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As European rearmament accelerates and NATO's defence ambitions expand, what progress has actually been made and where do the gaps remain? Meia Nouwens is joined by four IISS experts to reflect on the key discussions from the third IISS Prague Defence Summit, covering South Korea-Europe security ties, land warfare, defence spending and the challenge of turning strategic ambition into real capability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Czech ammunition output surpassing US production capacity, sovereign AI systems pushing back against American platforms and a growing Chinese challenge in quantum submarine detection: these are the fault lines shaping Europe's defence transformation. As Washington's strategic priorities shift and Russia's threat endures, IISS experts examine what it will take for Europe to move from dependence to strategic leverage and why Indo-Pacific partners may hold part of the answer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe's military space capabilities are expanding, but so are the threats they face. This episode discusses the IISS research paper Advancing European Military Capacity in Space, assessing how European governments are working to reduce their dependence on the United States in a domain that underpins modern warfare. From Russian GPS jamming and satellite shadowing to the prospect of a nuclear weapon in orbit, the episode maps the threat landscape before turning to Europe's response: where investment is going, where the gaps remain, and why coordination and launch capacity are as critical as the satellites themselves. It also tackles the legal grey zones created by commercial satellites being drawn into military operations and what the US Golden Dome missile defence programme means for arms control in space.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode examines the gap between NATO's 5% GDP spending commitments and the delivery of real military capability, the challenge of sustaining support for Ukraine as US stockpiles face pressure from the Iran conflict and Türkiye's growing defence industrial ambitions and the political significance of hosting the summit. The conversation also addresses NATO's structural three-front problem, spanning command seams, sustainment and force-level gaps, lessons European militaries should be drawing from Ukraine and whether a more formalised European Plan B is now a strategic necessity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Veerle Nouwens, Darshana M. Baruah, Morgan Michaels and Dr Daniel Salisbury to reflect on the 23rd IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which was held in Singapore from 29–31 May 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts to preview the Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2026 ahead of its launch next week. Together, they discuss rising defence spending, evolving military doctrines, land force modernisation, nuclear risk and the race to shape quantum security governance in an increasingly contested region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sounds Strategic, IISS experts reflect on the inaugural IISS Stockholm Civil Defence Forum and unpack the findings of the Strategic Dossier Civil Defence in Europe: An Initial Assessment. The discussion explores how European countries are adapting to emerging security threats, from protecting critical infrastructure and countering foreign information manipulation to financing civil defence and strengthening public preparedness. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine, the Nordic countries and wider Euro-Atlantic partners, the episode examines what a more coordinated and resilient approach to civil defence in Europe could look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Sounds Strategic, IISS experts unpack the findings of the Strategic Dossier UAVs: ISR, Deterrence and War, exploring how uninhabited aerial vehicles are reshaping military operations in peace and conflict. From Europe’s long-running capability gaps to lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, the discussion examines how UAVs are changing intelligence gathering, decision-making and the conduct of war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Henry Boyd, Fenella McGerty, Ester Sabatino and Ruben Stewart to discuss the 2026 edition of The Military Balance. The Military Balance reveals a world of accelerating defence transformation. From Europe’s structural spending surge and procurement bottlenecks, to institutionalised drone warfare, Gulf industrial localisation and intensifying US-China competition, IISS experts unpack how shifting US policy and allied burden-sharing are reshaping global military dynamics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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; andhow 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.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.