Brussels Sprouts

By Center for a New American Security | CNAS

What's Brussels Sprouts about?

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

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Brussels Sprouts episodes:

04.12.2024
Interpreting the Recent Turkish Elections with Asli Aydintaşbaş and Steven Cook
Just under a year ago, Turkish President Erdogan won another five years in power in the Turkish presidential election. Last week, however, local election results in Turkey delivered a harsh blow to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Although...
04.05.2024
Macron’s Change in Tune and the War in Ukraine
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there has been a notable evolution in France’s approach toward Moscow. In the initial months following the invasion, French President Emmanuel Macron continued to engage diplomatically with Vladimir Putin, controversially insisting...
03.22.2024
Putin’s Fifth Term and Russian Domestic Politics
This past weekend, Russians went to the polls for the country’s presidential election. To the surprise of no one, Vladimir Putin emerged victorious with a record-high 87 percent of the vote—or so the Kremlin claims. In the wake of the...
03.08.2024
Franco-German Tensions and the War in Ukraine
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macon made waves when he said that he had not ruled out sending ground troops to fight in Ukraine. This statement prompted a strong reaction from Russian President Vladimir Putin, and for many of France’s...
03.01.2024
German Politics and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party
Throughout January, Germany witnessed weeks of mass protests against the far-right in numerous towns and cities across the country. The immediate impetus for these demonstrations was the revelation that leaders of the Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, had met...
02.23.2024
Discussing Two Years of War in Ukraine with Marie Yovanovitch and William Taylor
February 24 marks the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Heading into the third year of war, Ukraine faces a challenging outlook. No longer are U.S. and European leaders talking about Russia’s strategic failure in its invasion. Indeed,...
02.16.2024
Hal Brands on the Looming Threat of Global Conflict
During the past two years, the world has seen the eruption of two major conflicts in two different regions. In Europe, Russia has launched a war of aggression against Ukraine in an attempt to reclaim a sphere of influence, while...
02.09.2024
Russia's Election and Putin's Power
In March of 2024, Russia will hold a presidential election. While Vladimir Putin is nearly certain to win another term in office given the Kremlin’s efforts to control the outcome and repress the opposition, it is far from certain how...
02.02.2024
Russia, Putin, and Ukraine in 2024 with Fiona Hill
This week’s Brussels Sprouts discusses expectations for Russia in the pivotal year ahead. As we approach the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine this February, how is the Kremlin viewing prospects for success going forward and the West’s...
01.26.2024
A Look at 2024 with Richard Fontaine and Michèle Flournoy
On this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts, we are setting out to identify some of the big-picture trends shaping the transatlantic relationship and international affairs more broadly. As we look ahead to 2024, what are the biggest challenges facing the...
01.19.2024
Crisis in the Middle East with Jon Alterman
Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas this past fall, many have feared the possibility that the fighting could metastasize into a broader regional conflict. Such fears have only grown in recent weeks, as violence has risen across...
01.12.2024
The Resurgence of Europe’s Far-Right
As we enter 2024, one of the biggest issues likely to face transatlantic partners is the rise of far-right parties in Europe, which have recently gained significant electoral support in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. After...
01.05.2024
Michael Kofman and Shashank Joshi Analyze the Ukrainian Battlefield in 2024
As 2023 came to a close, many people began to characterize the war in Ukraine as a stalemate. Though it is true that very little has recently changed along the front lines and that neither side will be able to...
12.22.2023
The Future of EU Enlargement: Obstacles and Opportunities
At last week’s European Council summit, EU heads of state and government agreed to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova as well as to grant candidate status to Georgia. These historic decisions demonstrate the new momentum in the European...
12.11.2023
Remembering a Titan: The Complex Legacy of Henry Kissinger with David Sanger and Stephen Sestanovich
On November 29, former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger died at the age of 100. With a long career spanning many decades as both a scholar and a statesman, Kissinger leaves behind a controversial legacy....
11.24.2023
Understanding the State of U.S. Support to Ukraine with Ambassador Ivo Daalder
As winter approaches and territorial changes along the frontlines in Ukraine continue to be minimal, the realization is setting in that a long war likely lies ahead. To continue to defend itself against Russia’s aggression in the months and years...
11.16.2023
How the West Can Court the Global South
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many observers have focused on the consolidation of Western unity in responding to Moscow’s aggression. However, attitudes toward the war differ significantly in many places outside of the United States and...
11.08.2023
Did China and Russia just sabotage critical infrastructure in the Baltic?
During the past several weeks, a string of attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea has highlighted the challenges NATO faces in protecting itself against hybrid threats. After the discovery of damage done to a gas pipeline between Finland...
11.02.2023
The State of European Aid to Ukraine with Justyna Gotkowska, Liana Fix, and Tara Varma
More than a year and a half after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sustained Western support for Kyiv is as critical as ever. With the future trajectory of the war remaining highly uncertain, continued military aid from both the United...
10.18.2023
Europe, Russia, and the Conflict in Gaza
Two weekends ago, news broke that Hamas had infiltrated Israeli territory, killing hundreds of civilians while taking many others hostage. In the wake of these attacks, Western leaders offered their support to Israel, condemning the actions of the Palestinian militant...
10.14.2023
The Uncertain Future of Western Support for Ukraine
Nearly 20 months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, questions are beginning to mount about the future of Western aid to Kyiv. In addition to worrying signs of faltering support in Europe, perhaps the most concerning case is in the...
10.06.2023
Analyzing the Polish Elections with R. Daniel Kelemen and Michal Baranowski
On October 15, all eyes will be on Poland as the country holds critical parliamentary elections. The months leading up to this event have seen a fiercely contested campaign, with an opposition bloc, led by the centrist Civic Coalition, attempting...
10.04.2023
Brussels Sprouts Presents a Finnish Presidential Debate
Heading into the January 2024 Finnish presidential elections, the spotlight remains on foreign policy, an area where the Finnish head of state wields considerable influence. At the forefront of Finland’s foreign policy, however, is Russia and the nature of Helsinki’s...
09.29.2023
Understanding the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict with Thomas de Waal and Ambassador Phil Reeker
On September 19, Azerbaijani forces began attacking Nagorno Karabakh, the long-disputed Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan. Within 24 hours, Azerbaijan had established full control over the territory, triggering a mass exodus of Karabakh Armenians from their homeland amid fears of ethnic...
09.15.2023
The New Authoritarian Axis: Russian Relations with North Korea and Iran
This past Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to the Russian Far East for a summit with Vladimir Putin. After more than four hours of talks, Kim vowed to provide “full and unconditional support” to Russia, a clear...
09.08.2023
The Future of the Ukrainian Counter Offensive with Mike Kofman and Mark Hertling
Over the past several months, the world’s attention has been focused on the ongoing counteroffensive by the Ukrainian army. Many of Ukraine’s supporters had high hopes for this operation, with the United States and its European allies having provided unprecedented...
09.01.2023
A Post-Prigozhin Wagner Group with Kimberly Marten and Vanda Felbab-Brown
Last week, the world learned the shocking news that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the notorious head of Wagner private military company, died in a plane crash north of Moscow. Prigozhin’s demise came exactly two months after he launched a mutiny against Russian...
08.11.2023
Germany’s Shifting China Strategy
Last month, Germany adopted its first ever strategy on China. Looking forward, Berlin’s implementation of this strategy will impact Germany, as well as the broader cohesion of the transatlantic partnership, as issues surrounding relations with China continue to grow in...
08.04.2023
Lukashenko, Wagner, and the Future of Belarus
Over the past month, Belarus has been increasingly in the spotlight, with the announcement of the Wagner Group’s relocation to the country following its aborted mutiny in Russia at the end of June. While it remains to be seen exactly...
07.28.2023
BONUS Foreign Policy Live: Assessing Kyiv’s Counteroffensive
We hope you enjoy this bonus episode of Brussels Sprouts, a collaboration between Foreign Policy and the Center for a New American Security. It’s been a mixed summer for Ukraine. Kyiv’s counteroffensive is progressing slowly, and the country was stymied in...
07.24.2023
Did Vilnius Deliver with Kurt Volker and Douglas Lute
On July 11 and 12, NATO held its widely anticipated Vilnius Summit to discuss current functions of the alliance as well as the future of Ukrainian membership. Despite hope that NATO may provide a clearer path for Ukraine’s accession into...
07.19.2023
BONUS ‎Foreign Policy Live: The Scramble for AI
In collaboration Foreign Policy Magazine, today we bring you a special bonus episode featuring Paul Scharre, Executive Vice President and Director of Studies here at CNAS. He joins host Ravi Agrawal and the Foreign Policy Live podcast to discuss his...
07.03.2023
NATO’s Security Guarantees for Ukraine
As NATO prepares for its annual summit in Vilnius this July, one of the biggest topics on the agenda will be how to guarantee long-term security for Ukraine. Given that membership in the alliance is unrealistic before the end of...
06.30.2023
Russia in the Wake of the Wagner Insurgency
Last weekend, the outbreak of an insurgency against the Russian state by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group shocked observers across the world. After accusing the Russian Ministry of Defense of having attacked Wagner troops on Friday, Prigozhin vowed to retaliate and...
06.27.2023
The Precarious Nature of Putin’s Regime
Over the weekend, infighting between Prigozhin and Shoigu led to seismic shifts in Russian domestic stability. This episode was recorded on Friday, June 23, prior to start of the Wagner Group’s insurgency within Russia. The implications of Wagner’s armed rebellion...
06.23.2023
The Battlefield Landscape in Ukraine with Mike Kofman and Konrad Muzyka
Three weeks ago, Ukraine began its widely anticipated counteroffensive. Observers are watching for key developments on the battlefield as Ukraine attempts to regain territory, which is unfolding slower than hoped. Mike Kofman and Konrad Muzyka join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim...
06.16.2023
A Turn in German Security Infrastructure?
On Wednesday, June 14th, the German government presented the country’s first ever National Security Strategy, laying out Germany’s commitment to three key pillars: active defense, resilience, and sustainability. Following Scholz’s “Zeitenwende” paradigm shift, experts wonder whether Germany is ready to...
06.12.2023
Brussels Sprouts Live with Jens Stoltenberg and Julianne Smith
In this special episode marking the podcast’s 5-year anniversary, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a conversation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing response to the...
06.09.2023
Did the TTC Deliver with Fran Burwell and Tyson Barker
On May 30-31, the fourth ministerial meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council was held in Luleå, Sweden. All eyes were on this meeting, after previous ministerials failed to produce concrete results due to fissures in transatlantic industrial policy....
05.26.2023
The Trajectory of the War in Ukraine
The trajectory of the war in Ukraine hinges on the outcome of the widely anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. Recent events spell trouble for Russia as Pro-Ukrainian Russian fighters launched attacks on Russian soil in Belgorod this week and the United States...
05.22.2023
What Does the Future Hold for Turkey?
Turkey’s presidential election is headed to a second round after no candidate won an outright majority on May 14. Ahead of the rematch between current President Erdoğan and opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on May 28, many observers are wondering what...
05.12.2023
The Road to Vilnius with Alexander Vershbow and Ian Brzezinski
In July, NATO will host its annual summit in Vilnius to discuss the path forward for the European security architecture. NATO Allies have provided critical support to Kyiv ahead of its much-anticipated counteroffensive. However, there are increased calls for more...
04.28.2023
The Coming Ukrainian Counteroffensive with Michael Kofman
While transatlantic partners remain supportive of Ukraine, there are questions about the success of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. Many Western leaders harbor doubts about how a protracted war could impact the future of transatlantic support of Ukraine. In this context,...
04.14.2023
Macron’s Vision for Europe and Its Implications on Transatlantic Unity
Macron's comments on strategic autonomy and Europe's role on Taiwan have sparked criticism amongst transatlantic partners. While the Biden administration and some European Union officials have downplayed the comments, questions remain over whether Macron's views reflect larger European attitudes on...
04.07.2023
Post-Cold War NATO Enlargement and Its Implications Today
Following the release of the book, Evaluating NATO Enlargement: From Cold War Victory to the Russia-Ukraine War, we are discussing NATO enlargement from a historical perspective. The editors, Joshua Shifrinson and James Goldgeier, join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to...
03.31.2023
Russia-China Relations One Year after the Invasion of Ukraine, with Bonnie Glaser, Dmitry Gorenburg, Richard Weitz, Yusuke Anami
As Russia has become increasingly isolated on the international stage following its invasion of Ukraine last February, it has sought to deepen its ties with remaining partners such as China. While Beijing has so far provided only limited support to...
03.17.2023
The Future of the Transatlantic Partnership, with Max Bergmann and David Kleimann
What do the visits to the White House by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mean for the transatlantic partnership? Max Bergmann and David Kleimann join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the...
03.10.2023
The State of Global Democracy in 2023, with Larry Diamond and Sheri Berman
How should we assess the state of democracy around the world today? Larry Diamond and Sheri Berman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, and Carisa Nietsche to discuss the signs of democratic revitalization across the globe. Larry Diamond is a senior fellow...
03.03.2023
Russian Political Stability: Assessing Putin’s Hold on Power
As we pass the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, numerous factors such as the Russian military’s poor performance, Putin’s botched mobilization, mounting casualties, economic challenges resulting from sanctions and export controls, and increasingly visible elite fissures are raising...
02.24.2023
Marking One Year of the War in Ukraine
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the reality is setting in that we are facing a drawn out and protracted conflict. Both the United States and Europe are grappling with this reality, and it...

What's Brussels Sprouts about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Brussels Sprouts episodes:

Interpreting the Recent Turkish Elections with Asli Aydintaşbaş and Steven Cook

Macron’s Change in Tune and the War in Ukraine

Putin’s Fifth Term and Russian Domestic Politics

Franco-German Tensions and the War in Ukraine

German Politics and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Party

Discussing Two Years of War in Ukraine with Marie Yovanovitch and William Taylor

Hal Brands on the Looming Threat of Global Conflict

Russia's Election and Putin's Power

Russia, Putin, and Ukraine in 2024 with Fiona Hill

A Look at 2024 with Richard Fontaine and Michèle Flournoy

Crisis in the Middle East with Jon Alterman

The Resurgence of Europe’s Far-Right

Michael Kofman and Shashank Joshi Analyze the Ukrainian Battlefield in 2024

The Future of EU Enlargement: Obstacles and Opportunities

Remembering a Titan: The Complex Legacy of Henry Kissinger with David Sanger and Stephen Sestanovich

Understanding the State of U.S. Support to Ukraine with Ambassador Ivo Daalder

How the West Can Court the Global South

Did China and Russia just sabotage critical infrastructure in the Baltic?

The State of European Aid to Ukraine with Justyna Gotkowska, Liana Fix, and Tara Varma

Europe, Russia, and the Conflict in Gaza

The Uncertain Future of Western Support for Ukraine

Analyzing the Polish Elections with R. Daniel Kelemen and Michal Baranowski

Brussels Sprouts Presents a Finnish Presidential Debate

Understanding the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict with Thomas de Waal and Ambassador Phil Reeker

The New Authoritarian Axis: Russian Relations with North Korea and Iran

The Future of the Ukrainian Counter Offensive with Mike Kofman and Mark Hertling

A Post-Prigozhin Wagner Group with Kimberly Marten and Vanda Felbab-Brown

Germany’s Shifting China Strategy

Lukashenko, Wagner, and the Future of Belarus

BONUS Foreign Policy Live: Assessing Kyiv’s Counteroffensive

Did Vilnius Deliver with Kurt Volker and Douglas Lute

BONUS ‎Foreign Policy Live: The Scramble for AI

NATO’s Security Guarantees for Ukraine

Russia in the Wake of the Wagner Insurgency

The Precarious Nature of Putin’s Regime

The Battlefield Landscape in Ukraine with Mike Kofman and Konrad Muzyka

A Turn in German Security Infrastructure?

Brussels Sprouts Live with Jens Stoltenberg and Julianne Smith

Did the TTC Deliver with Fran Burwell and Tyson Barker

The Trajectory of the War in Ukraine

What Does the Future Hold for Turkey?

The Road to Vilnius with Alexander Vershbow and Ian Brzezinski

The Coming Ukrainian Counteroffensive with Michael Kofman

Macron’s Vision for Europe and Its Implications on Transatlantic Unity

Post-Cold War NATO Enlargement and Its Implications Today

Russia-China Relations One Year after the Invasion of Ukraine, with Bonnie Glaser, Dmitry Gorenburg, Richard Weitz, Yusuke Anami

The Future of the Transatlantic Partnership, with Max Bergmann and David Kleimann

The State of Global Democracy in 2023, with Larry Diamond and Sheri Berman

Russian Political Stability: Assessing Putin’s Hold on Power

Marking One Year of the War in Ukraine