In fact, the seven countries who have produced the most greenhouse gas emissions are also the states with the biggest military budgets. What are the ethics of this and are people's lives being sacrificed for profits from weapons and war- both through war itself and the increasing destruction to the planet? Presenter Audrey Carville in conversation with Éamon Ryan, Ireland's minister for the Environment - a member of the Green party- and the EU's lead negotiator at the COP29 talks, Jane Kinninmont,director of policy and impact at the European Leadership Network which focuses on European security and Siobhán Curran, Head of Policy at the charity Trócaire

The political landscape in Germany seems anything but stable. From unresolved disputes and coalitions failing to the publication of Angela Merkel's memoirs - a timely reminder of a past ideal era - the nation faced mounting challenges. Economic struggles, extremism on the edge and upcoming early elections: a worrying mix for one key European player.Tanit Koch Schneider, journalist, co-host of the Focus Briefing and former editor-in-chief of the popular BILD, joins Ilana Bet-El to explain how and why the cherished German model went wrong, from the national situation following the elections three years ago, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, weaknesses to the multiple challenges and issues - and more!This episode was recorded on 28 November 2024Mentions and further resourcesTanit's article on Merkel's memoirs release (The New European)“Freedom: Memoirs 1954 - 2021” from Angela MerkelFollow our guestTanit Koch X/Twitter & [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?fetchDeterministicClustersOnly=true&heroEntityKey=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_profile%3AACoAABenGA4BaEm2wOlqXbdvN8g7wLzGF2HV6tQ&keywords=tanit koch&origin=RICH_QUERY_SUGGESTION&position=0&searchId=85357a78-82ef-46e1-b5e0-3120cc0a07f9&sid=%3A(2&spellCorrectionEnabled=false)All her publicationsNewsletter Focus BriefingYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2024 US elections were unique. From the last minute candidacy of Kamala Harris through the assassination attempt of Donald Trump to the sheer amount of money involved -- over US$ 15 billion -- events moved at an amazing speed, resulting in an unexpected definitive win for Trump and the Republican Party.Understanding what truly happened and capturing the real atmosphere across the U.S. may still be challenging, but necessary. To do this, Ilana Bet-El welcomes Elena Schneider, National Political Reporter at Politico U.S. Elena shares insights drawn from her extensive experience covering this and previous U.S. elections, touching on the current political landscape, media fragmentation, and how perceptions of power and strength remain deeply embedded in the electorate.This episode was recorded on 14 November 2024Mentions and further resourcesOur episode on Georgia electionsThe show All in the Family centers on a working-class White American family living in Queens, New York. Its patriarch, Archie Bunker is an outspoken, narrow-minded man, seemingly prejudiced against everyone not like him or his ideas of how people should be.Proportion of women in Congress Cost of 2024 US electionsFollow our guestElena Schneider X/Twitter & LinkedInAll her recent stories on PoliticoYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Election results should never be a foregone conclusion, and democratic upsets are a healthy feature of the system. Nonetheless, when the incumbent pro-Russian governing party in Georgia declared itself the winner of national elections on 26 October, with some 54% of the vote, there was a massive outcry: polls had predicted a win for the opposition. This is a huge setback for the cause of democracy in the state — and the region, given that just a week earlier, a referendum on European integration in Moldova had ended with a tiny margin of victory for the pro-EU camp when a near landslide had been predicted.The tentacles of autocracy are clearly reaching far and wide, tightening their grip upon the states surrounding Ukraine and bordering Europe — threatening both. To delve into these issues, Ilana Bet-El is joined by Salome Samadashvili, opposition Member of Parliament in Georgia, and Tinatin Japaridze, member of the Younger Generation Leaders Network (YGLN) and Eurasia Analyst at the Eurasia Group. This is a hard-hitting discussion on Georgia, the region, autocracy and democracy, covered with clarity, intellect and empathy.This episode was recorded on 31 October 2024Mentions and further resourcesSalome's previous episode Georgia on the edgeTinatin's book Stalin's Millennials: Nostalgia, Trauma and NationalismFollow our guestsTinatin Japaridze LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Eurasie websiteSalome Samadashvil LinkedIn; X/TwitterYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction**:** Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to “Nukes & Other New Tech”, a bonus episode of “Ok, Doomer!”, the podcast series by The European Leadership Network's (ELN) New European Voices on Existential Risk (NEVER) network. Hosted by the ELN's Policy and Impact Director, Jane Kinninmont and Project and Communications Coordinator, Edan Simpson, this episode takes a deep dive into the interplay between nuclear weapons and emerging and disruptive technologies...In today's special bonus episode, Jane and Edan are taking a deep dive into an ELN project exploring the emerging risks posed by the intersection between new technologies and nuclear weapons. In “What's the Problem?” Jane is joined by Belen Bianco, a former a Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network and current UN Official., Belen provides a welcome introduction to the ELN's nuclear weapons and new technologies project. Belen also explains why the ELN decided to analyse the aggregate effects of new technologies on nuclear decision-making, as opposed to exploring the technologies in isolation, and outlines the potential future threat landscape in this field.to look at nuclear policy and nuclear risks which are evolving in a context where we don't just have one rapidly evolving technology, we have multiple technologies, all evolving fast and all of which are interacting with each other. The episode then turns to Edan's “How To Fix It” panel, which featuresfeaturing Rishi Paul, a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network, Héloïse Fayet, a member of the Younger Generation Leaders Network (YGLN) member and Research Fellow at the Security Studies Centre of IFRI (French institute of international relations), and Kim Westerich-Fellner, a NEVERew European Voices and Existential risk member and Mercator Fellow on International Relations and Visiting Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)...The panel discusses the ELN's Guardrails and Self-Assessment (GSA) Framework for Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs), which was designed to raise awareness and familiarise stakeholders at various levels with the complex interplay between a multitude of technologies, NC3 systems, and nuclear weapons decision-making.focus on an ELN project looking into the interaction between nuclear weapons and new technologies. In this episode's “Turn Back The Clock” segment, Jane is joined by Julia Berghofer, a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network. I, who's talks about a previous time when a major nuclear armed state adopted a systematic approach to reducing some of the key risks that might come up when nuclear weapons intersect with new technologies.n light of the Biden Administration's decision to undertake a failsafe review of the United States' nuclear command, control, and communications systems, Julia provides a history of nuclear failsafe reviews, and what's changed since the United States undertook its first such review in the early 1990s. And finally, in “In The Debrief”, Jane and Edan reflect on the a really interesting the episode and share, sharing their key takeaways and favourite moments. . They talk about Héloïse's point around France not having an integrated understanding of EDTs, how Julia shone insight on failsafe reviews and they reflect on how useful it's been to have such an in-depth this conversation with people from different European countries, providing a more diverse set of insights to see how things actually work and how they actually play out in different parliaments and different governments with different ways of thinking. Catch up on previous episodes, and make sure to subscribe to future episodes of ‘Ok Doomer! Follow the ELN on:X (formerly known as...

The constant escalation in the Middle East shows no signs of abating. October 7 marks a year since Hamas viciously invaded southern Israel, while October 8 is a year since Hezbollah started firing rockets into the north of Israel in support of Hamas. A year of unspeakable violence in Israel, Gaza and now Lebanon, rounded off by Iran firing some 200 ballistic missiles into Israel this week. A year of deaths and destruction for Palestinians, Israelis and Lebanese people.In this unique episode Women Leaders is building a bridge: Fania Oz-Salzberger, Professor of history at Haifa University and renowned public intellectual, and Roula from Beirut — her name for security purposes — join Ilana Bet-El In a fascinating, passionate and hard hitting episode. From explanations about Lebanese and Israeli politics to calls for women in decision making, and from the depths of despair to a future day in a new Middle East, this is the discussion necessary to understand the problems and the people of the region.This episode was recorded on 2 October 2024Mentions and further resourcesPeace NowFania's article on Israeli perceptions on U.S ElectionWe asked after the recording our guests' recommendations, just below:Fania's recommendation “We will dance again” (trailer of the movie)Roula's recommendation: “Glass Cedars” (book)Follow our guests:Fania Oz-Salzberger X/Twitter, LinkedIn, and academic publications (Academia.eu)For security reasons, we cannot follow Roula from BeirutFollow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to “How To Save The World” the final episode of Ok, Doomer!, the podcast series by The European Leadership Network's (ELN) New European Voices on Existential Risk (NEVER) network. Hosted by the ELN's Policy and Impact Director, Jane Kinninmont, and Project and Communications Coordinator, Edan Simpson, this episode takes a step back to assess what we've learned about existential and global catastrophic risks in previous episodes and what comes next.In “What's the Problem?”, Jane and Edan wrap up the series by reflecting on key themes, including the importance of long-term planning and collaboration across different sectors and countries.We then turn to Edan's “How To Fix It” panel, featuring Sophie Howe, the former Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, dubbed by the UK's Guardian newspaper as “the world's first minister for the unborn” Sophie served as the Welsh Government's first-ever Future Generations Commissioner. Her role gave her a statutory obligation to serve as “the guardian of the interests of future generations in Wales” and to provide guidance and advice to the government and public bodies in Wales when making decisions to ensure that they think about the effects on people in the future as well as now.We are also joined by NEVER member Florian Ulrich Jehn. Floria is a Senior Researcher in Environmental Science at AllFed (Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters ) where they focus on food security, climate, and civilisational resilience. Florian is passionate about existential risk education and runs a newsletter, “Existential Crunch”, that serves as a living literature review on the topic.Our third and final guest is NEVER member Nadine Andersen, who works as a Research Assistant at the SIPRI Climate Change and Risk Programme. She previously worked with UNDP, UNOPS, and IUCN, and her projects included addressing environment and resilience issues in Kenya, empowering youth for nature conservation in Sri Lanka, and planning an international workshop on hydro-diplomacy in Thailand.The panel discusses their own contributions to the field of existential risk mitigation, what work is being undertaken at the local, national, and international levels, and the importance of citizen involvement in making long-term policy decisions and ensuring that policymakers create the appropriate governance structures to properly tackle existential and global catastrophic risks.In this episode's Turn Back The Clock segment, Jane is joined by historian Frank Gavin, who takes us back to the early days of the nuclear non-proliferation movement. Frank explains how, in the 1960s, the world was deeply pessimistic about the ability to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Yet, against the odds, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was established, a major success in reducing the global nuclear threat. This historical perspective offers a lesson in how bold, coordinated action can lead to breakthroughs, even in times of intense geopolitical tension. Frank also discusses parallels between the Cold War nuclear crisis and today's challenges, such as AI and climate change, emphasising the importance of international cooperation.In The Debrief, Jane and Edan reflect on the key takeaways from the series, emphasising the power of collective action and long-term thinking. They touch on the optimism shared by panellists like Sophie Howe, who called for "making long-term governance sexy," and how common sense should be at the heart of addressing global risks. They also revisit the importance of democratic engagement, ensuring that the public is part of the conversation on existential risks. Finally, they highlight Frank Gavin's powerful reminder that history has shown us that, with enough effort, we can pull back from the brink of...

Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine is in its third year, with no end in sight. The Russian offensive in the East of Ukraine grinds on, consuming a mass of men and materiel on both sides while its conquest proceeds in tiny paces. The only surprise of the past few months was the Ukrainian incursion into Russia, taking a small square of the Kursk region. It is no minor achievement, not least given that Russia has not been invaded since WWII, and that the Kursk region is where the biggest tank battle — and one of the biggest battles ever — took place in the summer of 1943 between the then Soviet Union and Germany. But ultimately, the war grinds on, with Russia intensifying its drone attacks as well as ground assaults, ably supplied by Iranian drones and materiel, shored up by offerings from North Korea, and aided in a circuitous way by purchases of raw materials and weapons made through third countries, so circumventing western sanctions.Ukraine is fighting back, using its own drones and weaponry in Russia and trying to fend off the invading Russian forces with the aid of Western weapons in Ukraine. But it is not enough. Between the fighting and the massive Russian drone and missile strikes at its energy grid now happening nearly daily, reality is difficult. And worse. To get a deep insight into this reality and what is both happening and should be happening to change the situation, Ilana Bet-El is joined by Lisa Yasko, Member of the Ukrainian Rada (parliament) and Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. In a frank and revealing conversation, Lisa reflects on the war from its start, the daily reality in Ukraine, and the shortcomings of the international community.This episode was recorded on 18 September 2024Follow our guests:Lisa Yasko X/Twitter & InstagramYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer used to be a period of quiet. The sun shone — or not — and holidays were taken, events slowed to a nearly non-existent pace, and newsrooms had to deal with what was known as the “silly season”. No longer. Whether because events really have become more dramatic or whether because we know about them immediately due to the constant digital connections, this past summer was an example of constant and rapid events: From the assassination attempt on Donald Trump to the sudden rise of Kamala Harris, both now presidential candidates in the US; and from the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza/Israel to the hardening of the China-Russia partnership in the face of the west — the world carried on spinning unabated, and at speed.To get a closer insight into events in the US and the Middle East, Ilana Bet-El is joined by Jodi Rudoren, Editor in Chief of the Forward and former New York Times Bureau Chief in Jerusalem. In a strong and flowing conversation they move through the rapidly changing realities of US politics and the changing gender roles within them; the prospects of both presidential candidates policies on wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the appalling lack of women in the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians — and elsewhere too.This episode was recorded 5 September 2024Mentions and further resourcesJodi and Roxanne's previous conversationFollow our guests:Jodi Rudoren LinkedIn & X/TwitterThe Forward websiteYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJTSupported by a grant from the Foundation Open Society Institute in cooperation with the Open Society Foundations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to “Fake Brains & Killer Robots”, the fifth episode of “Ok Doomer!” the podcast series by The European Leadership Network's (ELN) New European Voices on Existential Risk (NEVER) network. Hosted by the ELN's Policy and Impact Director, Jane Kinninmont, and the ELN's Project and Communications Coordinator, Edan Simpson, this episode will focus on the potential existential risks associated with artificial intelligence.Jane kicks off the episode with “What's the Problem?” We hear from Alice Saltini, a Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network who has been focusing on the interactions between AI and nuclear command and control systems.Alice discusses the immediate threats of AI, such as hallucinations and cyber vulnerabilities in nuclear command and control systems, emphasising the need for caution, regulation and international cooperation to mitigate the risks associated with AI and nuclear weapons.Edan's “How To Fix It” panel features Dr Ganna Pogrebna, Executive Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute at Charles Sturt University in Australia. Ganna is also the Organiser of the Behavioural Data Science strand at the Alan Turing Institute, the United Kingdom's national centre of excellence for AI and Data Science in London, where she serves as a fellow.She's joined by NEVER member Konrad Siefert. Konrad is co-CEO of the Simon Institute for Long-term Governance, which works to improve the international regime complex for governing rapid technological change and representing future generations in institutional design and policy processes. Previously, he co-founded Effective Altruism Switzerland.Our third and final guest is NEVER member Nicolo Miotto; Nicolò currently works at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Conflict Prevention Centre. Nicolò's research foci include arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, emerging disruptive technologies, and terrorism and violent extremism.The panel discusses how best to govern, regulate, and limit the risks of AI and what that actually means; the role of multilateral institutions such as the UN in implementing these efforts; what potential opportunities and setbacks new forms of AI could have for arms control, especially regarding WMD proliferation; and to what extent AI developers are aware of the possible misuses of new technologies and how best to safeguard against them.Moving on to “Turn Back the Clock,” we look back to a time in history when humanity faced a potential existential threat but pulled back from the brink of destruction. On today's episode, Jane is joined by Dr Jochen Hung, Associate Professor of Cultural History at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. They discuss historical perspectives on technological change and its impact on society, drawing parallels between the anxieties and hopes of people in the 1920s concerning modern...

On this week's Third Opinion Podcast, Laureen and Mike will discuss elections across Europe and the potential impact on Israel and antisemitism. You'll hear from David Siegel, the US president of the European Leadership Network, who'll share his thoughts on the rapidly changing situation in Europe. All this and more on this week's program. Thank you for listening, subscribing, and sharing!

July 2024 may end up being remembered for various reasons, such as wars in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza or the launch of the Arianne 6 rocket by the European Space Agency or the floods in Western Europe and the extreme heat in the eastern Mediterranean, all caused by climate change. At this point however, these are the backdrop to another set of events: elections and summits. In this year of elections around the globe it is perhaps unsurprising that two polls happened suddenly: in both the UK and France the heads of government called unexpected elections. In the UK this resulted in a massive won for the Labour Party, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. In contrast in France the outcome was stalemate: no-one won outright. While many in France and outside it are trying to define what this means, NATO members are meeting in Washington to mark the 75th anniversary of the alliance. To navigate these elections and summits, Ilana Bet-El is joined by Jane Kinninmont, Director of Policy and Impact at The European Leadership Network, and Florence Ferrando, producer of this podcast and Senior Consultant in Cyber and Strategic Intelligence at Forward Global.This episode was recorded on July 11 2024.MentionsJane's inspiration: Gareth SouthgateFlorence's inspiration: Swann Périsssé show on French elections - YoutubeFirst past the post elections vs Two round systemUK election results /France election resultsNATO Washington summit declarationJane's SWP paper on NATO and its southern neighbourhoodFollow our guestsJane Kinninmont: LinkedIn, Twitter/XFlorence Ferrando: LinkedinYou can also followOur InstagramOur partner European Leadership Network Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook & websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction:Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll (ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT)Supported by the Foundation Open Society Institute in cooperation with the Open Society Foundations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. ​

Welcome to “Going Viral”, the fourth episode of “Ok Doomer!” the podcast series by The European Leadership Network's (ELN) New European Voices on Existential Risk (NEVER) network. Hosted by the ELN's Policy and Impact Director, Jane Kinninmont, and the ELN's Project and Communications Coordinator, Edan Simpson, this episode will examine the existential and global catastrophic threats posed by new biological technologies. Jane kicks off the episode in “What's the Problem?” Where we also hear from Jasper Götting, a research fellow in the biosecurity team of Convergent Research and a member of our NEVER network, whose work focuses on road mapping technical biosecurity interventions, and technological mitigation techniques against biological risks, such as how we could potentially disinfect the air to guard against future pandemics. Jasper breaks down the different types of biological risks, including natural versus engineered pathogens, natural spillovers, accidental releases, and deliberate releases, as well as a discussion on what previous pandemics, including SARS and COVID, taught us when preparing for potential future pandemics. Edan's “How To Fix It” panel features Angela Kane, a member of the ELN's Senior Network with over 35 years of experience working for the United Nations, most recently as the assistant secretary general for political affairs and the High Representative for disarmament. Angela now works as a senior advisor to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, primarily supporting them on their bio initiatives to reduce global catastrophic biological risks. She's joined by NEVER member Anemone Franz, a physician with experience in pandemic preparedness and biosecurity. Anemone is an Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Fellow at John Hopkins Centre for Health Security and has previously worked on vaccine platform development. Lastly, Dr. Emil Iftikhar rounds up the panel. He recently graduated from his PhD and is currently working as a political affairs intern at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs at the Implementation Support Unit of the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva, Switzerland. The panel discusses whether or not world leaders have learnt the right lessons from COVID-19, the current state of global biological threat governance at organisations such as the UN, and what's needed in terms of public sector, private sector, and governmental collaborations to properly screen and mitigate the existential risks posed by biological threats – especially in the context of other technologies like AI and synthetic DNA. Moving on to “Turn Back The Clock”, where we look back to a time in history when humanity was faced with a potential existential threat but pulled back from the brink of destruction. On today's episode, Jane is joined by Bekki Field, a Senior Associate Fellow at the European Leadership Network and a former head of pandemic preparedness for the UK government. They discuss the links between pandemics and existential threats, observations on disinformation and public trust, as well as the political, societal and economic benefits of pandemic prevention and preparedness. Finally, as always, the episode is wrapped up in “The Debrief,” where Jane and Edan review the episode and all their guests to make sense of everything covered. Catch up on previous episodes, and make sure to subscribe to future episodes of ‘Ok Doomer! Follow the ELN on:X (formerly known as Twitter)LinkedInFacebook

The third year of a war often suggests two harsh realities: that the war is, by definition, long; and that it is not over — or rather, that it is in the middle. Think 1917 in World War I or 1942 in World War II. Ukraine is in year three of defending itself against the full-scale Russian invasion that started in February 2022. It fended off the Russian forces at the start, but since then the war has been quite static with each side achieving small victories at huge expense.For Russia, this is a war of choice; for Ukraine it is a war of survival. And while soldiers are fighting on the front line, the rest of society is passionately fighting in every other way for a free, democratic and independent Ukraine — as host Ilana Bet-El found on a visit to Kyiv in May 2024. Every conversation is about the war, and the fight to join the democratic world. To get a sense of this spirit she is joined in this episode by Inna Pidluska, Deputy Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation in Ukraine, and Anna Kovalenko, former member of the Ukrainian Parliament and a prominent civic activist.To find out what Ukraine means to Ukrainians, what the West means to them, and what Russia means to them — hint: they are fed up of sharing their history with Russia — listen to this lively and passionate conversation.This episode was recorded on May 26 2024.Mentions and further resourcesInna's inspiration: “The Rise of Ukraine's Sun” by Kateryna ZaremboAnna's inspiration: Ukrainians and her daughterFollow our guests:Inna Pidluska Linkedin & Twitter/XAnna Kovalenko Wikipedia & Twitter/XInternational Renaissance Foundation websiteYou can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a year of big elections, in which approximately half the global population is going to the polls at one time or another, the EU elections stand out: upwards of 300 million eligible voters out of a population of nearly 450 million people across 27 states. A transnational bonanza of democracy that will take place between 6-9 June. 720 seats are up for grabs in the European Parliament, and once the results and balance of power in that institution are decided, the composition of the European Commission and the leadership of the European Council will be negotiated, or wrangled over. Confused?Anna Davreux, a ten-year veteran of the European Parliament and now Senior Vice President and Partner at Fleishman-Hillard Brussels, guides Ilana across the realities and complexities of the Parliament and all EU institutions. In a fun and fascinating discussion, the basics of the European Union, and democracy, are exposed, explained, and extolled. The European Parliament, as the EU in general, may seem opaque and difficult to understand, but it does work — for everyone!Mentions and further resourcesEU elections: how many MEPs will each EU country get in 2024?Facts and figures on life in the European UnionEuropean elections 2024: people eligible to voteElections and appointments for EU institutionsEU Transparency RegisterAnna's recommendation “Empireland" by Sathnam SangheraRecorded on 15 May 2024Follow our guest and us:Anna Davreux LinkedInIlana Bet-ElFleishman Hillard Brussels websiteInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn Facebook & websiteCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Putin's nuclear threats over Ukraine and the constant potential of an Iranian/Israeli escalation have brought concerns over nuclear proliferation back up the geopolitical agenda. Western-aligned Asian countries – like South Korea and Saudi Arabia – have begun talking openly about whether they might need their own nukes. Meanwhile, even Germany – one of the most avowedly anti-nuclear countries in Europe – is now having a new debate about whether there should be a “Eurobomb”.    All these countries American allies are thinking of nuclearizing as they have a growing fear that they might not be able to rely on the US if the chips are down. All of this talk leads us to wonder will nuclear weapons ever be used and are nuclear threats and discussions of nuclearizing important even if the weapons will never be used?    In this episode of Disorder, Jason Pack talks to Jane Kinninmont. Jane is a peace and security expert with two decades of experience covering the Middle East, at the Economist Intelligence Unit and Chatham House. She is now with the European Leadership Network, which brings together more than 400 current, former and future European leaders to reduce nuclear risks and prevent conflict. The duo discuss: what are the risks of countries like South Korea, Germany and Saudi Arabia going nuclear? Is the current non-proliferation treaty regime up to scratch? And does nuclear non-proliferation actually work?    Twitter: @DisorderShow    Subscribe to our Substack: https://natoandtheged.substack.com/     Website: https://natoandtheglobalenduringdisorder.com/     Producer: George McDonagh  Exec Producer: Neil Fearn    Show Notes Links    Germany debates nuclear weapons, again. But now it's different: https://thebulletin.org/2024/03/germany-debates-nuclear-weapons-again-but-now-its-different/     Read Keir Starmer: Labour commitment to nuclear weapons unshakeable: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68790435     For more on Jane's background and work: https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/person/jane-kinninmont/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our world of disruption, Georgia has suddenly emerged as another centre of protest and imbalance: on Wednesday, 1 May, the Georgian parliament voted positively on controversial new legislation that would brand Western-funded NGOs as foreign agents. In response, the streets of Georgia, notably the capital Tbilisi, erupted into protest: not only is the legislation deemed objectionable, it is also a clear threat to Georgia's EU aspirations.In December last year the European Union announced Georgia, a pearl of the Caucasus, would become a candidate for membership. But in response to this new legislation, the EU this week called on Georgia to stay the course and stop the legislative process. The government is perceived to be pro-Russian, and it is unclear whether it will pay heed, but the many protesters appear adamant to maintain their dream of EU membership — in line with every poll conducted in the state over decades, that reflect a vast majority of the population seek to be firmly embedded in the EU and the West.To understand these rapidly unfolding events, Ilana Bet-El is joined by Salome Samadashvili, a prominent opposition member of the Georgian parliament and former ambassador of Georgia to the EU. Is this a repetition of events in Ukraine 2014, when citizens objected to attempts by their Russian controlled President to hamper relations with the EU — attempts that led to the Maidan Revolution, the ouster of the President and the annexation of Crimea by Russia — or is this a blind political ploy of a weak government? In this volatile region, all developments are crucial.Recorded on 2 May 2024Mentions and further resourcesInt'l hacking group "Anonymous” threatens Georgian police and gov't officials Georgia Today articleThe Guardian live on Georgia eventsFollow us and our guest:Salome Samadashvili LinkedInSalomé Samadashvili X/TwitterInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook & websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early morning hours of 19 April, American officials told major news outlets that an Israeli missile had struck central Iran near its nuclear sites. No one was harmed. Officially, the Israelis are not claiming to have attacked; and Iran is not claiming to have been attacked. It is distinctly possible that this pinprick strike combined with denials on all sides will satisfy both parties and avert further retaliation. Conversely, it is also distinctly possible that it will lead to further cycles of revenge and escalation.   To Order this Disorder, Jason is joined by our returning champion Arthur Snell and our great Scottish hopeful, Jane Kinninmont -- Policy & Impact Director at the European Leadership Network (an institution specializing in preventing nuclear war). The trio discuss: 1) why did Israel choose to retaliate, even though Biden counselled them to ‘Bank the Win'; 2) if this event even counts as retribution for the Iranian strikes of 14 April or could be classified as a non-strike as it is below the threshold of certain previous Israeli actions inside Iran; and 3) how Iran's and Israel's Sunni Arab neighbors are responding.   Mulling over this unique historical moment, the trio use the Ordering the Disorder segment to propose opportunities for sage diplomacy to prevail and de-escalate tensions. Of course, the mere existence of these win-win, mutually beneficial, off-ramps from further conflict, does not mean that the Iranians or Israelis will seizes these opportunities.   Twitter: @DisorderShow   Subscribe to our Substack: https://natoandtheged.substack.com/   Website: https://natoandtheglobalenduringdisorder.com/   Producer: James Hodgson Exec Producer: Neil Fearn   Show Notes Links   For a quick overview of April 19th's events: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/04/israel-carries-out-strikes-isfahan-iran-reports?mc_cid=a8bfe16bdf&mc_eid=b844138f36     For Iranian narratives of the confrontation with Israel: https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/out-of-the-shadow-war-iranian-narratives-of-the-confrontation-with-israel/   For Arthur Snell's Substack, ‘Not All Doom': https://arthursnell.substack.com/   And for his podcast ‘Behind the Lines': https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/behind-the-lines-with-arthur-snell/id1704344656   Join ELN's roundup of the Persian language news: https://europeanleadershipnetwork.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=f9c4fc8e446f80bb4d50ed06f&id=ca7882ea45 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 31 March local elections in Turkey were a great surprise. Pre election polling suggested the AKP party of President Erdogan was on course to win, but instead the main opposition CHP party swept up an impressive number of cities and towns, notably the ten major cities of the country, which collectively represent over 74% of the National GDP. This is a massive shift in the country's political landscape, signalling a potential call for deep change. Put another way: has Turkey reached a critical juncture after two decades under the Erdogan regime?Zeynep Atikkan, senior Turkish journalist, joins Ilana Bet-El in a discussion of this and many other questions about the Turkish electoral and political landscape. From economic concerns, the Kurdish issue and generational shifts to civil society engagement, women's roles, protests, media influence, and evolving political dynamics — the underpinning realities of Turkish politics are revealed and discussed, not least the weakened position of President Erdogan and his AKP party.Mentions and further resourcesZeynep's three booksSinem Dedetaş, the new elected mayor of Üsküdar in Istanbul Twitter“Turkiye has has elected youngest Major in its history” Middle East Monitor“Turkey gains new wave of female mayors after opposition's poll success” ReutersZeynep TwitterZeynep Atikkan LinkedInRecorded on 4 April 2024You can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the third episode of “Ok Doomer!” The podcast series by The European Leadership Network's (ELN) New European Voices on Existential Risk (NEVER) network. Hosted by the ELN's Policy and Impact Director, Jane Kinninmont, and the ELN's Project and Communications Coordinator, Edan Simpson, this episode will look at the question of climate change - arguably the existential risk that people around the world are mobilised by the most. We set the episode up in “What's the Problem?” and hear from Olivia Blake, Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam (UK), on how the issue of climate change resonates for voters on the doorstep in Britain and how politicians can link global and local concerns. Olivia discusses the effects of natural habitat destruction, such as moorland burning in the UK's Peak District national park, her work running Citizen Assemblies to create policies needed to combat the climate crisis, and shares her advice for young people on how to make a difference. This is followed by our “How to fix it?” panel discussion hosted by Edan.This week, Edan is joined by Ziya Meral, Senior Associate Fellow at the European Leadership Network. Ziya is a researcher, advisor and programmes director specialising on global trends shaping defence, security and foreign policy in the Middle east and Turkey. He's also the co-leader of the Climate Change and (In)security project, run by Oxford University and the British Army's Centre for Historical and Armed Conflict Research.Joining Ziya is NEVER member Jakob Gomolka - a researcher at Berlin-based sustainability think tank Adelphi. Jakob is primarily interested in the catastrophic risks associated with climate change, as well as the second order and long-term effects of climate change, such as the governance of geoengineering technologies, and how a warming world will affect geopolitical competition Alongside Ziya and Jakob, we are joined by NEVER member Jieqiong Duan, a PhD student at the University of Ghent. Jieqiong's research centres on the relationship between the European Union and China, primarily relating to climate diplomacy and the effects of great power competition on existential risk. NEVER member, Katie Duffy completes this week's panel. Katie is the Programme Manager on climate resilience and infrastructure at British Expertise International and focuses mainly on the socio-economic effects of climate change as well as advising private sector clients on how best to approach the green transition. The panel discuss topics including whether the increasingly noticeable effects of climate change provides an incentive for governments to cooperate and work together, especially when they are divided on so many other topics. They also cover whether the scientific solutions that are currently being developed are being utilised sufficiently by governments and policymakers, and what those working in other areas of existential risks can take from the climate change movement, especially from the angle of mobilising young people and the general public.After our panel discussion, we “Turn Back the Clock” where Jane is joined by atmospheric chemist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Professor Susan Solomon. Professor Solomon served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the team of scientists whose atmospheric research informed the UN's Montreal Protocol – one of the few UN protocols to be universally ratified, and the success of which means that the hole in the ozone layer should seal at some point in the middle of the century. Finally, the episode is wrapped up in “The Debrief”, where Jane and Edan look back on the episode and their guests to make sense of everything covered. Catch up on previous episodes, and make sure to subscribe to future episodes of ‘Ok Doomer!"Follow the...

2024 has already been defined as the year of elections: from Russia through the EU to the US, autocracies, dictatorships and democracies, billions of people are going to the polls. And one of the biggest upcoming elections is due in India: with 968 million registered voters, 15 million elections officials and 1.2 million polling booths, it will be the largest exercise in logistics and democracy the world has ever seen.But there are problems — in India, and many other democracies. Dr. Radha Kumar, renowned Indian policy analyst, public intellectual and writer specialised in ethnic conflicts and peace processes, who recently convened the Delhi Democracy Convention, joins Ilana Bet-El in an exploration of India's democratic crossroads. From inter-ethnic tensions to political power plays and media freedom, the flowing conversation explains much about the sub-continent, and the state of democracies far beyond.Mentions toDelhi Declaration (Democracy Convention 2024) & articles in Frontline ; The Wire and The HinduRadha's inspiration: Dhruv Rathee's Youtube channel (Hindi with English subtitles)Radha's book recommendation: Waves Across the South by Sujit SivasundaramRadha's books and follow her on Twitter for the next one published in May!Recorded on 18 March 2024You can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookOur partner European Leadership Network websiteIlana Bet-ElCreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women Leaders is back! The podcast that showcases women experts is with you again, in a new home at ELN, European Leaders Network.To mark the move, and International Women's Day (IWD), we welcome back Rose Gottemoeller, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, to discuss the state of the world. From Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine to the disrupted Middle East, from Russian autocracy to US politics, this is the grand sweep of global geopolitics.The (dire) state of democracy, competitiveness of defence industries, difficulties in creating economic packages — these and many other issues come to light in discussion with host Ilana Bet-El. And as a bonus for IWD, find out who are Women of Mass Destruction — and what may be too pink!Mentions toRose's Women Leaders episode on 8 March 2022Report of the US Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United StatesWomen Leaders - Latin America on the Global StageFinancial Times “General Mark Milley ‘Americans have kind of had it wars'”You can also follow usInstagram @women_leaders_podcastOur partner European Leadership Network social media Twitter, LinkedIn & FacebookIlana Bet-ElRose GottemoellerRecorded on 4 March 2024CreditsProduction: Florence FerrandoMusic: Let Good Times Roll, RA from #Uppbeat (License code: ZXIIIJUU2ISPZIJT) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nuclear War, What is it good for?” is the second episode of “Ok Doomer!” the podcast series by The European Leadership Network's (ELN) New European Voices on Existential Risk (NEVER) network. Hosted by the ELN's Policy and Impact Director, Jane Kinninmont, and the ELN's Project and Communications Coordinator, Edan Simpson, this episode will look at the question of nuclear war - the original man-made existential threat to humanity. What would it mean for the world if a nuclear war broke? How close we are to one? And how worried should we be? As always, we set the episode up in “What's the Problem?” and in this episode, we hear from Dr Rishi Paul, Senior Policy Fellow at the ELN and Dr Oliver Meier, Policy and Research Director at the ELN, on the basics of how nuclear deterrence works and an introduction to nuclear arms control. Joining Edan on this episode's panel discussion are John Pope from the USA. John is the Chief Audience Officer at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the organisation that has maintained the Doomsday Clock since 1947 in response to the advent of nuclear weapons. Valeriia Hesse, a NEVER member from Ukraine, is research coordinator at the Central European University in Vienna and a fellow at the Odesa Centre for Non-proliferation (OdCNP), where she focuses on nuclear policy and risk reduction. The final panel guest is ELN Policy Fellow Dr Olamide Samuel from Nigeria. Olamide leads the ELN's work on bolstering the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is also an honorary fellow at the University of Leicester. The panel discuss risk reduction, what it is and how it works in practice. They also discuss whether nuclear disarmament is still possible in today's environment, the role that ordinary people can play, and how they can use their voice. Jane is joined by Sahil Shah, Senior Fellow and Programme Manager at the Council on Strategic Risks for ‘Turn Back The Clock', where we explore an example from history when humanity avoided an existential risk. Finally, the episode is wrapped up in “The Debrief”, where Jane and Edan look back on the episode and all their guests to make sense of everything covered. Catch up on previous episodes, and make sure to subscribe to future episodes of ‘Ok Doomer!Risk Reduction Classification by Wilfred Wan at UNIDIRUNIDIR = United Nations Institute for Disarmament ResearchICAN = International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear WeaponsFollow the ELN on:X (formerly known as Twitter)LinkedInFacebookThe ELN's websiteThe NEVER webpage

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak authorised the first UK military intervention in the Middle East in over a decade early this morning targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The move was swiftly met with a pledge by the militants to retaliate against all UK and US interests. Bloomberg's Marc Champion discusses the escalation despite the reluctance of actors in the region to go to war and Jane Kinninmont, Policy and Impact Director at The European Leadership Network shares her views on the global context behind the developments.Plus, South Africa builds its case against Israel who it is accusing of committing genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice. Our legal editor Karin Matussek breaks down ongoing proceedings in The Hague. Hosted by James Woolcock and Caroline Hepker See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if the conflict in Gaza wasn't bad enough, the fighting has ignited old and new tensions elsewhere across the region. Since the surprise attack by Hamas on 7th October, clashes on the Lebanon-Israel border have restarted, attacks on US troops stationed in Syria and Iraq have escalated and a group of Houthi armed rebels from Yemen has started firing rockets at cargo ships trying to access the Suez Canal from the Red Sea. So in this week's programme David Aaronovitch asks how close the war in Gaza is to becoming a wider conflict across the Middle East. David is joined by the following experts: Frank Gardner, BBC's Security Correspondent. Dr Elisabeth Kendall, Arabist & Middle East specialist and also The Mistress of Girton College at the University of Cambridge. Jane Kinninmont, Policy & Impact Director at the European Leadership Network. Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at University College Dublin's Clinton Institute.Production team: Nick Holland, Kirsteen Knight and Charlotte McDonald Production Co-ordinators: Sophie Hill Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

This butterfly is excited to be speaking with Clara Botto. Clara has been engaged with sustainable development at a grassroots and international level, from arts to politics, for the past 8 years. She is currently developing the initiative SRM Youth Watch, which is looking into the governance of climate-altering technologies called Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), campaigns with World's Youth for Climate Justice seeking an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the climate crisis as a human rights issue, is a New European Voice on Existential Risk with the European Leadership Network and is the Science-Policy Thematic Facilitator of the Major Group of Children and Youth to UNEP. She holds an MSc in International Development and Public Policy, having written her thesis as a public policy case study of deep-sea mining in Portugal, and a BSc in Business with a focus on Creative Economy and Marketing, where she researched sustainable fashion and the universities' lack of preparation to equip youth for sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro. In this episode, you will hear about SRM policies, youth involvement in climate justice, and more. Some notes... More about 1treellion, Clara Botto, and SRM Youth Watch. To support planting all over the world, please check out this link. The great music is credited to Pixabay.

Vytautas Landsbergis led the modern Lithuanian independence movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Lithuania became the first of the fifteen Soviet Republics to declare independence from Moscow. This was a remarkably plucky move from such a small nation, but it changed the course of world history; two years later, Lithuania was an independent country, and the Soviet Union no longer existed.Thirty years later, Lithuania is once again looking east at a Russia probably intent on swallowing up the Baltics again. Lithuania is a strong democracy, and is probably more steadfast and serious about its democracy than many other countries in the West. And there's probably good reason for this; it knows democracy has maintenance costs, and it knows what it costs to leave democracy fall into disrepair. My guest today is Elisabeth Braw. Elisabeth is a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on deterrence against emerging forms of aggression. She is also an Associate Fellow at the European Leadership Network, and writes for Foreign Policy and Politico Europe. She also has a book coming out in February called Goodbye Globalisation. 

“Okay, Doomer!” the podcast by NEVER, is a 6-part series by the European Leadership Network and their New European Voices on Existential Risk, aka NEVER network, embarking on an exploration into the heart of the manmade existential risks threatening humanity, our planet, and life as we know it.    Each episode delves into a different existential crisis, from the looming shadows of nuclear war and the escalating perils of climate change to the uncharted territories of disruptive AI technologies and biological threats. “Okay, Doomer!” not only illuminates these daunting threats but also highlights the positive endeavours undertaken by many individuals and organisations worldwide to mitigate these risks. Listeners will hear inspiring stories of resilience, innovation, and hope, showcasing the unshakeable spirit of humanity in the face of formidable challenges. This series seeks to shed light on the collective human effort to navigate and overcome the perils we have created.   “Okay, Doomer!” is more than a podcast; it's a call to action, offering practical ways for listeners to get involved in these critical issues.   Join us on this journey as we bring to light the risks we face and celebrate the tireless efforts of those working towards a safer, more sustainable future.    Subscribe to “Okay, Doomer!” and be a part of a conversation that could define the future of our planet and species.

Heute gibt es eine Best-Of-Folge mit Daniel Killy von der Deutsch Israelischen Gesellschaft und Carsten Ovens von European Leadership Network. Wir hören nochmal, wie die Kampagne "Fragemauer" über jüdisches Leben und den Staat Israel aufklären möchte und wie wir Israel besser verstehen und die Beziehungen zwischen Deutschland und Israel in allen Fragen des öffentlichen und kulturellen Lebens vertiefen können.

ELNET, the European Leadership Network, is the premiere pro-Israel network in Europe. David Siegel is former Israeli diplomat involved in foreign policy formulation at the highest levels, including as Consul General to the Southwest United States. He served as the Chief of Staff to Israel's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Foreign Ministry's International Organizations Department and Chief of Staff to three of Israel's Ambassadors to the United States. He holds an MA in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a BA in political science from the University of Vermont.

We are at risk of losing the information war. The widespread normalisation of disinformation as a political tool is accelerating distrust in democratic institutions and processes. Greyzone warfare is gaining the edge over open, pluralistic societies. Russia and China have also proved adept at weaponizing information for their foreign policy objectives. Governments have held off intervening strongly in the online media sphere, for fear of wrecking classical liberalism, but at what cost? #ElisabethBraw #greyzonewarfare #ukraine #ukrainewar #russia #zelensky #putin #propaganda #war #disinformation #hybridwarfare #foreignpolicy #communism #sovietunion #postsoviet ---------- SPEAKER: Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on defence against emerging national security challenges, such as hybrid and Greyzone threats. She is also a columnist with Foreign Policy, where she writes on national security and the globalised economy. Before joining AEI, Elisabeth was a Senior Research Fellow at RUSI, where she led the Modern Deterrence project. Elisabeth is also a member of the steering committee of the Aurora Forum, a member of the National Preparedness Commission (UK) and an Associate Fellow at the European Leadership Network. She is often published in a wide range of publications, including Politico, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (writing in German), The Times and The Wall Street Journal. Elisabeth is also the author of two highly regarded books. - Monthly columnist – POLITICO (Feb 2023 – Present) - Advisory Board Member - GALLOS Technologies Limited (Aug 2022 – Present) - Commissioner – UK National Preparedness Commission (Nov 2020 – Present) - Member of the Advisory Group – Centre for Information Resilience (Feb 2021 – Present) - Senior Fellow – American Enterprise Institute (Oct 2020 – Present) - Columnist – Foreign Policy (Feb 2020 – Present) - Member of the Steering Committee – Aurora Forum (Dec 2019 – Present) - Op-ed contributor – The Times (Dec 2016 – Present) - Non-resident Associate Fellow – European Leadership Network (ELN) (Aug 2017 – Present) - Senior Research Fellow – Royal United Services Institute (Sep 2019 – Oct 2020) - Adjunct Fellow – Centre for European Policy (Jul 2018 – Jul 2019) - Senior Consultant – Control Risks (Jun 2016 – Aug 2018) - Non-resident Senior Fellow – Atlantic Council (Apr 2016 – Jun 2018) ---------- LINKS: https://twitter.com/elisabethbraw https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabethbraw/ https://rusi.org/people/braw https://www.aei.org/profile/elisabeth-braw/ https://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/person/elisabeth-braw/ https://foreignpolicy.com/author/elisabeth-braw/ https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/people/elisabeth-braw https://cepa.org/author/elisabeth-braw/ ---------- ARTICLES: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/16/russia-ukraine-gray-zone-warfare-autocrats-democracy-527022 https://www.ft.com/content/0ac9e1a9-2aad-47d9-83fb-4839e9b31b33 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/china-is-master-of-grey-zone-aggression-t6z2khp69 https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/60291/create-a-psychological-defence-agency-to-prebunk-fake-news https://www.aei.org/podcast/elisabeth-braw-on-gray-zone-warfare/ ---------- BOOKS: ‘God's Spies: The Stasi's Cold War Espionage (2019) The Defender's Dilemma: Identifying and Deterring Gray-zone Aggression (2022) Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a Divided World (2024)

Yevgeny Prigozhin is now (in)famous around the world for mounting a failed mutiny against the Russian military in a last-ditch attempt to avoid being absorbed into it, as the Kremlin reclaims its monopoly on violence and ends an experiment with outsourcing bits of the Ukraine invasion to mercenaries. The Naked Pravda has focused numerous times before on Wagner Group, and it's now time to write the private military company's obituary. Or is it? How did Prigozhin manage to convince his men to embark on this misadventure? What did we learn about the Russian political elite in this crisis? And what should we expect in Belarus, where at least some remnant of Wagner Group is said to be headed? For insights into the failed insurrection and its aftermath, Meduza turns to three experts. Timestamps for this episode: (3:40) Kirill Shamiev, Russian political scientist and visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (19:43) Маrgarita Zavadskaya, senior research fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (27:17) Katia Glod, policy fellow at the European Leadership Network and nonresident fellow at CEPA's Democratic Resilience Program Как поддержать нашу редакцию — даже если вы в России и вам очень страшно

Background: Thinking about, preparing for and responding to threats to resilience' is the first discussion in the Cityforum ‘Re-imagining Security and Resilience' project. This hour-long session is Chaired by Ian Aitchison, a Z/yen specialist with particular interest in maritime. Ian is joined by Dorothy Wickham, a well-known journalist from the Solomon Islands, and Cityforum Associates Hon Franklin D. Kramer and Madeleine Moon, who will extend the conversation further to look at a multitude of hazards including how the climate threat, and the threat to biodiversity is important also in relation to seas and shipping. These dangers and others are converging to produce inescapable challenges for us, resulting in disaster if we do nothing or very little.Find out more about this event on our website:https://fsclub.zyen.com/events/all-events/thinking-about-preparing-for-and-responding-to-threats-to-resilience/Interested in watching our webinars live, or taking part in the production of our research? Join our community at: https://bit.ly/3sXPpb5 Speakers: Hon Franklin D Kramer is a distinguished fellow and board director of the Atlantic Council. Mr Kramer has served as a senior political appointee in two administrations, including as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. At the Department of Defense, Mr Kramer was in charge of the formulation and implementation of international defence and political-military policy, with worldwide responsibilities including NATO and Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Mr Kramer's areas of focus include defence, both conventional and hybrid; NATO and Russia; China, including managing competition, military power, economics and trade, and China-Taiwan-US relations; cyber including resilience and international cyber issues; innovation and national security; and irregular conflict and counterinsurgency. Dorothy Wickham is a local journalist who has worked in the media industry in Solomon Islands for the last 30 years. She has also written for various international news organisations. Madeleine Moon represented the Bridgend constituency at Westminster from 2005 to 2019. She joined the Defence Select Committee in 2009. She chaired sub-committees reporting on the safety and welfare of military personnel on training and exercises, the use of Remotely Piloted Air Systems and defence in the Arctic. Madeleine was a member of the UK Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2010, serving as a member of the Defence and Security Committee. She was elected President in November 2018. Since leaving Westminster Madeleine has continued to work in defence facing organisations including City Forum and also joined the European Leadership Network. Chairman:Ian Aitchison is a strategic communications specialist and senior advisor to the global shipping industry. A Chartered PR consultant, founder and managing director of Scotch Communications Ltd, Ian draws on a diverse professional background. From Scottish agriculture and land management, military service in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Media Operations, and international corporate management, to his current mission of cutting the pollution impact of deep-sea shipping by advocating LNG as a marine fuel, Ian is driven by a passion for the natural world and corporate social responsibility.

Long-ruling authoritarian Alyaksandr Lukashenka showed up in a state-issued video after looking ill at May 9 ceremonies in Moscow and then disappearing from view for five days. His absence and apparent illness have raised questions about the future in Belarus. Katia Glod, a fellow at the European Leadership Network and the Center for European Policy Analysis, joins Steve Gutterman to discuss.

Nuclear policy work in the time of COVID: Ploughshares Fund President Dr. Emma Belcher sits down with Lovely Umayam, a nuclear nonproliferation expert, writer, and founder of Bombshelltoe Policy and Arts Collective, and Elisa Reverman, PhD candidate at Georgetown University and occasional illustrator. They discuss their project, Lifelines, a collection of personal reflections about the experiences of nuclear policymakers and technical practitioners during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Early Warning, Tom Collina talks with Sahil Shah, policy fellow at the European Leadership Network. He discusses the IAEA's criticism of Iran for failing to cooperate with an investigation into its nuclear activities and the country's response.  

The evolving role of NATO in the Arctic and High North is examined as the alliance looks to adapt its existing engagement and develop new responses to the fast-shifting regional security environment. Brigadier Robbie Boyd, formerly of the British Army and currently Managing Partner at Gartner, and Katarina Kertysova, Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network and Global Fellow at the Kennan and Polar Institutes of the Wilson Centre in Washington, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security Studies at RUSI, the role that NATO is seeking to establish in the Arctic and High North, as tensions in the region increase and as European security undergoes significant shifts in the wake of Russia's war on Ukraine.

Ukraine, Senior Fellow Jamie Shea is joined by guest speaker Dr Stefanie Babst, former deputy assistant secretary general of NATO and now a senior associate fellow of the European Leadership Network. Tune in to hear what our Senior Fellows have to say.

The Russia - Ukraine crisis deepens by the day. 100,000 Russian troops, tanks and artillery have massed on Ukraine's borders in recent weeks, prompting fears of an invasion - despite repeated Russian denials of any plan to attack. Meanwhile the UK's government has come into lockstep with US and other allies to freeze assets and ban travel in the event of a Russian incursion into Ukraine. Russia alleges that U.S. leaders have broken promises they made in the early 1990s to not expand NATO's membership eastward. The U.S. and NATO leaders say no such pledges were made and refuse to discuss limitations on NATO's future expansion. So what, if any, prospects exist for a solution to this impasse? Kathryn speaks with Sir Adam Thomson, Director of the European Leadership Network. He's a former UK Permanent Representative to NATO; British High Commissioner to Pakistan, and Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

London-based Sahil Shah, a policy fellow at the European Leadership Network, discusses with Michelle Dover all things nuclear coming from a transatlantic perspective. They cover the recent US-Russian dialogue, what that means for the New START Treaty and the prospects for the JCPOA and Europe's role in those discussions. On Early Warning: Sina Toossi of the National Iranian American Council discusses with Tom Collina how Iranians have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and how the Biden administration can help with a pledge to vaccinate people in Iran and around the world.

Guests:Sarah Bidgood is Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.Usha Sahay is Senior Editor at POLITICO Magazine, where she focuses on foreign affairs and global issues. She is also the host of “A Most Terrible Weapon,” a podcast produced by War on the Rocks about the dawn of the nuclear age. Previously, she was Managing Editor of War on the Rocks.International Security Article:This podcast is based on Samuel Meyer, Sarah Bidgood, and William C. Potter, “Death Dust: The Little-Known Story of U.S. and Soviet Pursuit of Radiological Weapons,” International Security, Vol. 45, No. 2 (Fall 2020), pp. 51– 94.Related Readings:Alex Wellerstein, “Death Dust, 1941,” Restricted Data: The Nuclear Secrecy Blog, March 7, 2014. Usha Sahay, “A Most Terrible Weapon,” War on the Rocks, 2020. Sarah Bidgood, Sam Meyer, and William Potter, “It's Time to Prohibit Radiological Weapons,” European Leadership Network, February 1, 2021. Kyle Mizokami, “Russia Is Still Testing Its Terrifying Apocalypse Torpedo,” Popular Mechanics, April 14, 2021.Originally released on June 22, 2021.

Jane Kinninmont, Impact Director at the European Leadership Network and former deputy head & senior research fellow for Chatham House's Middle East & North Africa programme

Gabriella Gricius is a Ph.D. Student and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Colorado State University in the subfields of International Relations, Environmental Policy, and Comparative Politics. She is also a Graduate Fellow at the North American and Arctic Security & Defence Network (NAADSN) with Trent University. Her research focuses on Arctic politics, critical security and decolonial theory as well as Russian foreign policy in the Arctic. She also writes for a variety of online publications including Foreign Policy, Global Security Review, the European Leadership Network, Responsible Statecraft, and Riddle Russia amongst many others. She is fluent in English and German and has working proficiency in Dutch and Russian. For the last year, Gabriella worked as the Director of Research for The International Scholar, a project aimed at introducing 80+ young scholars to research in International Relations. Prior to that, she acted as a Senior Research Associate for the Public International Law and Policy Group's Amsterdam (PILPG-NL) office for three years.

Find out more on our website: https://bit.ly/32wiu5K Speakers: Dr Anthony H Cordesman is the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at CSIS. During his time at CSIS, Cordesman has been director of the Gulf Net Assessment Project and the Gulf in Transition Study, as well as principal investigator of the CSIS Homeland Defense Project. He has led studies on national missile defense, asymmetric warfare and weapons of mass destruction, and critical infrastructure protection. He directed the CSIS Middle East Net Assessment Project and codirected the CSIS Strategic Energy Initiative. He is the author of a wide range of studies on U.S. security policy, energy policy, and Middle East policy and has served as a consultant to the Departments of State and Defense during the Afghan and Iraq wars. He served as part of General Stanley McChrystal's civilian advisory group during the formation of a new strategy in Afghanistan and has since acted as a consultant to various elements of the U.S. military and NATO. Current projects include ongoing analysis of the security situation in the Gulf, U.S. strategic competition with Iran, the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, a net assessment of the Indian Ocean region, Chinese military developments and U.S. and Asian assessments of these developments, changes in the nature of modern war, and assessments of U.S. defense strategy, programs, and budgets. His recent paper, "Setting New U.S. Strategic Priorities for a Post-Trump World" (9 November 2020) is well worth reading as the world looks to a new Biden Administration. Ms Madeleine Moon represented the Bridgend constituency at Westminster from 2005 to 2019. She joined the Defence Select Committee in 2009. She chaired sub-committees reporting on the safety and welfare of military personnel on training and exercises, the use of Remotely Piloted Air Systems and defence in the Arctic. Madeleine was a member of the UK Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2010, serving as a member of the Defence and Security Committee. She was elected President in November 2018. Since leaving Westminster Madeleine has continued to work defence facing organisations including Cityforum and joined the European Leadership Network. Mr Carl Miller is a technology author and researcher. His first book is The Death of the Gods: The New Global Power Grab. An examination of the new centres of power and control in the twenty-first century, it was published by Penguin Random House in August 2018. In 2012 he co-founded the first UK think tank institute dedicated to studying the digital world at DEMOS, and has written for the Economist, Wired, New Scientist, the Sunday Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian. He's also a Visiting Research Fellow at King's College London. Dr Catarina P Thomson is Senior Lecturer in Security and Strategic Studies in the Politics Department of the University of Exeter. Her background is in clinical psychology and international relations. Her recent work compares the foreign policy attitudes of security elites and the general public in the UK, Europe, and the United States. Her work has been funded by the American National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense's Minerva Research Initiative, and the Economic and Social Research Council among others.

A top-level discussion bringing together the former Chair of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a journalist and publisher of Defence Analysis and the Sheriff of the City of London. This is the second discussion in the Global Britain – Polarisation, Grey Zone and Hybrid Conflict project, part of the Cityforum Intelligent Defence and Smart Power series and will probe what we face, what we could do, and how we could do it. The discussion is being prepared in a way that will give useful thinking to officials, military and politicians, to British businesses and to those from abroad who work in and with the UK. As on the first occasion, this webinar will have an international attendance including a prominent expert on rebuilding troubled states and giving them an economic future. The series is supported by the Ministry of Defence and involves corporates including BAE Systems and Leidos. The webinar is produced jointly by Cityforum and Z/Yen. Speakers: Madeleine Moon represented the Bridgend constituency at Westminster from 2005 to 2019. She joined the Defence Select Committee in 2009. She chaired sub-committees reporting on the safety and welfare of military personnel on training and exercises, the use of Remotely Piloted Air Systems and defence in the Arctic. Madeleine was a member of the UK Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2010, serving as a member of the Defence and Security Committee. She was elected President in November 2018. Since leaving Westminster Madeleine has continued to work defence facing organisations including City Forum and joined the European Leadership Network. Francis Tusa has been a leading defence journalist and analyst for nearly 30 years. Having started working at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies in 1987, and there setting up the Middle East Defence programme, he has subsequently worked for a wide range of written and broadcast outlets including Sky News, CNN, the Guardian, and many BBC channels. Within the defence media, he worked as UK and then European Editor for Armed Forces Journal International, and has written Janes, Flight International, Defense News and Aviation Week and Space Technology, as well as numerous Asian/Middle East defence magazines. He set up his newsletter, Defence Analysis, in 1998, and it has become a unique resource for defence data, intelligence and analysis, providing unrivalled information on defence budgets, industrial budgets and politics, and global defence markets. Another first was setting up Military Logistics International, the first – and only - magazine devoted to defence support/logistics. Interested in watching our webinars live, or taking part in the production of our research? Join our community at: https://bit.ly/3sXPpb5