NATO held its Madrid summit on 28-30 June 2022 against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the signing of an accession protocol for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance. Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts to discuss the adoption of the new Strategic Concept, its ambitions and challenges. 

Meia Nouwens and IISS experts Dr Bastian Giegerich, William Alberque, Dr Simona Soare and Fenella McGerty discuss: 

• NATO's conventional force and tasks 
• NATO’s nuclear posture and arms control 
• NATO’s defence spending ambitions 
• NATO’s innovation efforts 

Host and speakers:

• Meia Nouwens, IISS Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation | Twitter: @MeiaNouwens | Meia Nouwens (iiss.org) 
• Dr Bastian Giegerich, Director of Defence and Military Analysis | Dr Bastian Giegerich (iiss.org) 
• William Alberque, Director of Strategy, Technology, and Arms Control | Twitter: @walberque | William Alberque (iiss.org) 
• Fenella McGerty, Senior Fellow for Defence Economics | Twitter: @FMcGerty | Fenella McGerty (iiss.org) 
• Dr Simona Soare, Research Fellow for Defence and Military Analysis | Twitter: @Simona_Soare | Simona Soare (iiss.org) 

We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. 

Date of recording: 12 July 2022 

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.