The Red Line

David Schenker, an expert from the Washington Institute, discusses the potential for a second Arab Spring and the tactics used by governments to suppress political movements. The podcast also explores the role of social media, AI, and bot armies in manipulating public opinion, as well as the challenges of democratization in the Middle East.

The podcast discusses the rise of extrajudicial killings and targeted assassinations, exploring their origins, implications, and the lack of consequences faced by governments. It delves into high-profile assassinations, the use of poison as a method of attack, and the involvement of private forces. The podcast also explores the increasing trend of targeted assassinations, the role of intelligence agencies, and the response of the US and Russia. The chapter concludes with acknowledgements and book recommendations for further reading.

Explore the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy, tensions between pro-democracy aspirations and Beijing, and the complexities of illicit financial flows in play. Discuss the decline of Hong Kong as a financial hub and the role of arbitration. Delve into the differences between Hong Kong and China's democratic systems and the issue of money laundering. Express gratitude to guests and staff.

This podcast delves into the territorial dispute between Moldova and Transnistria, discussing the complexities of the situation, the military capabilities of both sides, the struggle for military equipment, the impact of European military shift, and potential outcomes of the conflict.

Iran faces multifaceted threats from all directions, posing mounting challenges to its national stability. The Iranian military must undergo reforms to avoid being crushed, while tensions in the Caucasus and potential alliances with Russia or China add to the complexity. The podcast explores Iran's strategic priorities, the role of the IRGC, potential US intervention, Iran's evolving foreign policy, Azerbaijan's offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, economic consequences of Iran's foreign policy, and Iran's military capacity and engagements.

Once the murder capital of the world, El Salvador finds itself grappling with both gang violence and geopolitical shifts. Between 2013 and 2016, murder rates soared due to gang wars and systemic extortion. President Nayib Bukele, emerging from this tumult, removes the safety catches from the government and actually tackles the issue. However, all of this is coming at a long-term cost. How does Bukele's regional vision mesh with the complexities of Central American geopolitics, and does this new path set Bukele on a collision course with the US? Join us as we dissect El Salvador's evolving position on the world stage. On the panel this week are: - Robert Guest (The Economist) - Nik McNally (The Red Line) - Margaret Myers (Inter-American Dialogue) Intro - 00:00 PART 1 - 02:04 PART 2 - 24:29 PART 3 - 42:59 Outro - 54:44 Follow the show on @TheRedLinePod Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAus Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/theredlinepod For more info, please visit: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the potential conflict between India and Pakistan, including territorial disputes and geopolitical ambitions. Learn about the implications of a war between these nations, from cyber warfare to conventional battles. Discover India's military strategy and recent developments in responding to Pakistan's campaigns. Delve into the geography and challenges along the India-Pakistan border, and explore lessons that India could learn from the war in Ukraine. Discuss India's considerations for war scenarios with Jammu and Kashmir, China, and Pakistan, including the challenges posed by nuclear weapons and logistical burdens.

Experts discuss the economic feasibility of nuclear power amidst competition with renewable energy, highlighting challenges such as cost overruns, construction delays, and the shift towards renewables due to falling prices. The episode explores funding trends, including Small Modular Reactors, and strategies for enhancing the affordability of nuclear energy for future investments.

UUVs or Unmanned Underwater Vehicles, are set to make the same kind of impact that UAVs previously made on the modern battlefield. With their vast operational capacities and affordable price tags, we are not only seeing major players like the US, Russia, and China engaged in a dire dash for future ocean supremacy, but also several smaller players who previously were locked out of the subsurface battlespace due to the high costs of conventional submarines. Will these new weapons serve merely as long-range recon vehicles for the major powers, or will UUVs be at the forefront of seabed warfare and underwater infrastructure sabotage? We ask our panel of experts. On the panel this week: H. I. Sutton (Covert Shores) Samuel Bendett (CNA) Bruce Jones (Brookings Inst.) Intro - 00:00 PART 1 - 04:06 PART 2 - 31:13 PART 3 - 47:51 Outro - 64:42 Follow the show on @TheRedLinePod Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAus Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/theredlinepodcast For more info, please visit: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 100th anniversary special of this podcast reflects on past predictions made over the years, examining their accuracy and impact on global events. Topics include housing market insights, UK election predictions, global geopolitics, and the strategic significance of the Caspian Sea. The episode showcases the success rate of past predictions and expresses gratitude to the team and listeners.