Last week, the U.S. Army released its $182 billion spending request for fiscal 2020.
David Johnson, Principal Researcher at the RAND Corporation, retired colonel, and author of Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers, joins the Warcast to explore the changes and see how it well it pursues its stated priorities. (~10 minutes)
[ 0:17 ] Introduction
[ 0:40 ] Priorities
[ 2:38 ] The programs that were cut
[ 5:05 ] Readiness
[ 8:14 ] Border wall funding impact

U.S. Army 2020 Budget Request Increases: Prioritizes Modernization

The geopolitical briefing that helps you make sense of the world as crises happen, for War on the Rocks members only.

News & Politics

Venezuela's Juan Guaido on Monday called on members of the military to rise up against the Maduro regime. Both pro- and anti-government supporters held demonstrations in Caracas but it appears that few of the military switched sides to join the rebellion.
Juan Carlos Hidalgo, Policy Analyst on Latin America at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at the Cato Institute, joins the Warcast to discuss the operation, why it's failing, and what's possible now. (~11 minutes)
[ 0:17 ] Introduction
[ 2:42 ] Point of no return
[ 4:21 ] Why the regime is so resilient
[ 7:35 ] Pompeo's claim of Russian assurances
[ 9:00 ] What happens now

Venezuela’s Military Ignoring Guaido’s Call to Join Democratic Opposition

Theresa May has ordered to restrict Chinese telecoms supplier Huawei from supplying core parts of the U.K.'s future 5G mobile network. This follows from a recent leak by the U.K. Defense Chief about May's interest in greater Huawei cooperation.
Melanie Hart, Senior Fellow and Director for China Policy at the Center for American Progress, joins the Warcast to detail the challenges, incentives, and alternatives facing countries considering China in the 5G network development.
[ 0:18 ] Introduction
[ 0:55 ] The calculus for a government to involve Huawei to develop their 5g network
[ 3:00 ] Detailed threat assessment
[ 6:07 ] State-level safeguards and alternatives

UK Restricts Huawei Involvement in 5G Network Development: Options

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Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted nearly 5,000 delegates from across the globe at the Belt and Road forum in Beijing to discuss his signature infrastructure project to re-envision and rebuild ancient trading routes across Eurasia.
Nadège Rolland is Senior Fellow for Political and Security Affairs at the National Bureau of Asian Research and author of the book, China’s Eurasian Century? Political and Strategic Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative, joins the Warcast to tell us how the forum went and why it matters. (~11 minutes)
[ 0:17 ] Introduction
[ 0:53 ] Overview of the Belt and Road Initiative
[ 1:39 ] Objective of 2nd forum
[ 2:23 ] How successful
[ 4:17 ] Why some critics have become supporters
[ 7:38 ] Overlap between BRI core foreign policy

China’s Second Belt and Road Forum: How Did It Go?

Sri Lanka and its citizens are still reeling from the catastrophic Easter attack that killed over 300 people and shocked the country.
Alan Keenan, Sri Lanka Project Director and Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group, joins the Warcast to detail what we know - and how Sri Lankan politics and society may adjust in the new security environment. (~12 minutes)
[ 0:17 ] Introduction
[ 0:46 ] Details we know so far: Who, what, and why
[ 4:30 ] Permissive conditions that made the attack possible
[ 7:56 ] How it may change Sri Lanka's complex conflict dynamics

U.S. Army 2020 Budget Request Increases: Prioritizes Modernization

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