Today’s Battlegrounds

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Yousef Al Otaiba discuss the Abraham Accords, the humanitarian crisis centered on ongoing crises in Syria and Yemen, the threat from Iran, and great power competition in the Middle East. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba on Wednesday, April 14 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Yousef Al Otaiba is the current United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the United States (US). He is also a Minister of State for the UAE and holds board memberships with the Special Olympics, the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the American University of Cairo. His Yedioth Ahronoth op-ed, “Annexation will be a serious setback for better relations with the Arab World,” is among his greatest accomplishments as UAE Ambassador to the US as it gained international attention for influencing the Abraham Accords normalization deal between the UAE and Israel. Before his time at the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC, he worked as Director of International Affairs for the court of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Mark Sedwill discuss the future of the transatlantic relationship and priorities for cooperation among allies and partners to take advantage of opportunities and  overcome challenges from Xi Jinping’s China to Vladimir Putin’s Russia to jihadist terrorism. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Mark Sedwill, Baron Sedwill of Sherborne KCMG FRGS, on Wednesday, March 31 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Mark Sedwill,Baron Sedwill of Sherborne KCMG FRGS, is Chairman of the Atlantic Futures Forum, Chairman of the G7 Panel on Global Economic Resilience, and a cross-bench member of the UK Parliament’s House of Lords. He is a senior adviser to Rothschild & Co. He was Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Civil Service (2018-20), National Security Adviser (2017-20), Permanent Secretary at the Home Office (2013-17), and HM Ambassador and NATO Representative in Afghanistan (2009-11). H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. _______________________________________________________ Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former President and Minister of National Defense Juan Manuel Santos discuss Colombian security, transnational organized crime and narcotics trafficking, the crisis in Venezuela, and lessons learned from Colombia’s struggle to achieve a lasting peace. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Juan Manuel Santos, former President and Minister of National Defense (of Colombia), on Wednesday, March 17 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Juan Manuel Santos is the former President of Colombia (2010 to 2018) and was the sole recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for his efforts to end his country’s civil war.  Before his Presidency, Santos held a number of ministerial roles including Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.  Santos also founded a new political party (The U Party) in 2005. Before public life, he was a deputy publisher and editorial writer in the newspaper El Tiempo. Santos is also the author of several books. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid party and opposition leader in the Israeli Parliament, on Wednesday, March 3 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid party and opposition leader in the Israeli Parliament discuss challenges to Israel’s security, the Abraham Accords, and the prospects for enduring peace in the Levant and the broader Middle East. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Yair Lapid is chairman of the Yesh Atid party and opposition leader in the Israeli Parliament. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. ABOUT THE SERIES Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.” For more information, visit: https://www.hoover.org/battlegrounds_perspectives. Pick up a copy of "Battlegrounds: The Fight To Defend The Free World," by H.R. McMaster here - https://www.hoover.org/research/battlegrounds-fight-defend-free-world.

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Hoover Institution   In this special episode of Battlegrounds in honor of Black History Month, H.R. McMaster and Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Robinson, US Army (Retired), son of General Roscoe Robinson Jr., the first African American four-star general in the U.S. Army, discuss his father’s determination and dedication to serve his country even as he confronted racial inequities in the U.S. military and how all Americans can learn from his leadership and legacy. General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. was the first Black four-star general in the United States Army. A St. Louis native, Robinson entered West Point in 1947 and led forces in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was promoted to four-star general in 1982 and served as U.S. Representative to NATO's Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium. General Robinson received the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for his heroic service and valor and retired from the Army in 1985 after 34 years of military service. He also held a Master's in International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1993, General Robinson was recognized by West Point as a Distinguished Graduate. He passed away that year and is survived by his children, Bruce and Carol. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Bruce Robinson is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and the son of General Roscoe Robinson Jr. After retirement from the United States Army in 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson worked as a Homeland Security consultant for a software company in California. He holds a B.S. in General Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an M.S. in Telecommunications Management from the University of Colorado at Boulder. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.  

In this ninth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović discuss education reform, peacebuilding in South East Europe, and strategies to achieve energy security and combat cyber-enabled information warfare. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, First female President of the Republic of Croatia (2015- 2020), on Wednesday, February 17 at 11:00am PT.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on Wednesday, February 3 at 9:00am PT on "Rwanda And The African Union: The Promise Of Increased U.S.-Africa Engagement." In this eighth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and President Paul Kagame discuss the African Union, security in the Great Lakes region, and the future of U.S. diplomatic and economic relations with Rwanda and Africa, the world’s youngest continent in which 50% of the population is under 25 years old. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Paul Kagame is President of the Republic of Rwanda. In 2019 he was elected Chairperson of the East African Community, and has been leading the institutional reform of the African Union (AU) since 2016. President Kagame is currently Chairperson of the AU Development Agency New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) as well as African Union Leader for Domestic Health Financing. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. ABOUT THE SERIES Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.” For more information, visit: https://www.hoover.org/battlegrounds_perspectives. Pick up a copy of "Battlegrounds: The Fight To Defend The Free World," by H.R. McMaster here - https://www.hoover.org/research/battlegrounds-fight-defend-free-world 

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, on Wednesday, January 20th at 11:00am PT. In this seventh episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Christopher Heusgen discuss the U.S.-Germany alliance, the European Union, and responses to humanitarian crises.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Staffan de Mistura, Former Special UN Envoy to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria on Wednesday, January 6th. In this sixth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Staffan de Mistura discuss the role of international organizations in promoting peace and improving security as well as limitations and disappointments associated with collective action.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with the Honorable Julie Bishop, Chancellor of the Australian National University on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 9:00am PT. In this fifth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Julie Bishop discuss the tradeoffs between national security and private sector growth, trade, and climate change that are being brought to the forefront of both Australian and American society.