Brussels Sprouts

Flash Release: Fiona Hill Reacts to U.S-Russia Talks

As the situation in Ukraine continues to quickly evolve, what can we expect in the upcoming future? Fiona Hill joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss what these various meetings could mean for the future of Ukraine and European security more broadly.
Fiona Hill is a Senior Fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. She recently served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European and Russian affairs on the National Security Council from 2017 to 2019.

Flash Release: Mike McFaul Reacts to U.S.-Russia Talks

Could there be a diplomatic solution to avoid an armed escalation in Ukraine after initial diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia? Michael McFaul joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the result of the first round of dialogue between American and Russian officials in Geneva.
Michael McFaul is the Director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. He served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council from 2009 to 2012, and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2014.

Relations with Russia in the Arctic, with Mikkel Runge Olesen and Flemming Splidsboel Hansen

How should the U.S. and its Arctic allies approach relations with Russia in the region? In this special co-branded episode, Mikkel Runge Olesen and Flemming Splidsboel Hansen from the Danish Institute of International Studies join Jim Townsend to discuss the path toward a stable and secure Arctic.
Mikkel Runge Olesen is a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies. His work focuses on NATO and transatlantic relations, the Arctic, Baltic Sea security, and Danish foreign policy.
Flemming Splidsboel Hansen is a Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, where his research focuses on the post-Soviet space, including Russian foreign policy and military affairs.

Not One Inch, with Mary Sarotte

How did the NATO expansion process during the 1990s influence the relationship between Russia and the West? Mary Sarotte joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss her new book, Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate.
Mary Sarotte is an expert in the history of international relations and the inaugural holder of the Kravis Chair at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC. In addition to Not One Inch, she is the author of numerous other works, including The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall and 1989: The Struggle to Create Post-Cold War Europe. Her books have been named Economist and Financial Times "Books of the Year", along with receiving other awards and commendations.

Germany’s Post-Merkel Security and Defense Policy, with Christian Mölling and Claudia Major

What does Germany’s new coalition treaty tell us about how the incoming government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz will approach security and defense policy? Christian Mölling and Claudia Major join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the implications of the transition for Germany, Europe, and the transatlantic relationship.
Christian Mölling is the research director at the German Council on Foreign Relations, where he also heads the Security and Defense Program.
Claudia Major is the Head of the International Security Division at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. Her work focuses on security and defense policy in Europe and in a transatlantic context.

Russia’s Escalating Pressure on Ukraine and Europe, with Michael Kofman and Kadri Liik

How should the United States and Europe interpret and respond to Russia’s various efforts to exert pressure on its neighbors, including its military buildup on the border with Ukraine? Michael Kofman and Kadri Liik join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the implications of the Kremlin’s actions for the transatlantic community.
Michael Kofman serves as Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA and as a Fellow at the Kennan Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC. His research focuses on Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy.
Kadri Liikis a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Her research focuses on Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Baltic region. Before joining ECFR, she was the director of the International Centre for Defence Studies in Estonia, where she also worked as a senior researcher and director of the Centre’s Lennart Meri Conference.

Defense and Deterrence in the Gray Zone, with Elisabeth Braw

How should the U.S. and Europe endeavor to deter and defend themselves against aggression in the gray zone between peace and war? Elizabeth Braw joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the path towards creating greater transatlantic resilience to gray zone threats.
Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she focuses on defense against emerging national security challenges, such as hybrid and gray zone threats. Concurrently, she is a columnist with Foreign Policy, where she writes on national security and the globalized economy, and a member of the National Preparedness Commission (UK).

Talk Is Cheap, But Capabilities Are Not, with Hans Binnendijk and Amb. Alexander Vershbow

How should the U.S. government respond to recent calls for greater European strategic autonomy in security and defense? Hans Binnendijk and Ambassador Alexander Vershbow join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the path towards a transatlantic agreement on strategic autonomy.
Hans Binnendijk is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He formerly served as Senior Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council and as Director of the National Defense University’s Institute for National Strategic Studies.
Alexander Vershbow is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council. His previous positions include NATO Deputy Secretary General, United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and U.S. Ambassador to Russia.

The Trade and Technology Council, with Tyson Barker and Frances Burwell

What are the key takeaways from the first meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council? Tyson Barker and Frances Burwell join Carisa Nietsche and Jim Townsend to discuss the goals of the TTC and how it fits into the broader transatlantic technology relationship.
Tyson Barker is head of the Technology and Global Affairs at the German Council on Foreign Relations, or DGAP. He previously worked at Aspen Germany where, as deputy executive director and fellow, he was responsible for the institute’s digital and transatlantic programs.
Frances G. Burwell is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and a senior director at McLarty Associates. Her work focuses on the European Union and U.S.-EU relations as well as a range of transatlantic economic, political, and defense issues.

The Czech Elections, with Martin Hála and Martina Hrvolova

What do the recent elections in the Czech Republic mean for the future of the country? Martin Hála and Martina Hrvolova join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the fate of incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the key factors that decided the elections, and the significance of the vote for democracy in Central Europe more broadly.
Martina Hrvolova is a Visiting Fellow for Democracy Initiatives at the German Marshall Fund. She is an expert on Central and Eastern Europe, human rights, and democracy, and she has more than 15 years of extensive experience with high-stake negotiations, policymaking, and program management.
Martin Hála is a sinologist and lecturer with Charles University in Prague, and the founder and director of Sinopsis, a project that provides analysis of China-related topics in Europe. He has studied in Prague, Shanghai, Berkeley, and Harvard, taught in Prague and Bratislava and led projects in various countries in Asia.