The General & The Journalist

Russia is holding its first State Duma election since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but the Kremlin has worked to ensure the outcome is never truly in doubt. Nina Khrushcheva, great-granddaughter of the former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, joins us to examine what the vote reveals about Putin’s rule and how the war in Ukraine is mounting pressure on Putin. With public patience under strain and unease growing among the elite, how much longer can Putin keep pressing this war on? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:55 – Nina Khrushcheva on Putin’s Russia 07:50 – Inside Russia’s rigged election 16:37 – Putin’s mobilisation gamble 23:04 – Russia’s war economy and breaking point 30:04 – Putin’s escalating threat to NATO Guest: Nina Khrushcheva, professor of International Affairs at The New School in New York City Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster, Shabnam Grewal Executive producer : Dan Box, Tim Walklate Image: Dana Chan, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was one of the most audacious acts of sabotage in modern history - in September 2022, explosions ripped through the Nord Stream pipelines carrying natural gas from Russia underneath the Baltic Sea. The attack reshaped European geo-politics but at the time, no one knew who ordered the bombing, or carried it out. Journalist Bojan Pancevski has spent three years tracing the operation - and says the answers to those questions involve a tiny team of divers, a rented yacht and a former erotic model known only as ‘Freya’. Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:00 – Who blew up Nord Stream? 02:55 – Why Nord Stream mattered 06:39 – Inside the sabotage mission 17:19 – Russia, CIA or Ukraine? 24:00 – Evidence, arrests and who ordered it Guest: Bojan Pancevski, chief European political correspondent for the Wall Street Journal Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Dan Box Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Clips: Getty Images, Danish Defence Command Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across Nato’s eastern flank, defence planners are increasingly focused on one date: 2030. War games, military assessments and troop deployments are being shaped around a stark question – could Moscow be ready to test Nato within the next few years? The Times’s defence editor Larisa Brown examines why 2030 has become such a crucial deadline for European defence, how Russia could try to probe Nato’s borders and whether the alliance is moving fast enough to deter Vladimir Putin. Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Producer: Jack Feeney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Pact, a new defence alliance built around the promise that an attack on one is an attack on all. Together they bring Saudi money and religious authority, Turkey’s military strength and defence industry and Pakistan’s army and nuclear power. But would any of them really go to war for the others? Tom and Patrick are joined by Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall to explore why the pact has emerged now. Is it a response to Iran’s decline, growing doubts over America’s reliability or the changing relationship with Israel? Or is the Mecca Pact merely a strategic hedge, or the beginning of a new balance of power in the Middle East? How do you think the Mecca Defence Alliance will impact the region ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk 00:00 - Mecca Pact Explained 05:04 - Saudi–Turkey–Pakistan Defence Alliance 13:02 - Why the Mecca Pact Matters Now 23:32 - Is the Mecca Pact a New NATO? 32:53 - Future of Middle East Security Guest: Ltn Gen Sir Simon Mayall, KBE, CB, retired British Army officer and a Middle East Adviser at the Ministry of Defence. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn. Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster and Shabnam Grewal Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For more than a century, the Middle East has been made and remade by collapsing empires, colonial borders, revolutions, wars and powerful rulers. Now, Iran is weakening, Gulf states are becoming more influential and old alliances are shifting again. Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Tom and Patrick to discuss how the modern Middle East was forged and why the forces that shaped it are still at work today. Who is gaining power, who is losing it, and are we watching the birth of a new regional order? Who do you think is reshaping the new Middle East ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 — How the modern Middle East was made 13:15 — Colonialism, Sykes-Picot and the birth of “zombie states” 23:45 — Is the term “Middle East” now obsolete? 29:30 — Iran’s regional empire and the October 7 wars 36:45 — Six converging theatres—and reasons for hope The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East by Simon Sebag Montefiore is available in stores now Guest: Simon Sebag Montefiore, British historian and author Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukraine’s drone campaign is reaching deeper into Russia than ever before, striking oil terminals, ships and targets around Moscow and St Petersburg. As casualties rise and attacks put growing pressure on Russia’s economy and war machine, is Ukraine beginning to change the course of the conflict? In this bonus audio explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines how Ukraine’s long-range strikes are testing Russia’s defences – and whether Vladimir Putin is approaching a serious turning point in the war. Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery rounds, thousands of troops and workers for its drone factories to support its war in Ukraine. In return, Russian money, food, energy and weapons are reviving Pyongyang’s economy, giving it military battlefield experience and potentially advancing Kim Jong Un’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Dr Victor Cha, former White House national security official and one of America’s leading Korea experts, joins The General & The Journalist to explain how Russia has made an isolated regime richer and more dangerous. How powerful has North Korea become? Why have decades of denuclearisation diplomacy failed? And could talks with Washington loosen Kim’s alliance with Putin? Should the West accept a nuclear North Korea ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 North Korea’s economic boom 08:31 Russia fuels Kim Jong Un 14:18 China, Russia and North Korea 18:32 North Korea’s nuclear threat 26:16 Why denuclearisation failed 33:46 Kim Jong Un’s successor and future Guest: Dr Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan, Getty Clips: Reuters, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mossad has spent decades building intelligence networks inside Iran, using spies, cyber operations and covert technology to penetrate the regime at the highest levels. Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad, joins The General & The Journalist to reveal how Israel’s spies recruit agents, operate behind enemy lines and target Iran’s leadership. How far is Mossad willing to go? And can Israel’s intelligence successes ultimately bring about regime change in Iran? And where does covert action cross the line? The Sword of Freedom: Israel, Mossad, and the Secret War by Yossi Cohen is available at Harper Collins. 00:00 - Former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen on Israel’s Intelligence Strategy 03:01 - How Mossad Penetrated the Iranian Regime’s Deepest Secrets 09:24 - HUMINT vs. SIGINT: Why Human Spies Outperform Cyber Intelligence 14:16 - Exploding Pagers, Sabotage & The Ethics of Covert Operations 24:28 - The Future of Iran, Regime Change & Yossi Cohen’s Political Ambitions Guest: Yossi Cohen, former director of Mossad Host: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster and Shabnam Grewal Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty Clips: BBC How should Andy Burnham approach the UK’s relationship with Israel ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could Britain replace billion-pound warships with fleets of uncrewed vessels – and what happens when the technology fails? In this bonus audio explainer, The Sunday Times’s Mark Urban examines Britain’s £5 billion bet on uncrewed warfare, shaped by the lethal lessons of Ukraine. Military planners hope networks of specialised drones and automated platforms can cut costs, protect personnel and transform the battlefield. But with major conventional programmes still competing for funding, is Britain building the armed forces of the future or creating dangerous new vulnerabilities? Producer: Stephanie Bosset Image: Dana Chan, Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Hegseth has turned the Pentagon into a stage for warrior bravado – renaming it the Department of War, ordering testosterone screening for troops over 30, and cheering on a US Navy jet's ultra-low flypast over a packed Florida beach. Former RAF Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell joins Tom and Patrick to give his verdict on Hegseth's shake-up of the US armed forces and to ask whether a similar culture could take hold in the British military. Chapters: 00:00 — Pete Hegseth and the dangerous flybys 08:50 — Who is Pete Hegseth? 10:55 — Fitness, testosterone and the “warrior ethos” 14:30 — Diversity, standards and the military beard debate 21:40 — Does machismo belong in the military? Guest: Sean Bell, Former Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Air Force Host: General Sir Patrick Sanders & Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Elle Scott & Julia Webster Exec Producer: Priyanka Deladia Clips: US Department of War. Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has sacked his defence minister and army chief after a bitter struggle over Ukraine’s military strategy triggered widespread street protests. Natia Seskuria of RUSI examines the clash between reformers and the old guard, and the consequences for Zelensky’s democratic reputation. Could this upheaval at the top change the course of the war with Russia? Should Zelensky reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as minister of defence ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 – Zelensky's Political Crisis 01:42 – Why Zelensky Fired Mykhailo Fedorov and Oleksandr Syrskyi 08:56 – Civilian Control vs. Military Command in Ukraine 14:37 – RUSI Expert Natia Seskuria on Kyiv's Power Struggle 32:13 – Listener Q&A: The Red Sea Crisis and China's Role in Djibouti Guest: Natia Seskuria, Head of Russia and Eurasia Programme at RUSI Hosts: General Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Patrick brings his experience as a former head of the British Army to the podcast. He is also a Conservative peer and advises the party on defence. Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty Clips: Getty, Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The collapse of the Iran ceasefire has pushed oil prices higher and left Tehran using the Strait of Hormuz as its most powerful leverage. With American casualties rising and roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply at risk, Washington faces a stark choice – keep bombing, attempt to force the strait open or start looking for a way out. Kirsten Fontenrose, former White House national security advisor, joins The General & The Journalist to assess Trump’s options. Can the US reopen the strait without triggering a wider war? And can Trump pull back before Iran becomes America’s next forever war? Is a military showdown in the Gulf inevitable? Send in your thoughts to generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Chapters: 00:00 – Is Iran Trump’s Forever War? 05:22 – Why Iran wants to control the Strait of Hormuz 09:41 – US Troop deaths and growing political pressure on Trump 13:23 – Trump’s Iran Options: Diplomacy, Naval Blockade or Escalation 27:14 – Can the US reopen the Strait? Kirsten Fontenrose’s Six-Month Forecast Guest: Kirsten Fontenrose, former Senior Director for Gulf Affairs at the National Security Council Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Shaun Parkinson, Getty Clips: C-SPAN, US Central Command, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pressure is mounting on the Kremlin, both militarily and economically. With Ukraine keeping a stranglehold on Putin's crown jewel, Crimea, the chances of a Russian escalation are growing. Could it become the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin? Russia expert Mark Galeotti joins The General & The Journalist to analyse Russia's capacity to lash out, the likelihood of a new mobilisation wave, and critically, when it might happen. Is an escalation by Putin inevitable ? Send in your thoughts to generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Guest: Mark Galeotti, expert on on transnational crime and Russian security affairs Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: John Silva, Getty Clips: Reuters, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the NATO summit in Ankara, American allies face an uncomfortable question – can they still rely on Washington to lead? Donald Trump is demanding more from Europe, NATO is trying to adapt and countries like Britain must decide whether to step up or become spectators in a world shaped by others. This week, John Bew joins The General & The Journalist to discuss NATO, Donald Trump, Britain's defence strategy and the future of transatlantic security. Drawing on his experience advising four UK prime ministers, he explains what the summit means for UK national security, military spending, foreign policy, and Britain's role in a changing world. Should NATO be trying to keep the US on board or should they plan for a future without their support ? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Guest: John Bew, Professor of History and Foreign Policy at the Department of War Studies, King's College London Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty Clips: Reuters, CBS News, Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain says its long-awaited Defence Investment Plan will strengthen its role in NATO. But after months of delays, funding rows and warnings from allies, does the money go far enough? Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe at NATO, joins Tom and Patrick to assess what the plan gets right, where it falls short and why Britain risks losing influence in the alliance if it fails to deliver. As NATO leaders prepare to gather in Ankara next week – with Russia threatening Europe, Donald Trump demanding more from the alliance, and countries such as Poland, Denmark and Germany moving faster on defence – is Britain still leading NATO or falling behind? Do you think the government has sufficiently funded UK defence? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Guest: Admiral Sir Keith Blount, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe to NATO Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty, Dana Chan Clips: Reuters, Forbes, Sky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For The General & The Journalist’s first anniversary, Tom and Patrick return to the question at the heart of the podcast – is the world becoming more dangerous? Recorded live at the Nevill Holt Festival, they look at Ukraine’s fightback, Putin’s next moves, the Iran ceasefire, China’s advantage, the threat to Taiwan and the crisis in Britain’s defences. Patrick warns that we may be entering a new Cold War and Tom asks whether Britain is moving fast enough to protect itself. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: William Blakesley-Herbert What are your thoughts on the state of British defence spending? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

H.R. McMaster served as Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser and saw firsthand how he makes decisions about war, peace and American power. As his former boss is tested by crises from Iran to Ukraine, China, NATO and Venezuela, he explains how the president really thinks. Does Trump have a grand strategy, or is he driven by instincts, deals and the search for a quick win? And will fragile US-Iran peace deal force a lasting peace or end in disaster? Guest: LTG HR McMaster, former US National Security Advisor (2017-2018) Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Dana Chan and Getty Clips: PBS, WPLG, Reuters, Getty What are your thoughts on the US/Iran deal? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cuba is running out of power, fuel and patience. As blackouts spread and anger grows, Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on Havana, blaming the regime for the island’s collapse while Cuba points to decades of US sanctions. The historic US indictment of former president Raúl Castro has raised the stakes and a bigger question – is Trump trying to use his Venezuela playbook on Cuba? With US military power visible in the Caribbean, can Washington force change in Havana or would intervention in America’s Caribbean neighbour could end in catastrophe? Guest: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America correspondent for The Times & The Sunday Times William LeoGrande, professor of Government at American University Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn Producer: Julia Webster Executive producer : Priyanka Deladia Image: Paul Brookbanks and Getty Clip: USA TODAY, Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine is trying to change the course of the war with drones, AI and battlefield innovation. What began as improvised technology has become central to Kyiv’s strategy, helping Ukraine defend the front line and strike deeper into Russia. But can drones really help Ukraine break the deadlock? And what does this mean for the future of war? Patrick and Tom speak to leading military analyst Dr Jack Watling about the reality on the front line, the rise of AI-enabled warfare and the ethical questions it raises. Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute Producer: Shabnam Grewal and Julia Webster Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Dinesh Mehta and Getty Clip: CNN Can drones and AI help Ukraine break the deadlock or make the war more dangerous? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two weeks after British paratroopers landed on Tristan da Cunha, one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, the rescue team are finally heading home. Their mission was extraordinary – reach a critically ill Briton on a tiny British Overseas Territory with no runway, no quick route by sea, and no easy way in. Within hours, 16 Air Assault Brigade was mobilised, sending paratroopers, military medics and vital supplies into the South Atlantic. Brigadier Ed Cartwright, who planned the operation, tells General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn how the daring rescue unfolded and what it says about Britain’s duty to protect its citizens and remote territories. But could the UK really defend these far-flung outposts from disaster or attack? Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn Guest: Brigadier Ed Cartwright, Commander, 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team Producer: Shabnam Grewal Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Getty Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.