Unspent Rounds

A premium podcast hosted by War on the Rocks staff covering interesting topics with interesting people — for War on the Rocks members only.

Ukraine’s Long and Turbulent Partial Integration into NATO 05/05/2025

Ukraine’s Long and Turbulent Partial Integration into NATO Ryan sits down with Rick to discuss the zigs and zags in Ukraine's partial integration into NATO, from the late 1990s to the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Image: /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692420

A View from Vilnius 10/30/2024

A View from Vilnius Nick sits down with the ambassador from the Republic of Lithuania to the United States, Audra Plepytė. The two discuss the Lithuanian perspective on the war in Ukraine and the challenges of European security. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692430

The Cyprus Solution 10/09/2024

The Cyprus Solution Nick sits down with the ambassador from the Republic of Cyprus to the United States, Evangelos Savva. The two discuss Cyprus’s role in responding to the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon, recent developments in American-Cypriot relations, and prospects for resolving the island’s decades-long division. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692440

The View from the Philippines 09/11/2024

The View from the Philippines On this episode of Unspent Rounds, Nick sits down with the Philippines’ Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, to discuss the most pressing issues facing his country. Among much else, the two discussed maritime issues the Philippines faces, the country’s response to Chinese aggression, tensions with China over Second Thomas Shoal, and U.S.-Philippine cooperation. This episode of Unspent Rounds was recorded on May 28, 2024, and reflects developments up to that point. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692450

A Conversation with Jason Rathje from the Office of Strategic Capital 05/15/2024

A Conversation with Jason Rathje from the Office of Strategic Capital This week on Unspent Rounds, Nick sat down with Dr. Jason Rathje, director of the Office of Strategic Capital within the Department of Defense, to discuss what the office is doing to support investments in critical technologies. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692460

Zakzaky and Shiite Islam in Nigeria 04/24/2024

Zakzaky and Shiite Islam in Nigeria Earlier this month, Shiite followers of Ibrahim Zakzaky in Nigeria clashed with police at a pro-Palestinean Quds day rally. Erin sat down with Ebenezer Obadare, the Douglas Dillon senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss Zakzaky's Shiite Islamic Movement, the evolution of the group, its relationship to the Nigerian state, and its ties to Iran. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692470

Russia is Building an ‘Axis of Alternatives’ 04/03/2024

Russia is Building an ‘Axis of Alternatives’ Nick sat down with Mark Galeotti, an expert on modern Russia and the author of more than twenty books on the country, to discuss how the Russian invasion of Ukraine – and the Western response to it – has strengthened and reshaped relations between Russia and a range of other countries uncomfortable with the current world order. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692480

The Evolution of the U.S.-Indian Relationship 03/20/2024

The Evolution of the U.S.-Indian Relationship Aaron sat down with Sameer P. Lalwani, a senior expert on South Asia at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), and Vikram Singh, a senior advisor to the Asia Program at USIP, to discuss INDUS-X, an effort to facilitate technology sharing between the United States and India. The conversation also explored the evolution of the modern U.S.-Indian relationship, the points of diplomatic overlap, some points of disagreement, and what it all means for the trajectory of bilateral ties. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692490

Moldova Confronts Russian-Backed Separatism 03/13/2024

Moldova Confronts Russian-Backed Separatism Nick Danforth sat down with Iulian Groza to discuss Moldova’s efforts to manage the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine. They covered Chișinău’s chill response to the recent developments in Transnistria, as well as the latest from Gagauzia. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692500

Can Russia Be Isolated? 03/07/2024

Can Russia Be Isolated? On this week’s Unspent Rounds, Tanvi Madan and Sergey Radchenko debate the best way to deal with Russia on the global stage. How effective would isolating Russia in multilateral forums prove? Where does China fit in and what can we learn from Eisenhower? /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692505

Iran and Russia Tighten Relations 02/28/2024

Iran and Russia Tighten Relations Aaron sat down with Hanna Notte, the director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, to discuss the Iranian-Russian relationship. The conversation explored how relations have changed since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, what that means for Iranian foreign policy in the Middle East, and how all of this might impact global nonproliferation efforts. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692510

In Defense of Democracy: Assessing the Biden Administration’s Foreign Policy 02/21/2024

In Defense of Democracy: Assessing the Biden Administration’s Foreign Policy Aaron sat down with Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, for a debate with Paul Poast, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago, about the framing of the Biden administration’s foreign policy, and what role — if any — democracy promotion should play in its execution. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692515

Army Assistance in the Indo-Pacific 02/13/2024

Army Assistance in the Indo-Pacific Aaron sat down with Col. Brandon Teague, the commander of the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, to discuss the Army's cooperation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. The conversation discussed the role of the Security Force Assistance Brigades and how these army units work with countries in the region. The conversation also touched on Operation Pathways, an exercise testing the U.S. Army Pacific’s operational approach to campaigning, which was discussed on a previous episode of /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692520

A Conversation with Col. John Lehane, the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment 02/07/2024

A Conversation with Col. John Lehane, the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment Aaron sat down with Col. John Lehane, the commanding officer of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, to talk about the recent Kamandag exercise in the Philippines, the latest with Force Design, lessons learned about logistics in the Indo-Pacific, and what the future holds for the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692525

Naval Power and the Return of Geopolitics 01/24/2024

Naval Power and the Return of Geopolitics Aaron sat down with Shashank Joshi, a defense editor at the Economist, about his latest cover story for the magazine, "." The two discussed trends in naval power, how Western navies are making decisions about procurement, and the need to discuss in more depth the "boring stuff,” like the communication and sensor architecture needed to pass data from one platform to another. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692530

China’s Reaction to the Taiwanese Election 01/18/2024

China’s Reaction to the Taiwanese Election Aaron sat down with Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and co-host of the Net Assesment podcast, to discuss his recent trip to China, the United States' “One China” policy, and the U.S.-Chinese tensions over the status of Taiwan. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692540

The Precision Paradox and Urban Warfare 01/04/2024

The Precision Paradox and Urban Warfare Nick sat down with Amos Fox, the chief human resources officer for the Irregular Warfare Initiative and the host of the Revolution in Military Affairs podcast, to discuss the changing nature of urban warfare in , Ukraine and Gaza. The conversation covered sieges, precision munitions, and attrition. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692545

NATO’s Adaptation to Continued War in Ukraine 12/27/2023

NATO’s Adaptation to Continued War in Ukraine Before the Christmas holiday, Nick sat down with Benedetta Berti, the head of policy planning in the office of the secretary-general at NATO. They discussed how the alliance continues to adapt in response to developments on the ground in Ukraine, as well as progress on Sweden’s accession and NATO’s role in the Indo-Pacific. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692555

The Case for Seizing Russian Assets 12/19/2023

The Case for Seizing Russian Assets In this episode, Aaron and Philip Zelikow, a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, sat down to discuss the seizure of Russian assets held in Western banks. In particular, the conversation explored the legality of this action and why it would matter for Ukraine. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692560

What the Rise of China Looks Like from Japan 12/13/2023

What the Rise of China Looks Like from Japan In Tokyo last month, Nick sat down with Shinji Yamaguchi from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies. An expert in Chinese politics, Shinji discussed what the rise of China looks like from Japan, as well as Washington and Tokyo's converging perceptions on the challenge. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692565

China’s Slowing Economy 12/05/2023

China’s Slowing Economy Aaron sat down with Brad Setser, the Whitney Shepardson senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss China's economy. The conversation explored the reasons for China's economic slowdown, the challenges in the real estate sector, and the structural reasons why Beijing may not catch up with U.S. economic output. The two also discussed what this may mean for Chinese foreign policy and military spending. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692570

Rapid Global Mobility 11/15/2023

Rapid Global Mobility Aaron sat down with Maj. Gen. John Klein, the commander of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. The conversation focused on the Expeditionary Center, its role in expeditionary operations and support for Air Mobility Command, the lessons learned from exercise Mobility Guardian 2023, and some of the challenges with operating in the Indo-Pacific. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692575

Documenting China’s Crimes in Xinjiang 10/31/2023

Documenting China’s Crimes in Xinjiang Nick sat down with Adrian Zenz, senior fellow and director in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, to discuss the evolution of Chinese policy toward the Uyghur population in Xinjiang. Adrian explained the role of leaked and open source evidence in documenting the rise of forced labor and forced sterilization, as well as the Chinese Communist Party’s long term plans for the region. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692580

Russia’s Role in the Middle East 10/25/2023

Russia’s Role in the Middle East As tensions in the Middle East continue, Aaron sat down with Janice Stein, the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Science and the Founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. The two discuss the history of the Soviet Union's policy towards the Middle East, including its relationships with Israel, Egypt, and Syria. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692590

Israel’s Strategic Choices 10/12/2023

Israel’s Strategic Choices On this episode of Unspent Rounds, Ryan sat down with Sir Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College London, to discuss the unfolding war in Gaza, the choices the Israeli leadership are now faced with, and the role that fear and anger may play in shaping policy. This episode was recorded on Oct. 12, 2023. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692595

Industrial Policy and the Manhattan Project 10/10/2023

Industrial Policy and the Manhattan Project On this episode of Unspent Rounds, Aaron sat down with Steve Blank, an adjunct professor at Stanford and a founding member at Stanford’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. The the industrial policy that supported the building of the atomic bomb, the lessons-learned from this time in history, and what options the United States has to replicate the bureaucratic policy required to build weapons quickly. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692600

The Defense Department Guide to a Government Shutdown 09/29/2023

The Defense Department Guide to a Government Shutdown On this episode of Unspent Rounds, Aaron sat down with Elaine McCusker, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Before joining AEI, Ms. McCusker served as deputy and then acting under secretary of defense (comptroller) from August 2017 until June 2020. The two discussed the looming government shutdown and the impact the lapse in funding will have on the Department of Defense, military and civilian personnel and contractors across the United States. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692605

Crisis Delegator: Kim Jong Un’s Control Over Nuclear Weapons 09/13/2023

Crisis Delegator: Kim Jong Un’s Control Over Nuclear Weapons On this episode of Unspent Rounds, Aaron sat down with Ankit Panda, the Stanton Senior Fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The conversation examined Ankit's co-authored article with Vipin Narang, “," which was published in September 2017. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692610

An Unprecedented Challenge: Deterring Two Nuclear-Armed Adversaries 08/29/2023

An Unprecedented Challenge: Deterring Two Nuclear-Armed Adversaries On this episode of Unspent Rounds, Aaron sat down with Becca Wasser, a senior fellow for the Defense Program and lead of The Gaming Lab at the Center for New American Security. The conversation examined Becca's latest report, “," and the challenges the United States faces as it seeks to deter China and Russia simultaneously. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692615

The Rise and Fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin 08/25/2023

The Rise and Fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin On this special, bonus episode of Unspent Rounds, Aaron sat down with John Lechner, an author writing a book about Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner Group. The two discussed the rise of Prigozhin from Soviet-era prisoner to post-Cold War catering magnate and his backing of Dmitry Utkin, a mercenary turned leader in the Wagner Group. The conversation explored Wagner's rise in Africa, its deployment in Syria and, ultimately, its decapitation, following an aborted mutiny in 2023. Unspent Rounds is a members-only podcast, featuring interesting conversations with interesting people. /episode/index/show/a450b1f7-1d6a-4a83-bb69-bc7987260ccc/id/37692620

Unspent Rounds

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