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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.
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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:
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.
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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:
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.
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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
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/
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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:
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.
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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.
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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, we explore the main takeaways from the 20th IISS Manama Dialogue, held in Bahrain from 6 to 8 December 2024. IISS host Meia Nouwens is joined by experts Air Marshal (Retd) Martin ‘Sammy’ Sampson, Dr Irene Mia and Dr Hasan Alhasan to discuss to their views on the themes that emerged from the Dialogue ranging from conflict resolution to post-conflict reconstruction.
The IISS Manama Dialogue came at a momentous time for the Middle East, with ongoing conflicts and instability in the region. By the end of the Dialogue, the Assad regime had collapsed. Themes include global security, the eroding rules-based order, and the implications of expanding strategic partnerships. The episode also touched on Iran’s regional influence, the complexities of post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, and the growing role of non-state actors in conflict zones.
Tune in for an in-depth look at the geopolitical challenges and solutions shaping the Middle East. 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: 11 December 2024
The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.
We recommend the following background reading for this episode:
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In this podcast episode, Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Ben Schreer, Fenella McGerty, Tom Waldwyn and Ester Sabatino to discuss the status and future trajectory of European defence and look back on the main take-aways from the IISS Prague Defence Summit.
Meia, Ben, Fenella, Tom and Ester analyse the trends in European and NATO defence spending and what’s next given the Trump election victory in the recent US presidential election. They also focus on the trends in military procurement, and challenges to building readiness. In addition, they discuss the challenges Europe faces in securing rare materials and critical raw minerals that are vital to defence production, and discuss what’s being done already, and what’s on the horizon for European security of supply.
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: 12 November 2024
The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.
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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Emile Hokayem, Hasan Alhasan and Fabian Hinz to discuss the ongoing developments in the Middle East.
One year after 7 October, the speakers share their insights on the regional developments – from the status of the war in Gaza to the broadening of Israel’s operations in the region. The IISS experts discuss the strategic calculations behind Israel’s operations in Gaza and Lebanon, the evolving role of Iran and its regional allies, and the Gulf states' efforts to maintain stability amid rising tensions. As the United States and the wider West navigate a complex regional landscape, we consider the shifting balance of power and the potential diplomatic, military and humanitarian repercussions.
Join us for our in-depth analysis of the current conflict and its implications for regional and global 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: 2 October 2024
The podcast is recorded and produced by The International Institute for Strategic Studies. For more information, please visit https://www.iiss.org/
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In this episode of Sounds Strategic, podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by Douglas Barrie and Timothy Wright to discuss the return of long-range US missiles to Europe.
Amid Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine and following Russian violations of arms control measures, Washington and Berlin have announced they would begin episodic deployments of conventionally-armed surface-to-surface missiles. IISS experts Douglas Barrie and Timothy Wright specialise in military aerospace and missile technology and discuss the context of this announcement. They explore how both NATO allies and Russia have responded, and what the impact of these deployments is on European stability in the short and longer term.
Meia also explores the Missile Dialogue Initiative, which since its establishment in 2019, aims to strengthen international discussion and to promote a high-level exchange of views on missile technologies and related international security 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: 7 August 2024
The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.
For further reading, read our latest blog: The return of long-range US missiles to Europe (iiss.org)
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In this latest episode, host Meia Nouwens, IISS Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy, is joined by IISS experts Henry Boyd, Fenella McGerty and Karl Dewey to dissect the critical outcomes of the NATO Leaders Summit held in Washington DC.
The discussion navigates through the latest trends in NATO defence spending, the need for greater budget transparency, and the pressing challenges the alliance faces. The episode highlights the importance of efficient defence spending, enhanced integration, and robust collaboration among NATO allies. Additionally, it covers the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the potential repercussions of the upcoming US elections on NATO’s cohesion and strategic insights into the alliance's future.
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: 29 July 2024
The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.
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Host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Dr Bastian Giegerich, Veerle Nouwens, Dr Ben Schreer and Morgan Michaels to discuss the key themes and takeaways from the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue.
The episode delves into the proliferation of new partnership formats amidst the strategic competition between the US and China. The discussion also features analyses of the keynote speeches by President Marcos of the Philippines and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, exploring their perspectives on sovereignty and international norms. The speakers also discuss the concept of ASEAN centrality and regional frameworks, European engagement in the Indo-Pacific and the Myanmar conflict.
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: 5 June 2024
The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS.
We recommend the following background reading for this episode:
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 | Transcripts and recordings: https://www.iiss.org/events/shangri-la-dialogue/shangri-la-dialogue-2024/
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue | Special Session 1 Deterrence and Reassurance in the Asia-Pacific: https://www.iiss.org/events/shangri-la-dialogue/shangri-la-dialogue-2024/special-sessions/special-session-1/
APRSA 2024 | Chapter 2: Middling and Muddling Through? Managing Asia-Pacific Crises: https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/asia-pacific-regional-security-assessment-2024/chapter-2/
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 | Special Session 3: Myanmar: Opportunities for Diplomacy Amid Different Visions for Peace:
IISS Myanmar Conflict Map: https://myanmar.iiss.org/
APRSA 2024 | Chapter 4: Disparate Diplomacy: Managing the Post-coup Myanmar Conflict: https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/asia-pacific-regional-security-assessment-2024/chapter-4/
Myanmar policy at a crossroads: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/05/myanmar-policy-at-a-crossroads/
IISS Prague Defence Summit: https://www.iiss.org/events/prague-defence-summit/prague-defence-summit-2024/
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Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by IISS experts Evan A. Laksmana, Julia Voo, Nick Childs and Viraj Solanki to discuss the upcoming IISS Shangri-La Dialogue.
This year's Dialogue comes after a turbulent year in the Indo-Pacific. US-China competition is ongoing and both countries continue to promote their competing offers to the Indo-Pacific region. Small and medium powers in the region remain committed to forging independent paths, while some have signed onto new security minilaterals. This year's keynote speech by the president of the Philippines is likely to touch on some of these issues. Beyond the maritime and air domains, countries are also facing increasing threats in cyberspace, with resilience being a key area in need of improvement across many societies.
We recommend the following background reading for this episode:
IISS website: https://www.iiss.org/
IISS Shangri-La Dialogie: https://www.iiss.org/events/shangri-la-dialogue/shangri-la-dialogue-2024/
The Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2024: https://www.iiss.org/publications/strategic-dossiers/
Online Analysis by Julia Voo: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/05/contested-connectivity-cyber-threats-in-the-asia-pacific/
Online Analysis by Viraj Solanki: https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/04/indias-increased-defence-and-security-engagement-with-southeast-asia/
Online Analysis by Evan A.Laksmana; https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2024/05/the-underwhelming-defence-ties-between-indonesia-and-china/
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: 22 May 2024
The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS
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In the first Sounds Strategic episode of 2024, host Meia Nouwens is joined by Veerle Nouwens, Dr Evan A. Laksmana and Timothy Wright to discuss the Indo-Pacific security landscape. The IISS experts explore the developments in the US-China relationship, Southeast Asian military modernisation plans in response to growing Chinese assertiveness, and the impact of recent elections in the region. Meia, Veerle, Evan and Tim also discuss the development of long-range strike capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and the drivers in the region.
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: 25 March 2024
We recommend the following background reading for this episode:
The Indo-Pacific Defence and Strategy programme: https://www.iiss.org/research/indo-pacific-defence-and-strategy/
IISS research report: Long-range Strike Capabilities in the Asia-Pacific: Implications for Regional Stability, https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2024/01/long-range-strike-capabilities-in-the--asia-pacific-implications-for-regional-stability/
The Missile Dialogue Initiative: https://www.iiss.org/research/defence-and-military-analysis/missile-dialogue-initiative/
For more information, please visit https://www.iiss.org/
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The IISS celebrated the 20th anniversary of its IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on 2-4 June and underlined the prime importance of in-person defence diplomacy in the region and beyond.
In this episode of Sounds Strategic, guest host James Crabtree, Executive Director, IISS–Asia, is joined by IISS experts Dr Bastian Giegerich, Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Dr Evan A. Laksmana and Veerle Nouwens to share their reflections and key takeaways.
Guest host and speakers:
Further reading:
We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
Date of recording: 6 June 2023
Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS.
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At a time of ever-greater focus on the geopolitical and security dynamics of the Asia-Pacific, the importance of in-person debate among the region’s key actors is greater than ever. In the latest episode of Sounds Strategic, host Meia Nouwens is joined by James Crabtree, Dr Lynn Kuok, Aaron Connelly and Dr Ben Schreer to discuss the themes and topics at the upcoming IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, which will take place in Singapore on 2–4 June 2023.
Asia’s premier security summit is a unique platform for debate, enabling government ministers and senior officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, to come together to share fresh perspectives on Asia’s developing security challenges. Our IISS experts in Singapore and Berlin address some of the key topics, including:
Host and speakers:
Further reading:
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 - Asia's premier defence summit
The Adelphi Series: Australia’s Security in China’s Shadow
We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
Date of recording: 24 March 2023
Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS.
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In the latest episode of Sounds Strategic, Meia Nouwens is joined by to Euan Graham and Nick Childs to discuss Australia’s relationship with China, and what role AUKUS plays in Australia’s defence and alliance policy settings.
The speakers assess Australia’s policy towards China following a souring of bilateral relations and discuss what AUKUS aims to achieve in the shot and medium terms. They also touch on potential lessons for other countries of how to respond to economic and diplomatic coercive policies.
Host and speakers:
Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy | Twitter: @MeiaNouwens
Dr Euan Graham, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Indo-Pacific Defence and Strategy | Twitter: @graham_euan
Nick Childs, Senior Fellow for Naval Forces and Maritime Security | Twitter: @ChildsNJ
Further reading:
The Adelphi Series: Australia’s Security in China’s Shadow | Published on 21 March 2023
We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
Date of recording: 24 March 2023
Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS.
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Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the world has witnessed unprecedented sanctions against Russia, and military and humanitarian support for Ukraine against a backdrop of ongoing military campaigns and loss of civilian life. In this new Sounds Strategic episode, host Meia Nouwens is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Maria Shagina and Franz Stefan-Gady to discuss geopolitical, economic and military takeaways from the past twelve months.
Looking ahead, our experts will also share what to watch out for in 2023, and give their views on whether and end to the war this year is likely, from their respective angles of analysis.
Host and speakers:
We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
Date of recording: 14 February
Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS.
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Two conflicts mark a new fault line in geopolitics. The West’s withdrawal from Afghanistan ended the two-decade ‘war on terror’. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine six months later began the first major European war since 1945 – reshaping security, driving innovation in economic statecraft and testing Russia’s cohesion. This podcast episode marks the launch of Strategic Survey 2022 with a discussion about the main themes and trends in geopolitics. Guest podcast host James Crabtree is joined by Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Editor Strategic Survey & Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia, Meia Nouwens, Senior Fellow for Chinese Security and Defence Policy, and Emile Hokayem, Senior Fellow for Middle East Security.
Topics discussed include:
Host and speakers:
Find out more about Strategic Survey 2022:
We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
Date of recording: 6 December 2022
Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS.
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Geopolitical competition is an increasingly common feature of armed conflicts around the world. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to competing regional influences in Yemen, regional contests in Mozambique and climate-change mitigation efforts across continents. This podcast episode marks the launch of The Armed Conflict Survey 2022 with a discussion about the global conflict landscape and the conflict trends and developments that have left a mark on this year’s report. Podcast host Meia Nouwens is joined by some of the team behind the annual flagship publication – Dr Irene Mia, Dr Benjamin Petrini, Juan Pablo Bickel and Erica Pepe.
Meia, Irene, Benjamin, Juan and Erica discuss some of the key topics explored in The Armed Conflict Survey 2022, including:
Host and speakers:
We hope you enjoy listening to the episode. Don’t forget to follow, rate and subscribe to Sounds Strategic on wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
Date of recording: 20 October 2022
Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS.
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