Jim Goldgeier, Professor of International Relations at American University, and Josh Shifrinson, Professor of International Relations at Boston University, join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss NATO expansion, U.S.-Russia relations, and the upcoming NATO Summit.

In a period of such rapid global change, how does the Kremlin view China? Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor to discuss Russian foreign policy, the country's cooperation with China, and more.

Ambassador Dan Fried, Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the state of European and American democracy 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Reflecting on that critical juncture in history, this episode explains how 1989 shapes U.S. policy today, discusses the role of NATO expansion in U.S.-Russia relations today, and gives us a reason to be hopeful about the future of democracy in the United States and Europe.

Audun Halvorsen, State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss Norwegian foreign policy, what the Arctic means to Norway, and the state of its relationship with NATO and the United States. As the High North opens up due to climate change and increased development, Norway will play a key role in the navigability, stability, and economic future of the Arctic region.

Julie Smith, Director of the Asia Program at The German Marshall Fund, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to recap her year as the Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin. Smith explains the state of German politics, foreign policy, and perceptions of the transatlantic relationship in Europe.

The United States’ withdrawal and the Turkish military’s incursion into the Kurdish-controlled northeast have completely changed the balance of power in Syria. Without American support and minimal humanitarian aid, Kurdish forces have said they cannot simultaneously hold off Turkey’s advance and maintain guard over thousands of former ISIS fighters and their families. CNAS Middle East Security Senior Fellow Nick Heras joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the latest developments, the Kurds' prospects in a prolonged conflict, and what this means for U.S. policy toward Syria and in the Middle East.

Camille Grand, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the 70th anniversary of NATO and the challenges ahead. While mutual defense and deterrence will remain the alliance’s core mission, the cyber domain, China’s strategic rise, and the future of out-of-area operations will challenge the alliance's character and purpose. Addressing these challenges will require greater investment and coordination.

Dr. Alice Pannier, Assistant Professor of International Relations and European Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a conversation about the state of NATO, French geopolitics, and the future of European security. This episode explores the effects of Emmanuel Macron's call for rapprochement with Russia and investigates whether this move will lead to greater insecurity instead of securing strategic stability.

Daniel Bagge, Cyber Attaché of the Czech Republic to the United States and Canada, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for an in-depth discussion on the security of 5G networks, the implications for transatlantic security, and the future governance of emerging technologies. Bagge explains how the Czech Republic’s pioneering regulatory, legal, and political moves in cyber security can be adapted to other nations’ needs and could reinforce transatlantic and NATO security.

Dr. Erik Jones, Director of European and Eurasian Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced and International Studies, joins Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend for a rundown of what’s happening in Italian politics. Matteo Salvini’s defection from the previous coalition government set off a series of events that have resulted in Salvini’s League party on the outside and the incumbent Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, still in power. Dr. Jones explains what is likely to happen next and what the options are for Conte and Salvini going forward.