Brussels Sprouts

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75 Years of NATO: Key Takeaways from the Washington Summit Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

Last week, Washington, DC hosted the NATO summit – marking the historic 75th anniversary of the alliance. Despite the significant milestone, the mood was serious in DC with the war continuing to rage in Ukraine and increasing concern from European allies about the reliability of the United States as a partner in the long term. Though Ukraine emerged as the focus of many discussions, allies also strengthened language on China, emphasizing the challenges that Beijing poses to Euro-Atlantic security. Moreover, Iran and North Korea were also called out for their direct military support to Moscow. To unpack the discussions of the last week, and the challenges faced by NATO today, David Quarrey and Axel Wernhoff join Kate Johnston and Jim Townsend on the podcast today.

David Quarrey is the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to NATO. Previously, he served as the Prime Minister’s adviser on International Affairs and Deputy National Security Advisor from 2019-2022, and the British Ambassador to Israel from 2015-2019.  

Axel Wernhoff is the Permanent Representative of Sweden to NATO. Prior to this, he served as the Ambassador of Sweden to Norway.

Kurt Volker and Douglas Lute Discuss the Upcoming NATO Washington Summit Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

From July 9th to 11th, NATO will hold its historic 75th-anniversary summit in Washington, DC. On the sidelines, CNAS and other think tanks will host the NATO Public Forum. Though the summit will in part be a celebration of the alliance’s enduring success, it also comes at a time when NATO is grappling with numerous challenges. The most pressing issue is of course Ukraine, as NATO members will need to continue to work together to provide Kyiv with support in its efforts to fight off Russia’s invasion. Beyond Ukraine, NATO must navigate the ongoing modernization of its defense and deterrence plans, the increasing risk of hybrid attacks from Russia, the transition to a new Secretary General, and much more. To offer a preview of the Summit and what we should expect, Douglas Lute and Kurt Volker join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.  

Douglas Lute served six years in the White House during two administrations as well as in the role of U.S. Ambassador to NATO during the second Obama-Biden term.  

Kurt Volker previously served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019 and as U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2008-2009. 

A Discussion of European Leadership Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

Leadership dynamics in Europe are at a critical juncture. Following the recent European Parliament elections, both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have seen their influence wane, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have emerged stronger. At the same time, a new set of leaders is to set take the reins of the top jobs at the EU institutions in Brussels, adding to the current upheaval. Outside the European Union, the United Kingdom faces the prospect of a change to a Labour government following its upcoming elections, which could significantly reshape its role on the continent. Finally, the uncertainty surrounding U.S. leadership following this November’s election is creating doubts about the future of leadership in the transatlantic alliance more broadly. To explore these various developments and their implications, Sophie Pedder and Steven Erlanger join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Sophie Pedder is the Paris Bureau Chief for The Economist, where she writes about French politics and economics.

Steven Erlanger is the Chief Diplomatic Correspondent in Europe for The New York Times, with extensive experience in covering transatlantic relations and European affairs from various posts across the globe.

Resuscitating Europe's Defense Industry Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the attempt of transatlantic partners to provide Kyiv with the weapons systems and ammunition it needs to keep up the fight for the long-haul has renewed focus on the importance of the defense industrial base. Particularly in Europe, the past two years have exposed numerous problems with the defense industry, including inadequate stocks and lengthy production timelines. Ukraine’s European backers have attempted to address these issues through new policies at the EU level, including common procurement and a new defense industrial strategy. However, funding shortfalls and ongoing debates about whether defense acquisitions should come from outside the European Union continue to pose obstacles. To discuss the urgency of making Europe’s defense industry fit for the demands of today’s security challenges, Sophia Besch and Christian Mölling join Nicholas Lokker and Jim Townsend on this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts.

Sophia Besch is a fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and her area of expertise is European defense policy.   

Christian Mölling is deputy director of the Research Institute at the German Council on Foreign Relations, where he also heads the Center for Security and Defense. 

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