New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy | Podcasts

Episoder

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  Global Hotspots: Trump threatens Oman and orders force withdrawals from South Korean drills 21.08.2026 30min

  Milos Maggiore, Andrew Loftesnes, and Jared Jeter look at some of the key developments from the week, including President Trump's threats against anyone trading with Iran, and the news that U.S./South Korean military drills were substantially reduced following directives from Trump. Elsewhere, in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia threatened to retaliate against the United Kingdom after Ukrainian forces used British-supplied drones for long-range attacks against Russia to attack, as reports indicate Moscow has supplied drone parts to Iran. In the Americas, the U.S. postponed the imposition of 50% tariffs on Canada amid trade negotiations, while U.S. oil companies are expected to sign contracts with Venezuela.
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  Why the Balkans? Episode 1: Kosovo’s Political Deadlock: What Comes Next? Ft. Ramadan Ilazi 17.08.2026 43min

  In our first episode of Why the Balkans?, Tanya Domi is joined by Ramadan Ilazi, Head of Research at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), to unpack Kosovo’s ongoing political deadlock. They examine why Kosovo continues to struggle to form a government after elections, what the impasse reveals about its political system, and what it means for the country’s relationship with the EU and the wider Western Balkans.
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  Global Hotspots: The Mecca Pact and a New Saudi-Türkiye-Pakistan Bloc 14.08.2026 21min

  In this week's episode, Shahad Turkistani, Analyst at New Lines Institute, returns to break down the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, the trilateral pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan on 7 August, which commits all three to treat an armed attack on any one of them as an attack on all. Additionally this week, Milos Maggiore and Andrew Loftesnes discuss developments in the Middle East, where Houthi attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait killed at least six people and disrupted international shipping, while Iranian officials stated that negotiations with the U.S. are at a deadlock. In the Indo-Pacific, China conducted a joint naval patrol with an Indonesian warship off Taiwan’s east coast, while Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a disputed island with Japan. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that North Korea would be sending additional troops and weapons to the conflict while Putin threatened to respond in kind to recent European seizures of Russian shadow fleet vessels. In the Americas, a Canadian petition to expel U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra is set to be discussed in the House of Commons, while U.S. judges have found the Trump administration to be using an unlawful interpretation of the law to justify its mass detention policy.
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  Global Hotspots: Exploring the possibility of Hamas disarmament 07.08.2026 27min

  This week, U.S. President Donald Trump called off a planned strike against Iran and hailed progress in negotiations between Israel and Hamas while Israeli forces clashed with Hezbollah in Lebanon. In the Indo-Pacific, China and the U.S. imposed reciprocal targeted tariffs and sanctions, while Chinese traders resumed purchases of U.S. soybeans. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least 17 people after Ukraine’s forces ran out of interceptor missiles, and a drone carrying explosive material was found and diffused near a military transport airport in Leipzig, Germany. In the United States, Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Michigan on a progressive platform, while acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded the Trump-backed “anti-weaponization fund” following weeks of negotiations in the Senate.
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  Global Hotspots: Examining the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal with Shahad Turkistani 31.07.2026 23min

  This week, we are joined by our colleague Shahad Turkistani to examine in more detail the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal. In other developments, Saudi Arabia joined the U.S. in conducting airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, drawing retaliatory strikes against Saudi energy infrastructure as regional hostilities expanded, while a Hezbollah drone strike threatened the Lebanese-Israeli ceasefire. In the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. shared a photo of a joint coast guard patrol with Taiwan for the first time, while China warned of retaliatory measures against any future U.S. sanctions on its AI industry. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the U.S. Senate approved new sanctions legislation targeting Russia as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, while Ukrainian forces struck an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.
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  Global Hotspots: Unpacking the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal and the ASEAN summit 24.07.2026 22min

  This week, a new front opened in the conflict between the U.S. and Iran as the Yemeni al-Houthi rebel group fired on Saudi oil tankers attempting to cross the Bab al-Mandeb. Meanwhile, Israel began returning control of occupied Lebanese territory to the Lebanese army. In the Indo-Pacific, China conducted two days of live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait and clashed with Philippine vessels in the South China Sea during the ASEAN summit in Manila. In the Russia/Ukraine conflict, Lithuania’s defense minister warned of an increased risk of Russian sabotage operations in the Baltics, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy replaced the head of the Ukrainian armed forces after last week’s firing of its defense minister led to nationwide protests. In the U.S., the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security threatened to prosecute state officials who do not use a DHS database for voter validation, while the U.S. sent the first shipment of $100 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba.
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  Global Hotspots Outlook: US and Iran Conflict Re-escalates 17.07.2026 30min

  This week, the U.S. renewed strikes against Iran and a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Israel and Lebanon held negotiations in Rome. In the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. confirmed it had started to sell minimal amounts of Nvidia H200 microchips to China, and Taiwan announced an additional $100 billion investment in the United States’ advanced chip industry. In the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the U.S. unveiled legislation that would enact sanctions against the Russian economy following support from U.S. President Donald Trump, while protests took place across Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to reshuffle his Cabinet. In global trade, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a 25% tariff on all Brazilian imports, with tariffs on other trading partners expected to be announced in upcoming weeks.
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  Global Hotspots: Q3 Forecast - Bolivia, Sahel, Sudan, Morocco, DRC 07.07.2026 29min

  In this second episode reviewing our recently published 2026 Q3 Forecast report, our team focuses on Bolivia, Sudan, and the DRC among some of the countries not covered in part 1, providing an outlook on the domestic and international situation related to these countries going into the third quarter.
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  Global Hotspots: Q3 Forecast - Americas, Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and Russia/Ukraine 06.07.2026 46min

  In this episode, our team highlights our recently published 2026 Q3 Forecast report on geopolitical hotspots around the world and their implications on global connectivity themes like trade, technology, energy, and climate. In part 1 of this podcast, we focus on the US/Americas, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and the Russia/Ukraine war, discussing the most important events from the past three months, and looking ahead at what the next quarter may bring.
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  Global Hotspots: Iran Ceasefire Update and Ukraine's Ultimatum to Belarus 26.06.2026 27min

  This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded Belarus remove military equipment from their shared border, while Ukrainian forces continued attacking energy and transport infrastructure near Moscow and in Crimea. In the Indo-Pacific, China sanctioned two critical minerals companies in the U.S., while U.S. AI company Anthropic accused Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba of copying its software. In the Middle East, Israel continued airstrikes against Lebanon despite ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with Israeli officials reiterating that they would not withdraw from the country.
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  Global Hotspots: Unpacking the U.S./Iran Ceasefire Deal 18.06.2026 23min

  This week, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding paving the way for a ceasefire and two months of negotiations aimed at settling their conflict. Meanwhile, Israel stated it would continue to occupy territory in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. In the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan’s opposition leader met with members of the U.S. Congress in Washington, while the U.K. and Japan agreed to boost defense and economic cooperation. In Ukraine transatlantic relations, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of the U.S. military presence in Europe, while Ukrainian drones continued to strike oil in Russia, including one close to Moscow. In the U.S., lawmakers continued to debate the renewal of the Foreign Surveillance Authorization Act (FISA), which the White House has now linked to its ambitions for voter identification reform.    
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  Contours: Gender Policy Podcast, Women and Power 15.06.2026 30min

  Riley Sullivan sits down with Linda Robinson, Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss the dynamics of democracy, gender equality, and women's leadership, as well as her new book, Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism.  
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  Global Hotspots: Strait of Hormuz Closed; Ethiopian Elections Impact 12.06.2026 22min

  This week, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after it and the U.S. traded strikes. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel continued its bombing campaign against Lebanon. In the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. sanctioned Chinese entities for their role in supporting Iran, while Chinese President Xi Jinping met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang for the first time in seven years. In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine continued its long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Nordic and Baltic leaders in Estonia following accidental Ukrainian drone incursions into the region. In the Americas, Congress passed a $70 billion measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security after months of stalling, while Cuba’s private sector is set to receive 250,000 barrels of oil from the U.S., pending approval from the Trump administration.
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  Global Hotspots: Trump Confirms Netanyahu Quarrel; Ukraine Hits St. Petersburg 05.06.2026 28min

  This week, the U.S. and Iran exchanged strikes amid continued diplomacy, while Israel continued its ground operations in Lebanon despite a conditional ceasefire agreement between them. In the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. set out new guidance designed to close loopholes that allowed China to receive advanced AI chips, while U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pushed for increased allied defense spending at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. In transatlantic relations and the Russia/Ukraine war, Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil terminal near St. Petersburg during its hosting of an annual international economic forum as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the EU voted to start accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova. In the United States, President Donald Trump canceled the establishment of a $1.8 billion fund to compensate, among others, Jan., while the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative called for the imposition of at least 10% tariffs on more than 60 trading partners.    
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  Global Hotspots: U.S.-Cuba Tensions Simmer as Tech Takes Center Stage in Indo-Pacific 29.05.2026 33min

  This week, the United States and Iran traded airstrikes as peace negotiations continued, while Israel intensified strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon despite the recent ceasefire extension. In the Indo-Pacific, Nvidia pledged an annual $150 billion investment in Taiwan while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India in an attempt to shore up ties within the Quad framework. In transatlantic relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov advised the U.S. to pull its citizens and diplomatic staff out of Kyiv amid the threat of intensified Russian strikes, while European NATO countries bolstered defenses in the Baltics. In the Americas, China delivered 15,000 tons of rice to Cuba as part of a humanitarian relief package, and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly planning military action in the event of a possible regime collapse by the end of the summer.
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  How Do We Measure Illicit Economies? | Crime Beat Conversations featuring Henry Ziemer 28.05.2026 25min

  How do we measure the size of illicit economies, and what can seizure data actually tell us about the effectiveness of enforcement policies? In this episode of Crime Beat Conversations, Rafaella Lispschitz speaks with Henry Ziemer, Fellow with the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), about the challenges of measuring illicit markets and evaluating interdiction efforts. The conversation examines: - The methodologies used to estimate the size of illicit economies- What seizure data can (and cannot) reveal about market activity- The limitations of using interdiction figures as a measure of policy success- What more effective metrics could look like for policymakers and researchers Watch the full conversation for a closer look at how evidence, data, and methodology shape our understanding of illicit markets and policy responses. Read Henry’s piece on illicit economy data here: https://www.caballeros.blog/p/the-missing-data-on-illicit-economies  Find Henry’s blog, Caballeros, here: https://www.caballeros.blog/  For more from Henry, follow on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-suckow-ziemer-6a5007158/) and X (https://x.com/HenryZiemer)  A New Lines Institute Mafiacracies Project production: https://newlinesinstitute.org/initiative/mafiacracies-project/ For more from Rafaella, follow on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/rlipschitz) and X (https://x.com/rlipschitz01) Explore similar analysis and forecasting from New Lines institute: https://newlinesinstitute.org/ Follow our socials for news on upcoming events, analysis, infographics, and more! https://linktr.ee/NewLinesInstitute  
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  Global Hotspots: Putin Meets Xi in Beijing and a new Ebola Strain in DRC 22.05.2026 28min

  This week, Iran stated it was reviewing the latest peace proposal from the United States after the U.S. delayed planned strikes, while Pakistan deployed 8,000 troops to Saudi Arabia in the event of renewed hostilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, while U.S. President Donald Trump stated willingness to discuss renewed arms sales to Taiwan, prompting China to delay a meeting with U.S. defense officials. In transatlantic relations, the Trump administration stated it would reduce the number of forces it would commit to a conflict in Europe, while Russian drones repeatedly crossed into Latvian airspace. The U.S. charged former Cuban President Raul Castro with conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens in 1996, as Washington continues to exert pressure on the island to reform its governance structure.
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  Global Hotspots: Trump Meets Xi in Beijing 15.05.2026 20min

  This week, U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a long-anticipated summit in which the leaders discussed trade relations, the Iran war, and Taiwan. In the Middle East, Trump rejected a peace proposal by Iran, while representatives from Lebanon and Israel met in Washington, D.C., for a new round of discussions on Hezbollah’s disarmament. In the Russia/Ukraine war, both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin made separate statements indicating they believe the war was soon coming to an end despite Russia launching a new wave drone strikes across Ukraine. In the Americas, Cuba announced it had run out of diesel and fuel oil stockpiles, while the U.S. Senate appointed Kevin Warsh as the new Federal Reserve Chair.
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  Global Hotspots: U.S. Peace Proposal for Iran, and Troop Withdrawal from Germany 08.05.2026 29min

  This week, Iran considered a one-page peace proposal sent by the United States that would end hostilities, while Israel issued new evacuation orders for southern Lebanon and bombed Beirut despite an ongoing ceasefire. In the Indo-Pacific, China gave conflicting advice to its banks on how to respond to U.S. sanctions, citing a violation of international law, while the EU took steps to reduce its technological dependency on Chinese hardware imports. In the Russia/Ukraine conflict, Russia conducted airstrikes despite a Ukrainian ceasefire proposal, while mobile internet access in Moscow and St. Petersburg was shut off due to security concerns surrounding upcoming Victory Day parades and U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany.
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  Global Hotspots Outlook: U.S. Sanctions China over Iran 01.05.2026 26min

  This week, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian peace proposal and ordered an extension of the blockade on Iranian ports, while Israel resumed military operations in Lebanon. In the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. sanctioned a Chinese importer of Iranian oil, threatening more sanctions against China’s banking sector, while Beijing blocked Meta’s acquisition of a Chinese AI company. In the Russia/Ukraine conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a Victory Day ceasefire on May 9, while in transatlantic relations, Trump stated he was considering withdrawing U.S. troops from Germany amid ongoing diplomatic disagreements.