SSI Live Podcast

The SSI's Professor Trey Braun and Dr. David Lai recently led a diverse team of Army War College researchers in assessing competition between the United States and China in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Their study examines U.S.-China gray zone competition in and identifies land forces capabilities and initiatives necessary to advance U.S. national interests in the face of that competition. In this podcast, Prof. Braun spoke to Dr. John R. Deni about the report and its key findings and recommendations. Released 19 January 2017.

Yesterday, President-Elect Donald Trump unofficially announced that he would nominate retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as his Secretary of Defense. What does this nomination say about the direction of the Trump administration's security and defense policy? What are the implications for the fight against the Islamic State, or for managing security challenges in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere? Dr. John R. Deni invited two SSI colleagues who are experts in U.S. defense policy and security strategy, Dr. Steven Metz and Prof. Nate Freier, to discuss these questions. Released 2 December 2016.

What is the ‘U.S. Factor’ in Chinese perceptions of international relations? How is it manifested in, for example, disputed claims in the South China Sea, or in broader U.S.-Chinese relations? SSI Live host Dr. John R. Deni invited his SSI colleague, Dr. David Lai, to discuss these questions and related issues, including how the United States and China can escape the cycle of misperception and conspiracy theorizing. Released 27 October 2016.

Last week's U.S. election results were not simply a surprise to most Europeans. Rather, they have led to a profound sense of anxiety and insecurity, especially in Eastern Europe. In this podcast, the SSI's Dr. John R. Deni provides insights gleaned from his trip to Tallinn, Estonia just after the elections, and the reactions he heard from students, government ministers, academics, parliamentarians, and think tank experts. Released 16 November 2016.

This past Sunday, Colombians rejected by a slim majority the peace accord negotiated by the government with the FARC leftist organization. Is the peace deal truly a dead letter? What’s in store for Colombia’s military as a result? What implications are there for the close security ties between the United States and Colombia? In this podcast, Dr. John R. Deni invited the SSI’s Dr. R. Evan Ellis to offer his insights from his extensive travels through Latin America and his discussions with Colombian counterparts. Released 11 October 2016.

Last week, the Army War College's SSI partnered with the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies and the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. to conduct a roll-out event for the 2016 German Defense White Paper (or Weissbuch). This White Paper was the first written in a decade, and represents a paradigm shift in German security policy. Dr. John R. Deni discusses the White Paper and its most significant aspects, outlines the implications for Europe and the transatlantic alliance, and encourages listeners to watch the entire half-day conference at the SSI website. Released 30 September 2016.

This past week, Turkey launched offensive ground operations into Syria, battling ISIS fighters for control of territory. This comes on the heels of the attempted coup in mid-July and the subsequent purge of the Turkish military by President Erdogan. What impact is the purge having on the military, and what are the implications for Turkey's incursion into Syria? Dr. Andy Terrill joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss these developments and to discuss the outlook for Turkish-US relations. Released 30 August 2016.

Late last week, President Barack Obama announced his decision to slow the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, leaving 8,400 troops there until the end of his term. Media accounts characterized this as a vote of confidence in Afghanistan's government but also an acknowledgement that U.S. efforts to build an Afghan force capable of securing the entire country had fallen short. Will the slower drawdown strengthen U.S. efforts at nation-building in Afghanistan? Is nation-building even possible there or elsewhere? Dr. John R. Deni invited his SSI colleague Dr. Chris Mason to discuss Mason's newest publication, a Parameters article entitled "Nation-Building is an Oxymoron," as well as last week's announcement on the slowed drawdown. Released 15 July 2016.

Since his election in 2013, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has made significant changes in the strategy and institutions of the country to combat the interrelated scourges of organized crime and violent gangs, resulting in some notable successes. Yet challenges remain, especially in terms of corruption, and allegations of human rights violations threaten to undermine progress achieved to date. How should U.S. policymakers react? Is Honduras on the right path, and how can Washington incentivize the positive trends? In this podcast, the SSI's Dr. R. Evan Ellis discusses his latest monograph with Dr. John R. Deni. Released 8 July 2016.

Starting in 2017, Washington plans to begin heel-to-toe rotations of an armored brigade from the United States to Eastern Europe. Is this a significant improvement over the assurance and deterrence steps taken by the United States and several of its NATO allies over the last two years? Are there still shortcomings in the U.S. approach to reassurance and deterrence? In this podcast, the SSI's Dr. John R. Deni examines the ERI in the context of the upcoming Warsaw Summit. Released 22 June 2016.