Artificial intelligence is reshaping warfare, and in this episode, we explore its profound implications with Michael Nyberg, a professor at the US Army War College, and Tom Crosby, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College. Tom’s sociological view questions if AI could lead to a “post-human” war, eroding human limits and strengths, while Michael, a historian, sees AI distilling vast archives into actionable insights for leaders. Their insights, shaped by teaching future commanders, spark reflection on AI’s dual nature—amplifying or destabilising conflict.

What You’ll Learn

• AI’s Risks: How non-human actors could redefine war’s escalation.
• Historical Insight: Using AI to query past conflicts for today’s strategies.
• Cultural Dynamics: Balancing warrior ethos with modern values in AI’s shadow.
• Officer Training: Preparing leaders for AI’s opportunities and limits.

Both speakers contributed chapters on this topic to CHACR's latest book: Storm Proofing: Preparing Armies for Future War.

Key Moments

06:08 - Historical Insights via AI

10:10 - AI-Driven Targeting in Conflict

15:28 - Military Culture and AI Integration

19:34 - Engaging Future Military Leaders

24:54 - Crafting Effective AI Queries

27:27 - AI as a Thinking Tool

30:17 - Navigating Rapid Technological Shifts

34:35 - AI’s Opportunities and Limits

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of Facing Coming Storms, Matthew Sperzel and Daniel Shats from the Institute for the Study of War join us to explore rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait. We discuss China’s growing military and diplomatic pressure—daily aerial incursions, coast guard patrols near Taiwan’s islands—and debate if Xi Jinping’s 2027 deadline signals action or posturing.

What You’ll Learn

• China’s Coercion: How daily military moves pressure Taiwan.  
• Taiwan’s Defence: Asymmetric strategies against a giant.  
• US Ambiguity: The delicate balance of deterrence.  
• Global Stakes: Taiwan’s role in a wider geopolitical storm.

Matthew and Daniel’s insights reveal Taiwan as a crucible for our turbulent times.

Key moments

04:18 - Escalating Chinese Pressure on Taiwan
15:25 - Taiwan’s Asymmetric Military Strategy
20:14 - U.S. Military Presence in Taiwan
29:16 - China’s Blockade Drills and Scenarios
42:34 - U.S. Preparations for a Taiwan Conflict
51:29 - Hong Kong’s Impact on Taiwanese Sentiment

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

The sky is the new battleground for global powers. In this episode of Facing Coming Storms, aerospace expert Douglas Barry from the International Institute for Strategic Studies joins us to unpack the rapid evolution of military aviation and space. From Ukraine’s drone tactics to China’s space defences and the U.S.’s next-generation fighters, we explore how drones, lasers, and sixth-generation aircraft are reshaping warfare.

We dive into escalating costs, the race for air superiority, and the electromagnetic battlefield redefining missions. From fibre-optic drones to space militarization, we examine the toll on soldiers and commanders, plus the human cost.

Key moments

• 02:56 - Surge in Aerospace Innovation
• 06:34 - Drone Proliferation and Countermeasures
• 12:01 - Electronic Warfare and Fiber Optics
• 15:14 - Role of Next-Gen Combat Aircraft
• 19:19 - Impact of Space Systems on Warfare
• 23:01 - Airspace Management Complexities
• 26:20 - Recruitment and Retention Issues
• 30:40 - AI-Driven Targeting Revolution
• 34:33 - Performative Strikes and Escalation Risks
• 38:14 - Space Vulnerabilities and Connectivity
• 40:27 - Adapting to Rapid Technological Change

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

Is the West ready for a multipolar storm? In this episode of Facing Coming Storms, Samir Puri, former British diplomat and Chatham House director, joins us to dissect the West’s fading unipolar dominance as the Global South asserts its weight. We shred the 1990s fantasy of universal democracy and capitalism, now eclipsed by India’s strategic tightrope and South Africa’s bold Hague plays. From our election-monitoring days in Ukraine and Kenya, we trace the collapse of the West’s “history’s victor” myth.

Puri argues that navigating this fragmented world demands cultural fluency as much as strategic muscle—vital for military, policy, and business leaders alike. With Ukraine’s war, China’s economic sway, and the UAE’s multi-alignment reshaping power, we explore how to thrive in a chaotic, multipolar future.

Key moments

• 03:32 - Evolution of the Global South's Role
• 11:50 - Emerging Powers and Autonomous Strategies
• 23:33 - Southeast Asia's Multi-Alignment Approach
• 33:06 - Russia's Asian Pivot and Sanctions
• 35:49 - Engaging the Global South Militarily
• 43:23 - India's Strategic Multi-Alignment
• 50:33 - Optimism Amid a Multipolar Transition

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

Are we heading toward endless wars or can we pull back? In this episode of Facing Coming Storms, Nikolas Gvosdev joins us to dissect 2025’s conflicts—from Ukraine and Gaza to Houthi attacks and India-Pakistan tensions. We explore “performative strikes” risking escalation and depleted arsenals, like US Tomahawks and Europe’s scarce shells.

Gvosdev reveals how drones sinking ships expose Western military gaps, unprepared for long wars. We probe nuclear powers clashing indirectly and societies’ readiness for mass casualties. From White House de-escalation to tariff-hit economies, this episode unpacks a world teetering between posturing and disaster—a must for grasping today’s unstable global order.

Key moments

• 07:25 - Balancing Military Will and Resource Constraints
• 13:21 - Lessons from Prolonged Conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza
• 17:50 - Evolving Norms of Nuclear Powers in Conflict
• 21:46 - Societal Tolerance for Casualties in Modern Warfare
• 30:36 - Global Economic Impacts on Conflict Dynamics
• 35:12 - De-escalation Strategies in a Multipolar World
• 43:12 - Cultural Influences on Military Preparedness

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

How do armies adapt as tech surges and geopolitics destabilise? Leo Blanken from the US Naval Postgraduate School and JP Clark from the US Army War College, contributors to Storm Proofing: Preparing Armies for a Future War from CHACR, out this week, share insights. With the world less safe, this book unites fifteen UK, US, and European experts to prepare for an unpredictable storm. Storm Proofing probes how armies approach war, how soldiers think, and how these human elements mesh with AI and tech.

Drawing from Storm Proofing, we explore the 2020s, where AI, drones, and edge computing reshape warfare—from Ukraine’s drone units to US Navy’s Gulf patrols. Leo unpacks the human side of autonomous systems; JP examines organizing soldiers for all-domain operations, blending instincts with tech. This episode tackles 21st-century conflict.

Key moments

• 3:54 - The Rise of AI in Military Operations
• 7:23 - Integration Challenges in Modern Warfare
• 9:51 - Balancing Tradition and Technology
• 18:46 - Navigating Organisational Tensions
• 27:35 - The Complexity of International Alliances
• 45:08 - Preparing for Uncertain Futures
• 56:13 - Reflections on Military Evolution

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

What’s the world look like through a global defence lens today? On this special episode of Facing Coming Storms, we team up with Anna-Joy Rickard, host of The Great British Foreign Affairs Podcast. Peter takes the hot seat, quizzed by Anna-Joy on massive global shifts—Washington’s focus on China, Europe’s worry about Russia, and the UK stuck between big dreams and European realities. Recorded just after Trump’s first 100 days, we explore bold US moves in the Middle East, Taiwan’s growing tensions, and how trade wars, tech, and alliances are changing everything.

Anna-Joy asks tough questions about NATO’s strength, rising isolationism, and the future of tech in warfare. Can Europe step up as the US looks to Asia? Is Taiwan’s 2027 deadline trouble? What’s J.D. Vance’s role in all this? It’s a clear, honest look at a world in turmoil —great for anyone wanting to understand what’s driving us toward calm or chaos.

Key moments

• 1:54 - US Global Threats Perspective
• 14:09 - Shifts in Global Alliances
• 22:35 - Taiwan's Risk Assessment
• 31:33 - Technology's Impact on Warfare
• 40:29 - The Future of NATO

Subscribe to Peter's regular column for Reuters.

Subscribe to Anna-Joy's 'Wonderful World, Wonderful Life' newsletter.

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

As we approach the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with conflicts like Ukraine still raging, we’re diving into the complex question of how wars truly end. Joined by Major General Andrew Sharpe, director of CHACR, the British Army’s think tank; Matthias Strohn, leading CHACR's historical analysis; and Andrew Stewart, CHACR’s conflict analysis expert, we unpack the messy paths to peace.

From Germany’s stark post-World War II reset, where deterrence became key, to the blurred outcomes of Iraq and Afghanistan, we explore why victory often feels like a mirage. Ukraine’s war, rooted in centuries-old tensions, reminds us that some conflicts don’t resolve—they merely pause. In this episode, our discussion challenges us to rethink what peace means when history keeps resurfacing, demanding we confront the past’s enduring grip.

Key moments

• 05:32 - Clausewitzian Insights on War and Policy
• 13:25 - German Perspectives on Post-War Reconciliation
• 21:20 - Defining War vs. Conflict in Modern Context
• 35:09 - Challenges of Ending Modern Wars of Choice
• 46:22 - Rebuilding Societies After Conflict
• 56:49 - Ukraine and the Complexity of Ceasefires
• 01:04:01 - National Interests and Utopianism in Global Conflicts

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

Curious about the world of government, military, and global decisions, where power weighs a ton yet slips away? In this Facing Coming Storms episode, we’re joined by Ari Ratner, ex-Obama State Department insider turned D.C. sceptic; Liisa Past, Estonia’s former cybersecurity chief and NATO pro; and Brigadier Robbie Boyd, retired British officer with NATO and UN battle scars.

We uncover the gritty truth of crisis leadership—creaking systems, gut-wrenching calls, and the razor’s edge of slashing red tape without sparking chaos. From D.C. to Tallinn to Brussels, it’s a no-filter take on uncertainty, rigid institutions, and humility as our last stand.

Key moments

• 10:51 - Military Perspectives on Governance
• 15:20 - The Balance of Military and Civilian Roles
• 22:27 - Navigating Bureaucracy in Government
• 40:40 - Power Dynamics and Insecurity in Washington
• 45:03 - Understanding Context in Global Governance
• 53:41 - Hope and Challenges in Military Reform

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of Facing Coming Storms, we explore the Baltic states—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—as NATO’s frontline amid Russia’s growing shadow.

Joined by Oliver Moody, Liis Mure, Aliide Naylor, and George Barros, we unpack the region’s turbulent history, current defences, and the human stakes. From Soviet echoes to NATO drones, we explore     how these nations face a resurgent Russia, with insights on military shifts, societal resolve, and the looming global flashpoint.

Key moments

• 0:37 - The Importance of the Baltic Region
• 7:12 - NATO's Role in Baltic Security
• 15:14 - Russia's Military Strategy
• 23:54 - European Defence Industry Challenges
• 35:33 - Addressing Russian Influence
• 42:39 - Historical Context and Current Tensions
• 45:48 - Preparing for Future Conflicts

Facing Coming Storms is brought to you by the British Army’s Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research, in partnership with the Project for the Study of the 21st Century, and produced by Urban Podcasts.