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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Air Marshal (Retd) Martin 'Sammy' Sampson, Dr Hasan Alhasan, Wolf-Christian Paes and Asna Wajid to reflect on the IISS Manama Dialogue 2025, which took place in the Kingdom of Bahrain on 31 October–2 November 2025. 

Together they discuss how the Dialogue reflected shifting regional alignments, the implications of global power competition for Middle Eastern security, and new avenues for cooperation on defence, technology and economic stability. The conversation also examines how the Gulf’s strategic priorities are evolving in light of ongoing conflicts, energy transition pressures, and emerging great-power dynamics.

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.

Date of Recording: 05 November 2025

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Dr Ben Schreer, Fenella McGerty and Ester Sabatino to reflect on the 2nd IISS Prague Defence Summit, which was held on 3–5 September 2025. 

Meia, Ben, Fenella and Esther discuss the major takeaways from the Prague Defence Summit, including:

• Secretary General Mark Rutte’s call for stronger European defence production in the face of closer Russia–China cooperation;
• The sustainability of record-high defence spending and new ways to fund Europe’s security;
• How procurement reforms and EU initiatives are reshaping Europe’s defence industrial landscape;
• The growing role of Indo-Pacific and non-EU partners in strengthening European security.

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.

Date of Recording: 10 September 2025

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Veerle Nouwens, Morgan Michaels and Darshana Baruah to reflect on the 22nd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which was held on 30 May–1 June 2025. 

Meia, Veerle, Morgan and Darshana discuss key takeaways and topics include: 

• US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his landmark speech on the US’ new ambitions for the Indo-Pacific; 
• President Macron’s proposal for greater European-Asian engagement;
• Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim's call for shared purpose and cooperation in order to prevent further fracturing of the international order and support peace and stability; and
• how the wider Indo-Pacific dynamics featured in this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, such as the security priorities of Pacific Island states and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.          

Date of Recording: 3 June 2025    

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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In this Sounds Strategic episode, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Veerle Nouwens, Evan A. Laksmana and Nick Childs to discuss the upcoming 22nd IISS Shangri La Dialogue, which will be held in Singapore from 30 May–1 June. 

This year’s dialogue is held against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, an intense US trade and tariff war with China, heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and ongoing military modernisation across the Asia Pacific.  

Key themes explored include  

•  the impact of great power competition on small and medium powers in the region; 
• strategies to manage nuclear and conventional proliferation risks; 
• and the evolving defence challenges in critical domains such as undersea warfare, cyber security and outer space. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.          

Date of Recording: 16 May 2025   

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

Find out more: https://www.iiss.org/

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Europe’s defence posture is evolving rapidly — but is the pace of change sustainable? In this episode, IISS experts examine global and regional defence spending trends, the EU’s emerging industrial initiatives and the implications of Germany’s policy shift. 

Host Meia Nouwens is joined by Fenella McGerty, Ester Sabatino and Ben Schreer to discuss whether current trends represent a pivot in European strategic capability or if policy ambition will be constrained by economic and political realities. 

Key themes include: 

• Drivers behind global and European defence spending increases 
• The EU’s ReArm Europe 
• Constraints on joint procurement and industrial scalability 
• Germany’s budget shift and prospects for sustained leadership 
• Geopolitical uncertainties and potential disruptors 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.              

Date of Recording: 24 March 2025   

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Dr Maria Shagina and Franz-Stefan Gady to discuss the recent developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. 

Almost three years to the date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a new US administration has drastically changed the course of events. President Trump has signaled a desire for the war to end, and for the US’ attention to focus on strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific instead of on European security matters. At the time of recording, the US and Russia are negotiating Ukraine’s future, without Ukraine represented at the table. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.         

Date of Recording: 17 February 2025  

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.    

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, we explore the main takeaways from the 20th IISS Manama Dialogue, held in Bahrain from 6 to 8 December 2024. IISS host Meia Nouwens is joined by experts Air Marshal (Retd) Martin ‘Sammy’  Sampson, Dr Irene Mia and Dr Hasan Alhasan to discuss to their views on the themes that emerged from the Dialogue ranging from conflict resolution to post-conflict reconstruction. 

The IISS Manama Dialogue came at a momentous time for the Middle East, with ongoing conflicts and instability in the region. By the end of the Dialogue, the Assad regime had collapsed. Themes include global security, the eroding rules-based order, and the implications of expanding strategic partnerships. The episode also touched on Iran’s regional influence, the complexities of post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, and the growing role of non-state actors in conflict zones.  

Tune in for an in-depth look at the geopolitical challenges and solutions shaping the Middle East. We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.        

Date of Recording: 11 December 2024    

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.  

We recommend the following background reading for this episode:     

• IISS Manama Dialogue 2024 
• IISS Manama Dialogue 2024: Introduction and Expert Commentary 
• Chapter 1 | Geopolitics: Fragmentation, competition and the persistence of conflict 
• Armed Conflict Survey 2024: Editor's Introduction 
• Iran’s strategic limbo 
• Tracking Gulf defence production: armoured vehicles lead the way 
• Human and development costs of the Middle East’s protracted conflicts 
• Bridging, not hedging: Arab Gulf States’ ambitions in a polarised world 

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In this podcast episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Ben Schreer, Fenella McGerty, Tom Waldwyn and Ester Sabatino to discuss the status and future trajectory of European defence and look back on the main take-aways from the IISS Prague Defence Summit. 

Meia, Ben, Fenella, Tom and Ester analyse the trends in European and NATO defence spending and what’s next given the Trump election victory in the recent US presidential election. They also focus on the trends in military procurement, and challenges to building readiness. In addition, they discuss the challenges Europe faces in securing rare materials and critical raw minerals that are vital to defence production, and discuss what’s being done already, and what’s on the horizon for European security of supply. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.       

Date of Recording: 12 November 2024   

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Emile Hokayem, Hasan Alhasan and Fabian Hinz to discuss the ongoing developments in the Middle East.

One year after 7 October, the speakers share their insights on the regional developments – from the status of the war in Gaza to the broadening of Israel’s operations in the region. The IISS experts discuss the strategic calculations behind Israel’s operations in Gaza and Lebanon, the evolving role of Iran and its regional allies, and the Gulf states' efforts to maintain stability amid rising tensions. As the United States and the wider West navigate a complex regional landscape, we consider the shifting balance of power and the potential diplomatic, military and humanitarian repercussions.  

Join us for our in-depth analysis of the current conflict and its implications for regional and global security. 

We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on the podcast platform of your choice.     

Date of Recording: 2 October 2024 

The podcast is recorded and produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies. For more information, please visit https://www.iiss.org/   

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