Strategy Speaks
Strategy Speaks is the official podcast of the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Strategy Speaks discusses the main geopolitical issues facing Europe and its partners and allies.
The Beautiful Game: The World Cup, Football and International Politics
In Episode 24 of Strategy Speaks, Daniel Fiott sits down with Antonio Missiroli to discuss the place of football in international politics and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With Power Comes Responsibility: Nuclear Weapons, Non-Proliferation and the 2026 Review Conference
In Episode 23 of Strategy Speaks, Daniel Fiott sits down with Alexander Mattelaer, Laura Vansina and Wannes Verstraete to discuss the 2026 NPT Review Conference and nuclear risks.
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This episode of Strategy Speaks was made possible with the generous support of the Political Affairs and Security Division of NATO. Alexander and Laura speak in a personal capacity and their views do not necessarily reflect the views of NATO and its Allies.
A Not So Simple Strategy: The Evolving US Approach to Alliances and Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific
In Episode 22 of Strategy Speaks, Daniel Fiott sits down with Jung H Pak and Ramón Pacheco Pardo to discuss the United States' approach to alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.
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This episode of Strategy Speaks was made possible with the generous support of The Korea Foundation.
Japan is Back: What Takaichi's Landslide Win Means for Japan's Security and Relations with Europe
In Episode 21 of Strategy Speaks, Daniel Fiott sits down with Eva Pejsova and Céline Pajon to discuss PM Sanae Takaichi's landslide election victory and what it means for Japan's security and relations with Europe.
The Eye of the Tiger? The State of Defence Cooperation in the Baltic Region
In episode 20 of Strategy Speaks, Daniel Fiott sits down with Roberts Kits from LaSER to discuss defence cooperation in the Baltic Region, including defence industrial dynamics and partnerships.
Continuity in an Era of Competition: Taking South Korea - Europe Cooperation to a New Level
In episode 19 of Strategy Speaks, Tae-Eun Song and Myong-Hyun Go speak with Daniel Fiott about South Korea - Europe cooperation and they dig into how each partner is dealing with the Trump presidency, cybersecurity cooperation and strategic alignment between China, Russia and North Korea.
Turbulent Times: President Lee's Foreign Policy, Partnerships and Global Governance
In episode 18 of Strategy Speaks, Kim Jiyoon speaks with Daniel Fiott about South Korea's foreign policy under President Lee, with a focus on bilateral relations with the United States and Japan.
Entente Nucléaire: France-UK Nuclear Cooperation in a Renewed Era of Deterrence
In episode 17 of Strategy Speaks, Alexander Mattelaer (CSDS) and Elie Perot (CSDS) speak with Daniel Fiott about the recent France-UK "Northwood Declaration" on nuclear cooperation. The podcast episode looks at the significance of the announcement, plus it situates UK-France nuclear cooperation in a wider NATO nuclear deterrence context.
Australia and the NATO Summit: Australia's Defence and Deterrence Strategy, The Hague Summit and the Indo-Pacific
In episode 16 of Strategy Speaks, Richard Marles - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Australia -, speaks with Luis Simón and Lotje Boswinkel about Australia's defence and deterrence strategy. This special edition of the podcast, recorded live from the NATO Hague Summit, also covers Australia's strategy in its relationship with the United States, AUKUS and more.
Production Power: The Revitalisation of the US Defence Industrial Base and the Consequences for Europe
In episode 15 of Strategy Speaks, Becca Wasser from CNAS speaks with Daniel Fiott about the US defence industrial base and how its revitalisation could affect Europe. The conversation focuses on way to boost defence production and how to stimulate allied defence cooperation.
Escalation Management: Europe's Conventional and Nuclear Deterrence
In episode 14 of Strategy Speaks, Lotje Boswinkel and Elie Perot speak with Daniel Fiott about Europe's nuclear and conventional military deterrence at a time of upheaval in the transatlantic relationship. The focus in this episode is on the French nuclear deterrence and Europe's long-range strike capabilities.
Lessons from Ukraine? America's New Approach to the Indo-Pacific
In episode 13 of Strategy Speaks, Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo speak with Daniel Fiott about the second Trump administration's approach to alliances in the Indo-Pacific and what is being learned from the war on Ukraine.
The Golden Age? Europe-Japan Cooperation and the Trump Administration
In episode 12 of Strategy Speaks, Ken Endo and Eva Pejsova speak with Daniel Fiott about Europe-Japan cooperation in the context of the second Trump administration.
Energy Security is National Security: The Case of South Korea
In episode 11 of Strategy Speaks, Henry Haggard speaks with Daniel Fiott about the geopolitical dynamics of South Korea's energy policy and how the country externalises its innovation and productive capacity.
The Outback No More: Critical Shifts in Australia's Defence Policy, Deterrence and Partnerships
In episode 10 of Strategy Speaks, Stephan Frühling speaks with Daniel Fiott about shifts in Australia's defence policy and strategy, as well as its conceptions of deterrence and its unique geopolitical position for close partners.
This podcast episode is supported by the Australian Department of Defense's Strategic Policy Grants Program (SPGP)
A Pivotal Moment: South Korea, European Security and Alliances
In episode 9 of Strategy Speaks, Ramon Pacheco Pardo speaks with Daniel Fiott to discuss South Korea's security, its approach to the Ukraine war and its alliances after the election of President Donald Trump.
This podcast is generously sponsored by The Korea Foundation.
Digitalising Together: The EU, the Indo-Pacific and Digital Partnerships
In episode 8 of Strategy Speaks, Koichiro Komiyama and Raluca Csernatoni sit down with Daniel Fiott to discuss the EU's digital partnerships with countries in the Indo-Pacific. The episode is funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No.: 101135568. The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union.
The Second Coming: Trump, Ukraine and Transatlanticism After the US Elections
In episode 7 of Strategy Speaks, Linde Desmaele and Luis Simón sit down with Daniel Fiott to discuss the aftermath of the re-election of President Trump and the future of European security.
Europe in the Indo-Pacific: The European Union and Swedish Approaches
In episode 6 of Strategy Speaks, Calle Håkansson sits down with Daniel Fiott to discuss the role of the European Union and Sweden in the Indo-Pacific.
The "Geo-Tech" World: Strategic Competition, Europe, Geopolitics and Technology
In episode 5 of Strategy Speaks, Antonio Calcara sits down with Daniel Fiott to discuss the growing importance of geopolitics and technology, as well as Antonio's ERC project "CODE".
What Went Down in D.C.? NATO and the Washington Summit
In episode 4 of Strategy Speaks, Alexander Mattelaer sits down with Daniel Fiott to discuss the Washington Summit and the state of NATO.
The War in Ukraine: Four Scenarios and Wild Cards
In this first episode of Strategy Speaks, Daniel Fiott sits down with Lotje Boswinkel and Luis Simón to discuss scenarios for the war in Ukraine.
Facing the China Challenge: Europe, Australia and the Indo-Pacific
In this third episode of "Strategy Speaks", the podcast of the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), host Daniel Fiott speaks to Rory Medcalf about the challenge of China and how Australia and Europe are evolving as partners in the Indo-Pacific.
The War in Ukraine: Four Scenarios
In this first episode of "Strategy Speaks", the podcast of the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), host Daniel Fiott speaks to Lotje Boswinkel and Luis Simón about their latest paper: "Shades of Grim: The War in Ukraine and Global Order".
A Year of Elections: EU-Taiwan Relations
In this second episode of "Strategy Speaks", the podcast of the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS), host Daniel Fiott speaks to Giulia Tercovich about her latest paper: "Two Elections, One Challenge: How the European and Taiwanese Elections Mean a New EU Taiwan Playbook is Needed".
