The Warcast

The geopolitical briefing that helps you make sense of the world as crises happen, for War on the Rocks members only.

Conditions Deteriorate in Gaza and the West Bank 07/30/2025

Conditions Deteriorate in Gaza and the West Bank Amid mounting international pressure, Israel has begun implementing limited pauses in fighting in select parts of Gaza, but the Israeli military continues operations as a humanitarian crisis in the enclave deepens. Khaled Elgindy, visiting scholar at Georgetown University, returns to the Warcast to assess the current situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681010

Thailand and Cambodia Clash Across the Border 07/30/2025

Thailand and Cambodia Clash Across the Border The recent violence on the Thai-Cambodian border is the latest chapter in a long-standing dispute between the two countries. Josh Kurlantzick joins the Warcast to discuss the immediate causes of the clashes, the domestic political factors involved, and the challenges ahead for achieving a lasting ceasefire and stability. Image: via DVIDS /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681015

Why Germany Is Joining Forces with the United Kingdom on Defense 07/25/2025

Why Germany Is Joining Forces with the United Kingdom on Defense Liana Fix joins Nicole on the Warcast to discuss the details of last week's new mutual defense treaty between Germany and the United Kingdom — the first of its kind since World War II. On this episode, Liana answers big questions like "so what?" and "why now?" Image: Number 10 via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681020

Inside Taiwan’s Expanded Military Drills 07/25/2025

Inside Taiwan’s Expanded Military Drills Last week, Taiwan concluded its annual Han Kuang military exercise, expanding its scope amid increasing Chinese military activity around the island. Thomas Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins the Warcast to discuss the latest developments in Taiwan. Image: SatoruGojolovessweet via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681025

Sectarian Violence and Israeli Strikes in Syria 07/18/2025

Sectarian Violence and Israeli Strikes in Syria Syria's new government continues to struggle with sectarian violence, including recent fighting between Druze and Sunni communities in the south — which also prompted Israeli strikes against government targets, including the ministry of defense. Hassan Hassan, editor in chief of New Lines Magazine, joins the Warcast to unpack the evolving situation in Syria and the country's relations with Israel. Image: Roded Shlomo Pikiwiki Israel via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681035

Al-Shabaab Gains Ground in Somalia 07/18/2025

Al-Shabaab Gains Ground in Somalia Al-Shabaab is gaining ground in Somalia, as a fragile and fractured Somali government and its partners, such as the Africa Union, struggle to push back. Ashley Jackson, co-founder of the Centre on Armed Groups, joins the Warcast to provide an update on the situation in Somalia. Image: Shahad News Agency via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681040

Great Britain and France Strengthen Nuclear Cooperation 07/17/2025

Great Britain and France Strengthen Nuclear Cooperation Last week, the United Kingdom and France signed the Northwood Declaration, an agreement aimed at deepening cooperation and coordination between their nuclear forces. Emma Salisbury, an associate fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre, joins the Warcast to discuss the deal and its implications for European security. Image: Number 10 via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681045

Fractures Deepen in the U.S.-Japanese Relationship 07/17/2025

Fractures Deepen in the U.S.-Japanese Relationship It’s been a turbulent past few weeks in the U.S.-Japanese relationship, as America's oldest security alliance in the Indo-Pacific faces intensifying economic, political, and security pressures. Jeffrey Hornung, the Japan Lead for RAND's National Security Research Division, joins the WarCast to discuss defense spending, Taiwan, elections, and the future of the alliance. Image: Japanese Prime Minister's Office via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681050

Reading Between the Lines of the BRICS Summit 07/11/2025

Reading Between the Lines of the BRICS Summit World leaders gathered in Rio this week for the 2025 BRICS summit, and from the absence of major leaders to cautious joint declarations, there's plenty to unpack. Henrietta Levin, a senior fellow with the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins the WarCast to discuss the summit's outcomes, BRICS' enduring symbolism, and the future of multilateral Chinese leadership. Image: Indian Prime Minister's Office via . /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681055

Iran Suspends Cooperation with the IAEA 07/03/2025

Iran Suspends Cooperation with the IAEA Following Israeli and U.S. strikes on targets in Iran, Tehran is suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, joins the Warcast to discuss the implications for Iran and the global nonproliferation regime. Image: IAEA Image Bank via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681060

Fighting in Gaza and the West Bank 07/02/2025

Fighting in Gaza and the West Bank Since the ceasefire with Iran, attention has returned to the war in Gaza. Khaled Elgindy, visiting scholar at Georgetown University, joins the WarCast to help unpack developments in Gaza and the West Bank. Image: Israeli Defence Forces Spokesperson's Unit via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681065

NATO Members Pledge Defense Spending Boost 06/30/2025

NATO Members Pledge Defense Spending Boost Last week, NATO members agreed to boost defense spending targets to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035 and reaffirmed their commitment to collective security efforts. Gesine Weber, a research fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins the WarCast to discuss the summit and its implications. Image: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681070

Another Chance for Peace in Congo? 06/26/2025

Another Chance for Peace in Congo? On June 27, the DRC and Rwanda are set to sign a new peace agreement brokered by the United States and Qatar. Michelle Gavin joins the Warcast to explain the agreement’s security provisions, the role of armed groups like M23 in the region, and what it will take for peace to hold in a region long plagued by conflict. Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681075

What’s Next After U.S. Strikes on Iran? 06/24/2025

What’s Next After U.S. Strikes on Iran? Over the last few days, the United States bombed nuclear sites in Iran, Tehran retaliated with a limited strike against a U.S. air base, Israel and Iran continued to hit at each other, and President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire. Steven Simon joins the WarCast to provide some context to these dizzying events. Steven is a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and a distinguished fellow and visiting professor at Dartmouth College. Image: U.S. Air Force via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681080

G7 Leaders Meet in Canada 06/19/2025

G7 Leaders Meet in Canada Earlier this week, Group of Seven leaders gathered in Alberta for their annual summit. Gesine Weber, a research fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, joins the WarCast to discuss the meetings and their outcomes. Image: The White House via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681085

Iran Absorbs Israel’s Strikes and Hits Back 06/16/2025

Iran Absorbs Israel’s Strikes and Hits Back Four days into the direct war between Israel and Iran, the latter has launched retaliatory strikes, and both sides are expanding their targets. Alex Vatanka, from the Middle East Institute, joins the WarCast to explain how Iran's leaders are responding to the crisis. Image: Avash Media via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681090

Israel Strikes Iran 06/14/2025

Israel Strikes Iran On June 12, Israel began large-scale strikes on targets in Iran, and Iran is responding with drone and missile attacks on Israel. Rachel Brandenburg from the Israel Policy Forum joins the Warcast to provide an update on these events and what to watch for going forward. Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681095

Wagner Withdraws from Mali 06/13/2025

Wagner Withdraws from Mali Russia’s Wagner Group says it is pulling out of Mali after three years of fighting alongside the country’s military. But is this a real shift or just a rebranding? John Lechner joins the Warcast to discuss what Wagner’s departure means and how Russia is evolving its presence across Africa. John is the author of . Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681100

Canada Boosts Defense Spending 06/13/2025

Canada Boosts Defense Spending Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced that Canada will meet the NATO target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense this year — marking a significant increase in spending. The announcement came a few days before Canada hosts the G7 summit and before a NATO summit later this month in The Hague. Stephanie Carvin joins the WarCast to discuss Canada's priorities for defense spending and goals for the upcoming summits. Image: via DVIDS /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681105

Uncertainty and Chaos in Gaza 06/11/2025

Uncertainty and Chaos in Gaza The Israeli military continues to expand its control in Gaza, but uncertainty remains over how to end the war and what the future of Gaza will be. A very controversial effort to deliver aid ran into many problems on the ground. Nathan Brown, professor at George Washington University, joined the WarCast to provide an update and context for understanding the current state of the war. Image: Jaber Jehad Badwan via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681110

Reviewing the United Kingdom’s Strategic Defense Review 06/05/2025

Reviewing the United Kingdom’s Strategic Defense Review Defense expert Emma Salisbury, Ph.D. joins the Warcast to discuss the United Kingdom's new Strategic Defense Review — the first such assessment to be externally led. Emma helps unpack the significance of some of the novel approaches and messaging and highlights the next steps in making the review a reality. Image: /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681115

South Korea’s Election Results 06/04/2025

South Korea’s Election Results Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung won South Korea's presidential elections. The election came in the wake of political chaos in the country since December and at a time when the Trump administration is reconsidering traditional alliances, including with South Korea. Jenny Town, senior fellow at the Stimson Center, joins the WarCast to help sort through the election results and the ongoing uncertainty about what it means for South Korean foreign policy. Image: Lee Jae-myung via /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681120

Iran Boosts Uranium Enrichment 06/03/2025

Iran Boosts Uranium Enrichment A recent International Atomic Energy Agency report found that Iran has significantly increased its production of highly enriched uranium. Meanwhile, U.S.-Iranian talks continue. Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, joins the WarCast to explain why the report matters and where the talks stand. Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681125

Gulf States Try to Balance Relations With the United States and China 06/03/2025

Gulf States Try to Balance Relations With the United States and China On May 27, a summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and China highlighted the efforts of many countries to navigate relations with Washington and Beijing at a time of increasing tensions. Adel Abdel Ghafar, with the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, joins the WarCast to help explain these dynamics. Image: of the Philippines via Facebook /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681130

Haiti’s Crisis Deepens 05/30/2025

Haiti’s Crisis Deepens As the security situation in Haiti deteriorates, its government has turned to new tactics to combat powerful gangs that control most of its capital city, Port-au-Prince. Henry Ziemer, an associate fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins the WarCast to explain the latest developments in the Caribbean nation. Image: /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681135

Nigeria Faces a Rising Jihadist Threat 05/27/2025

Nigeria Faces a Rising Jihadist Threat Jihadist violence is once again escalating in northeastern Nigeria, raising fears of a Boko Haram resurgence. Nathaniel Powell joined the Warcast to examine the renewed conflict, its impact across the region, and what lies ahead. Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681140

U.S.-Iranian Talks Stumble Over Red Lines 05/21/2025

U.S.-Iranian Talks Stumble Over Red Lines After four rounds of talks, negotiations between Washington and Tehran appear to be running up against disagreement over whether Iran should have any uranium enrichment capability. Alex Vatanka, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, joins the WarCast to help explain what's happening. Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681145

The State of Russo-Ukrainian Ceasefire Negotiations 05/20/2025

The State of Russo-Ukrainian Ceasefire Negotiations Last week, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul for their first direct negotiations since March 2022, though the meeting did not yield a major breakthrough. Following the talks, President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an attempt to push talks forward. Max Bergmann joins the WarCast to discuss these developments and diplomatic efforts to end the war more broadly. Image: /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681150

Progress for Syria? 05/16/2025

Progress for Syria? President Donald Trump recently met with Syria’s President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and Trump said that the United States would lift sanctions on Syria. Aron Lund joins the WarCast to discuss these developments and Syria's multiple security challenges. Image: via Wikimedia Commons /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681165

The End of the PKK? 05/15/2025

The End of the PKK? On May 12, 2025, the Kurdistan Workers' Party announced its intent to disband after four decades of armed conflict. Gönül Tol, the director of the Turkish Program at the Middle East Institute and author of Erdogan's War: A Strongman's Struggle at Home and in Syria, joins the WarCast to discuss the challenges ahead. Image: Ivan Radic via . /episode/index/show/d5e4b70f-f0ed-455a-8632-d98e2aa5eded/id/37681170

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