This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

Ukraine’s daring drone attack Operation Spiderweb has stunned Russia with its stealth, precision planning and the damage it unleashed on warplanes based deep within Russian territory.  Gavin Esler is joined from Kyiv by This Is Not A Drill co-host Oz Katerji, to discuss the impact of an operation planned meticulously over the past 18 months – and what it means both for the war and the nature of asymmetric conflict. • This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this discussion, Gregg Carlstrom, a Middle East correspondent for The Economist, highlights the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza amid ongoing military actions by Israel. He comments on the geopolitical dynamics, including the pressure on Netanyahu from far-right partners and the implications of Trump's recent visit aimed at brokering deals. The complexities of Arab leaders’ subdued support for Israel and the broader regional conflicts offer insight into the intricate interplay of power, aid, and foreign policy in this crisis.

Agnieszka Bieńczyk-Missala, a Professor at Warsaw University, provides keen insights into Poland's security challenges amid rising tensions in Eastern Europe. The conversation highlights Poland's geographical vulnerabilities with neighboring threats, particularly from Russia. Bieńczyk-Missala discusses the impact of the Ukraine war on Poland’s defense strategies and political landscape, as well as the country's increased military spending and growing role in NATO. The ongoing migration crisis and its security implications are also thoroughly examined.

Dareen Khalifa is a Senior Advisor for Dialogue Promotion at the International Crisis Group, while Karam Shaar is a Syrian economist and consultant with the United Nations. They delve into the implications of Trump's recent decision to lift sanctions on Syria, igniting celebrations in Damascus. The discussion covers the nation's daunting path to recovery, the fragility of its political transitions, and the complexities of shifting alliances with regional powers. Economic challenges and sectarian tensions are also highlighted, showcasing a crucial moment for Syria's future.

As the crisis across the India-Pakistan border escalates, can the conflict be brought back from the brink? To discuss the latest from the region and the wider context of a deep-rooted interstate rivalry, Gavin Esler talks to Christopher Clary, associate professor at University at Albany, State University of New York, non-resident fellow at the Stimson Center and author of The Difficult Politics of Peace: Rivalry in Modern South Asia. • This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to https://incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Managing editor Jacob Jarvis. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tymofiy Mylovanov, President of the Kyiv School of Economics and former Ukrainian economy minister, sheds light on a historic mineral deal between Ukraine and the US. He discusses how this agreement bolsters Ukraine's resilience against Russian aggression and its impact on the US-Ukraine relationship. The conversation delves into Ukraine's wartime economy and the strategic growth of domestic defense production. Mylovanov also touches on the potential transfer of seized Russian assets and the challenges of EU integration and corruption reforms.

The podcast dives into the rise of gun crime in London, spotlighting a heartbreaking case involving a young girl in a drive-by shooting. It delves into the complex dynamics of gang rivalries and the heroin trade, revealing the ruthless operations of Turkish-origin gangs. The discussion highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in combating these organized crime networks, driven by deep familial ties and financial motives. The historical context of crime also gets a nod as comparisons to past eras shed light on the evolving landscape of urban crime.

The first 100 days of Trump’s second term have left the rest of the world facing the challenge of maintaining a global order without American leadership at its core.  What comes next is the subject of ‘Order Without America, How the International System can Survive a Hostile Washington’ – a recent Foreign Affairs article by the founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance at Oxford University, Professor Ngaire Woods. In the latest edition of This Is Not A Drill, Professor Woods joins Gavin Esler to discuss how the liberal international order can rebuild and strengthen to tackle the challenges of the world in 2025. • This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump famously said he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. But now, he’s suggested the US might “pass” on peace negotiations – unless rapid progress is made. So, what does that mean for Ukraine, three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion? After a week of statement and counter-statement in which Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported continued Russian attacks on Ukraine despite Vladimir Putin’s unilateral declaration of a temporary Easter ‘truce’ - Gavin Esler is joined for the latest from Kyiv by The Guardian journalist Luke Harding. • This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to https://incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amid the shocks created by Trump’s tariff policies, are we also seeing a kind of American economic self-harm – which threatens the long-standing dominance of the US dollar?Gavin Esler talks to Harvard Professor of Economics and former International Monetary Fund chief economist Kenneth Rogoff, whose new book Our Dollar, Your Problem looks at the rise of the US currency and shows why its future is far from assured.• This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There’s a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to https://incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan.• Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this.Buy Our Dollar, Your Problem through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll help fund This is Not a Drill by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too.Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. Managing Editor, Jacob Jarvis. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production.www.podmasters.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices