Chris is joined by Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House and author of Who Will Defend Europe?, to discuss the looming threat of Russian aggression and Europe’s unpreparedness for war. They dig into the failure of Western governments to heed repeated warnings about Moscow’s ambitions, the dangerous reliance on outdated post-Cold War assumptions, and the consequences of US disengagement from European security. Keir breaks down Russia’s long-range strike capabilities, its military adaptation in Ukraine, and the likelihood of future conflicts—including whether a NATO country could be next. They also examine Trump’s approach to Russia, the vulnerability of Western societies to Russian influence, and how Europe must step up its own defense before it’s too late.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wSWUv-1brdY

Keir’s analysis for Chatham House’s Russia & Eurasia Programme: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/keir-giles

Read Who Will Defend Europe? and Keir’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0034PGI2C

Follow Keir on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/keirgiles.bsky.social

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Secrets and Spies is produced by F & P LTD.

Music by Andrew R. Bird

Secrets and Spies sits at the intersection of intelligence, covert action, real-world espionage, and broader geopolitics in a way that is digestible but serious. Hosted by filmmaker Chris Carr and writer Matt Fulton, each episode unpacks global events through the lens of intelligence and geopolitics, featuring expert insights from former spies, authors, and analysts.