On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Ilan Berman of the American Foreign Policy Council, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute, Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security and Michael Herson of American Defense International.

Topics:

— Issues for Congress as it returns from spring break on Tuesday including Title 42 and the reopening the US border, covid relief legislation, USICA-Competes, another Ukraine supplemental and congressional reaction to Biden administration’s decision to end anti-satellite weapon testing

— Biden administration’s increasing support for Ukraine including more heavy weapons and US Air Force’s rapid development and production of Phoenix Ghost loitering munitions

— What’s next now that Russian commanders have admitted they plan to take half of Ukraine and the country’s entire south

— Whether revelations of Marine Le Pen’s financial and political ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin will hurt her chances against Emmanuel Macron in the runoff for France’s presidency

— How change in French leadership could impact European and global security given France’s pivotal role

— China doubles down on its alliance with Russia despite Russian atrocities in Ukraine as US diplomatic scramble to convince the Solomon Islands against partnering with Beijing

— Chinese amphibious exercises specifically aimed at underscoring threat to invade Taiwan if necessary to unite the island democracy with the mainland

— India’s continuing reluctance to break with Moscow despite Ukraine war

— Complex dynamics in relationships among the United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel

— Update on whether Bennett government will remain in power as Bibi Netanyahu gains momentum to regain office

— Issues for Congress as it returns from spring break on Tuesday including Title 42 and the reopening the US border, covid relief legislation, USICA-Competes, another Ukraine supplemental and congressional reaction to Biden administration’s decision to end anti-satellite weapon testing

— Biden administration’s increasing support for Ukraine including more heavy weapons and US Air Force’s rapid development and production of Phoenix Ghost loitering munitions

— What’s next now that Russian commanders have admitted they plan to take half of Ukraine and the country’s entire south

— Whether revelations of Marine Le Pen’s financial and political ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin will hurt her chances against Emmanuel Macron in the runoff for France’s presidency

— How change in French leadership could impact European and global security given France’s pivotal role

— China doubles down on its alliance with Russia despite Russian atrocities in Ukraine as US diplomatic scramble to convince the Solomon Islands against partnering with Beijing

— Chinese amphibious exercises specifically aimed at underscoring threat to invade Taiwan if necessary to unite the island democracy with the mainland

— India’s continuing reluctance to break with Moscow despite Ukraine war

— Complex dynamics in relationships among the United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Israel

— Update on whether Bennett government will remain in power as Bibi Netanyahu gains momentum to regain office