On the Cusp

Latvia faces unenviable national security challenges, including a mighty neighbour to the East. But the country has an answer: in a new programme called Comprehensive Defence, the government is involving everyone from teenagers to businesses in national security. And it seems to be working. In this podcast episode, Elisabeth Braw discusses Comprehensive Defence with Latvia's defence minister and deputy prime minister Dr Artis Pabriks.

Despite massive efforts to improve cyber defence, cyber attacks are growing. Even hospitals are attacked. A central but little-discussed aspect are the legal implications for cyber victims. Listen to Elisabeth Braw’s discussion with Jonathan Kewley, who as co-head of Clifford Chance’s Tech Group leads more than 400 lawyers.

Elisabeth Braw speaks with Giedrimas Jeglinskas, NATO’s Assistant Secretary-General for Executive Management, about what his job running NATO’s headquarters entails, about NATO’s efforts to help fight coronavirus and whether NATO should even do humanitarian work. Plus, is the alliance capable of innovating?

Cyber aggressors are not taking a break simply because countries are busy battling coronavirus – quite the opposite. In fact, despite governments and companies’ efforts to deter cyber aggression it keeps increasing. Elisabeth Braw discusses what can be done in an interview with Dr Samantha Ravich of the US Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which has just published a major report with proposals for better cyber defence and deterrence.

Elisabeth Braw explores how insurance gaps impact major disasters with James Vickers, and finds there are enormous gaps. 

Thanks to Willis Towers Watson for making this podcast possible. The podcast is produced by Tom Ascott. With help from Narrative Audio. Theme music is Bumbling by Pictures of the Floating World.

We need to get used to the idea that our convenient societies can't be convenient every single day. Could teenagers play a larger role in helping countries respond to threats? Elisabeth Braw and Per Brekke discuss. 

Thanks to Willis Towers Watson for making this podcast possible. The podcast is produced by Tom Ascott. With help from Narrative Audio. Theme music is Bumbling by Pictures of the Floating World.

Elisabeth Braw talks with Dan Eliasson, Director General of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. They discuss how countries can help their populations prepare for a national crisis without knowing what exactly the contingencies will be.