This Means War

Ewan Lawson, a Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI, joins the discussion to unravel the complexities of modern warfare. He emphasizes the critical importance of context in analyzing conflicts, particularly highlighted by the surprise resurgence of conventional warfare in Ukraine. The conversation critiques the current military strategies of Western nations, examining their inclination toward hybrid warfare without appreciating historical and geographical nuances. Lawson also underscores the need for a more holistic approach to military logistics and the multidimensional nature of contemporary warfare.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has stimulated a considerable outpouring of emotion, passion and commentary – not to mention the death and destruction that always accompanies war. The same level of interest by the general publics of Europe, America and Australasia was not present for wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, across sub Saharan Africa or during the bloody civil wars and engagements fought elsewhere around the globe in the last decade or so. And whilst the border clashes between China and India could have started something much more catasophic than what started in Ukraine earlier this year, it received little attention in terms of debate and discussion in diplomatic, economic, political or military circles. Let alone failing to capture the imagination of the international public. I want to explore why this is – and talking to people in the profession of arms and wider community – I understand they are curious too.