A Survey of Europe's Defense and Security Landscape

A Survey of Europe's Defense and Security Landscape

Author: Modern War Institute at West Point May 31, 2025 Duration: 50:43
When Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it galvanized both NATO and the European Union, doing more to unify much of Europe than any event in recent history. But how has political and strategic unity translated to improvements of collective European defense and deterrence? Amid uncertainty about continued US support for Ukraine, which European states are stepping into leadership roles? And most broadly, after three and a half years of war, how much has the European security landscape changed? To explore those questions and more, John Amble is joined on this episode of the MWI Podcast by Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow for European Security at the Royal United Services Institute.   The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Hosted by the Modern War Institute at West Point, this series offers a direct, thoughtful examination of the ideas and strategies shaping contemporary and future battlefields. Each episode brings together the institute’s deep analytical resources with voices from the field, creating conversations that are both academic and grounded in real-world experience. You’ll hear from senior military leaders, policy experts, historians, and scholars who dissect complex topics-from emerging technologies and hybrid warfare to geopolitical shifts and the enduring human elements of conflict. Supported by the West Point Class of 1974, the podcast serves as a primary forum for the institute’s work, moving beyond headlines to explore the underlying mechanics and ethical considerations of modern defense. The discussions are detailed and nuanced, designed for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of national security challenges without the jargon and oversimplification. Tune in for a rigorous, accessible education on the art of war in the twenty-first century, where every conversation aims to inform and provoke thoughtful consideration.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Modern War Institute
Podcast Episodes
F-16s Over Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:30
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian government began asking its international supporters to provide it with combat aircraft. By 2023, a number of NATO members had agreed to provide training…
Why Military Cohesion Matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:02
The term "cohesion" features prominently in discussions of military effectiveness, especially at the small-unit level. We all know intuitively what it means, but understanding how to develop and nurture it in practice is…
Competition and Conflict in Cyberspace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:39
How does cyberspace differ from the other warfighting domains—land, sea, air, and space? What challenges do those differences pose? Does cyber require unique approaches to talent manage to ensure the US military can recr…
Clausewitz and the War in Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:26
The Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz is held in high regard among US military scholars. But it can be challenging at times to apply his ideas—with necessary nuance—to real-world security challenges. In this…
Defending Against Drones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:44
No unit in the US Army has more experience defending against drone attacks than 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. During a recent deployment to the Middle East, spread out across eight bases in Iraq and Sy…
Introducing "Ctrl Alt Army" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:31
In this special episode of the MWI Podcast, we're taking the opportunity to introduce listeners to a brand new podcast series called Ctrl Alt Army: Stories from Cyberspace. Hosted by Dr. Michael Sulmeyer, principal cyber…
Russia's Pursuit of Military AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:42
Russia is actively pursuing military applications of AI technology. But how much progress has been made in that pursuit? How have sanctions put in place in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine influenced the course o…
Landpower in the Pacific [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:28
Many people look at a map of the Indo-Pacific region and assume that—characterized as it is by long distances and vast stretches of ocean—it is principally the air and maritime domains where military capability is most i…
How Iran's Missile and Drone Attack Was Defeated [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
When Iran recently launched more than three hundred drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles in a large-scale attack against Israel, almost every single one was stopped from reaching its target. A combination of g…
NATO at 75 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:07
Seventy-five years ago, on April 4, 1949, representatives of twelve governments came together to sign the North Atlantic Treaty. Much has changed in the intervening period—the Cold War came and went, NATO invoked the Art…