Today’s Battlegrounds

In this episode of Today's Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Radosław Sikorski discuss the future of NATO deterrence on the alliance’s eastern flank, the U.S.–Poland strategic partnership’s role in securing Europe, and what a successful outcome in Ukraine would mean for European security and the defense of democratic nations.

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Radosław Sikorski is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland. Minister Sikorski earlier served as...

In this episode of Today's Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Shigeru Kitamura discuss Japan’s transformation into a leader in economic statecraft, how democratic nations can secure strategic autonomy in critical technologies and supply chains, and the future of US-Japan cooperation in confronting coercion, cyber threats, and growing competition in the Indo-Pacific.

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Shigeru Kitamura is the former Secretary General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat and Japan’s National Security Advisor from 2019 to 2021...

In this episode of Today's Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Iván Duque Márquez discuss the implications of Colombia’s runoff election, the threats associated with narcotics and transnational crime, and how the United States and Colombia can strengthen security and confidence in democratic institutions.

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Iván Duque Márquez was the 34th President of the Republic of Colombia. President Duque served from 2018 to 2022 after a career that combined public service, economic...

In this episode of Today's Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Kyriakos Mitsotakis discuss Greece’s economic resurgence, the country’s expanding role in international security, and the future of US-Greek cooperation.

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Kyriakos Mitsotakis serves as Prime Minister of Greece and leader of the center-right New Democracy party. Prime Minister Mitsotakis earned degrees from Harvard and Stanford and worked in the private sector before entering public service in 2004 as a member of the Greek p...

In this episode of Today's Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Norbert Röttgen discuss US-German relations, Germany’s defense, economic, and foreign policy priorities; strains in transatlantic relations; and the future of NATO and the European Union. 

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Dr. Norbert Röttgen serves as deputy chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag. Dr. Röttgen oversees foreign affairs...

In this episode of Today's Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Kai Sauer discuss Finland's defense and economic priorities, its role in NATO, Russia's persistent threat to European security, and how US-Finland cooperation enhances both nations’ security and prosperity.

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Kai Sauer has served as Finland's ambassador to Germany since September 2023. Ambassador Sauer served as ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN from 2010 to 2014, and as Finland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2014 to 2019. He t...

Join Rosa María Payá, founder of Cuba Decide and a commissioner on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss US-Cuba relations, Cuba’s deepening economic and humanitarian crisis, its internal challenges of governance and repression, and prospects for a more peaceful and secure future for the Cuban people.

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Rosa María Payá is the founder of Cuba Decide and a commissioner on the Inter...

Join Abbas Milani and H.R. McMaster as they discuss the Iran War, its effects on the Iranian people, the Iranian regime, and prospects for peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.

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Professor Abbas Milani is the Hamid and Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University and a research fellow at the Hoover Institution. Professor Milani taught at Tehran University before 1986. He has written extensively on Iranian political devel...

Join Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former prime minister of Denmark, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss international security, the prospects for the US-Danish relationship, and the health of NATO and the transatlantic alliance as wars continue in Ukraine and the Middle East.

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Anders Fogh Rasmussen served as prime minister of Denmark from 2001 to 2009 and as the 12th Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 2009 to 2014. Rasmussen beca...

Join Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, prime minister of Haiti, and Hoover senior fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Haiti’s escalating security crisis, efforts to dismantle gang control, and the role of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force in restoring order. Fils-Aimé outlines how his government is working to reclaim territory, strengthen police capacity, and restore security to enable long-delayed elections. 

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Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé is a businessman and economist educated at Boston Uni...

Join former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Canada and US cooperation on Arctic and North American security, prospects for deepening economic cooperation after the 2026 review of the USMCA trade agreement, and opportunities to turn recent tensions into opportunities for both nations.

Reflecting on current geopolitical forces shaping North America and the Western Hemisphere, MacNaughton provides his insight on shifting dynamics in Venezuela, China’s expanding economic and strategic footprint in Latin America, and the implications of political rhetoric and rising tensions on the US–Cana...

Join Chung Eui-yong, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the future of the US–ROK alliance in the face of North Korea’s accelerating weapons programs, the implications of a growing Russia–North Korea partnership, and how Washington and Seoul can strengthen deterrence while preserving space for diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.

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Chung Eui-yong is the former minister of foreign...

Join Chung Eui-yong, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the future of the US–ROK alliance in the face of North Korea’s accelerating weapons programs, the implications of a growing Russia–North Korea partnership, and how Washington and Seoul can strengthen deterrence while preserving space for diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.

Reflecting on his memories of the Korean War, Chung Eui-yong discusses the historical forces that have shaped South Korea's security outlook and offers his perspective on domestic political dynamics in South Korea...

Join Ian Rowe, cofounder of Vertex Partnership Academies and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss education reform and the importance of cultivating agency, character, and civic understanding in young people. Recorded at Vertex Partnership Academies in the Bronx, the conversation explores how education can help students develop responsibility, meaning, and moral discernment.

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Ian Rowe is a senior fellow at the Ame...

Join Mr. Zohar Palti, former director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Defense, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Israel’s security posture after the October 7 attacks, strategic lessons of the war in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and beyond, and the implications of the Trump-brokered peace agreement for Israel, the broader Middle East, and global security. Drawing on decades of experience within Israel’s security and intelligence community, Palti assesses the prospects for regional stability, the future of Hamas in Gaza, emerging opportunities and risks in Lebanon and Syria, and th...

Join Dr. Ali Ansari, Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they examine the nature of the Islamic Republic, Western misunderstandings about the regime and why engagement strategies have repeatedly failed, and the widening gap between the regime’s propagandized image of strength and the vulnerabilities revealed in recent conflicts. Drawing on recent events, including the 12-day Israeli campaign exposing profound intelligence and air-defense failures, Ansari examines the IRGC’s struggles to reconstitute its terrorist and militia proxies in the...

Join Dr. Francisco Sagasti, former President of Peru, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss lessons from Sagasti's leadership, regional challenges to freedom and prosperity in Latin America, and his latest books, which explore the life and relevance of Sir Francis Bacon’s philosophy for today’s international system. Reflecting on Peru’s turbulent political landscape and its role in a new era of geopolitical competition, Sagasti shares his perspective on the recent ouster of President Dina Boluarte and his advice to the interim leadership. He explores the roots of popular discontent in Peru, the demands of cit...

Join Justin Bassi, Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and former National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss threats to international security, Australia’s role in the Indo-Pacific, and opportunities for Canberra and Washington to work together to promote peace and prosperity. Viewing China’s military and technological rise as Australia’s top security threat, Bassi discusses the ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party leaders and how Australia and its allies can compete more effectively to counter CCP aggression and prevent a war with China. The US and...

Join Fernando “Nando” Parrado, businessman, author, and internationally recognized speaker, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss endurance, crisis leadership, and the remarkable will to survive. Surviving one of the most harrowing events of the twentieth century: the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, tragically losing his mother, sister, and many rugby teammates, Parrado reflects on how the values and work ethic his family engrained in him, which was nurtured on the rugby pitch, helped build the resilience needed to withstand 72 days in extreme conditions and lead a mission across the Andes to save the remaining surv...

Join Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Iceland’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the evolving U.S.-Iceland relationship, Icelandic-European relations, and the continued security challenges of the Arctic. Appointed as the Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Gylfadóttir provides an insight into her vital role in raising awareness of the challenges facing the children of Ukraine, the driving forces behind Putin’s behavior, and why sustained support for Ukraine from Europe and the US is critica...

Join Petr Pavel, President of Czechia, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Czechia’s evolving role in European security, opportunities to restore peace to Europe and prevent future conflicts, and a vision of a positive agenda for a transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe. Reflecting on the importance of collective defense, Pavel provides his thoughts on the transatlantic response necessary to counter Chinese aggression and the shadow war Russia is waging against Europe, the crucial role the US plays in NATO, as well as the importance of the European Union to Czechia, what we ca...

Join former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, David Vigneault, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the Canadian federal election results, trade, and the potential for a common agenda for the future of the US-Canada alliance. Reflecting on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s victory in the Canadian federal election in April 2025 and President Trump’s recent controversial comments on Canada as the ‘51st state’, Vigneault provides his thoughts on the importance of the US-Canada relationship and outlines a positive agenda of cooperation between both countries in areas including North American defense, intelligence cooperation, missile defense...

Join The Right Honorable Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2022, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the war in Ukraine, British and European politics, and the future of the transatlantic relationship. Reflecting on the special relationship between the US and UK, Johnson provides his thoughts on how the relationship is evolving and the importance of US-UK cooperation in tackling Chinese aggression, as well as the broad nature of geostrategic competition with the axis of aggressors of North Korea, China, Russia and Iran, the need for a strong coordinated international response...

Join Ms. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, National Leader of Belarus and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the Belarusian opposition, her fight for freedom, and the importance of countering Russian aggression in Europe. With Belarus at the center of geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya discusses the nature of the Stalinist Lukashenka regime and mechanisms used to maintain their grip on power, what the opposition has accomplished and its future priorities, including the release of political prisoners and holding free and fair elections, her views on the war in Ukraine...

Join Mr. Bilal Bilici, a member of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Türkiye's evolving role on the global stage, its central role in the volatile Black Sea and Middle East regions, and its future in NATO. In light of the recent arrest of Istanbul mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu in March 2025, Mr. Bilici reflects on the state of Turkish politics today, the country's prospects for democracy, US-Türkiye relations and the most pressing issues both countries should align on, his take on Syria following the c...

Join General Sir Nick Carter, the United Kingdom’s former Chief of the Defence Staff, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the future of warfare through the lens of conflicts in Israel, Ukraine, and Africa. Drawing on his extensive military career - serving in Western Germany, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, General Carter provides his thoughts on the Trump administration’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine, Putin’s ambitions in Europe, and Russia and China’s revanchist power in Africa. He discusses how conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and Europe are connecte...

Join Colombia’s former Minister of Defense and two-time Ambassador of Colombia to the United States, Juan Carlos Pinzón, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Colombia’s evolving security landscape, its relationship with the United States, Venezuela's central role in the issues facing the region, and international politics in the Western Hemisphere. Reflecting on the 2022 election of President Gustavo Petro, Pinzón provides an insight into the consequences of Colombia’s political shift to a far-left government, including increased lawlessness, territorial control and weakened security, how public sentiment is shifting ahead of the country’s 2026 pre...

Join Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, Gilberto Teodoro, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the history of US-Philippine relations, defense cooperation, and security in Southeast Asia. In light of the new US administration, Teodoro reflects on America’s long alliance with the Philippines and his expectations for the relationship over the coming years, how the Philippine government has evolved over the last several administrations in countering Chinese coercion, and the connection between Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the impact of the war in the Middle East on the se...

Join Lithuania’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis immediately following his departure from government, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the outcome of the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election and the opportunities and challenges facing the new coalition governing the country. Amid growing geopolitical tensions, Landsbergis reflects on Russia’s sustained campaign against Europe and the Free World, the global threat from China, North Korea and Iran, the importance of sustained support for Ukraine and whether Ukraine can prevail, Lithuania’s role in countering authoritarianism in Eastern Europe, and the future of U.S.-Lithuanian relati...

Join award-winning director, producer and screenwriter, Djo Munga, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Munga’s films depicting life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African regional challenges, and opportunities for unleashing the potential of this resource rich country in service of its long-suffering population. Having received widespread acclaim for his work, Munga reflects on how the arts, including film, drama and literature can help us understand complex challenges facing the world from a political, economic and social perspective, how he uses film to understand the root causes of conflict in the DR...

Join Bethany Coates, founder and CEO of BreakLine, an education and employment company helping outstanding veterans, women, people of color, and people with disabilities accelerate into their next careers, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss BreakLine’s crucial role in preparing veterans for civilian careers and educating employers on the tremendous value veterans bring to American businesses and civil society. Former Assistant Dean at Stanford Graduate School of Business leading social impact education, Coates reflects on how veterans are often misrepresented in popular culture, the rewards of service, and values such as honor, duty, courage, lo...

Former Naval Flight Officer and Naval Physician Dr. Alta DeRoo and Vietnam War infrantryman Dr. Don Elverd from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation join Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss substance use disorder, ways to prevent and treat addiction, and its implications for national security. As experts in treating substance use disorders and supporting service members through recovery, Drs. DeRoo and Elverd share insights on the addiction crisis affecting Americans, mental healthcare and addiction treatment for veterans, and how communities can support individuals undergoing substance use disorder treatment. They emphasize a focus on resilience, growth, and emerging...

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Leopoldo López discuss ongoing protests in Venezuela, the Maduro regime’s tactics of repression, and prospects for the restoration of the Venezuelan constitution and the end of Maduro’s despotic rule.

Join former mayor of Caracas and Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they examine Venezuela’s authoritarian socialist regime and prospects for the restoration of the Venezuelan constitution. Reflecting on the country’s stolen presidential election in July 2024, López shares his insights on the Maduro regime’s mechanisms of...

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Adela Raz discuss the humanitarian catastrophe and systemic human rights abuses under Taliban rule, the lessons and consequences of the collapse of the Afghanistan Republic, and the future of Afghanistan and its diaspora.

Join former Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States, Adela Raz, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they reflect on the geostrategic consequences of the 2021 collapse of Afghanistan. Ambassador Raz shares her insights on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the humanitarian catastrophe and systemic human rights abuses currently facing...

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Lobsang Sangay discuss China’s repression of the Tibetan people, Tibet’s efforts to advocate for freedom and rule of law, and prospects for the future in Tibet and in East Asia, on Wednesday July 31, 2024.

Join former prime minister in exile of the Central Tibetan Administration Lobsang Sangay and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss China’s repression of the Tibetan people, Tibet’s efforts to advocate for freedom and rule of law, and prospects for the future in Tibet and in East Asia. Prime Minister...

Join Israel Defense Forces (IDF) brigadier general Meir Finkel and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster as they examine the current state of the Israel-Gaza war and the geopolitics of the broader Middle East. In this episode of Battlegrounds, Dr. Finkel shares his insights on the Israeli campaign to destroy Hamas in Gaza, examining the objectives of Hamas and how the IDF is responding to prevent civilian casualties during a humanitarian crisis. They also discuss the Israel-Iran proxy conflict and how the wars in the Middle East might evolve in the coming months and years.

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In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ahmet Üzümcü discuss the vital role of Turkey in advancing peace and prosperity in a time of economic distress; strained relations between Ankara and Washington over Turkey’s acquisition of Russian air defense systems; disagreements over US support for Syrian Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS in Syria; and concerns about Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s authoritarian tendencies and his support for the terrorist organization Hamas, on Wednesday June 26, 2024.

Join former director-general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Ahmet Üzümcü, and Hoover...

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Jorge Castañeda discuss the future of Mexico and Mexican-US relations, on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Former foreign minister of Mexico and renowned public intellectual, political scientist, and prolific writer Jorge Castañeda Gutman joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to share his insights on current Mexican security concerns and the future of Mexico and Mexican-US relations. Reflecting on Mexico’s 2024 presidential election, Castañeda discusses the significance of the election as a milestone in Mexico’s history, including the implications on Mexico’s economy, efforts to address climate change, a...

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Elbegdorj Tsakhia discuss Mongolian security concerns, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the continued threat of warfare in the Pacific, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

Former president of Mongolia, key leader of the Mongolian Democratic Revolution, and Mongolian prime minister in 1998 and between 2004 to 2006, Elbegdorj Tsakhia joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to share his thoughts on current Mongolian security concerns, his assessment of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the continued threat of warfare in the Pacific. A pivotal figure in peace and democracy movements acr...

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Vladimir Milov discuss the war in Ukraine, the status of the Russian opposition, and prospects for the restoration of peace, Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Vladimir Milov, Russian opposition politician, publicist, economist, and former advisor to the late Russian opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny, joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to share insights on Russia’s recent presidential election, the state of political opposition in Russia, and the country’s war against Ukraine. A vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and the hypernationalist group of leaders who dominate the gover...