The Red Line

What was once considered a Soviet lake is now quickly becoming one of the most important strategic locations in the region, with Russia working hard to maintain its grip over the sea. The important part though may be what lies beneath its surface, that being enough gas to power Europe and blunt Russia's gas monopoly.  So whoever controls the Caspian, will have major leverage over the European powers, but to discuss this further we turn to our expert panel.  Eugene Chausovsky (Centre for Global Policy) Stanislav Printchin (ECED) Robert M Cutler (NATO Canada) For more info visit - www.theredlinepodcast.com Follow the show on @TheRedLinePod or Michael on @MikeHilliardAus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we take a deep dive into how to manipulate elections, whilst breaking open a large story connecting Brexit and the Russian ambassador. We also go through how Murdoch consolidates media outlets, how foreign nations conduct PsyOps as well as how companies likely Cambridge Analytica are hired to swing elections.  3 big stories on the 1 year anniversary of the show.  with KEVIN RUDD (Fmr Australian Prime Minister) NICK MUTCH (The Daily Beast, Der Spiegel) WILLIAM MARCELLINO (RAND Corporation) For more info please visit - www.theredlinepodcast Follow the show on @TheRedLinePod or Michael on @MikeHilliardAus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smashed between Russia and China, Mongolia has a difficult position to begin with; but it was from that position that it once managed to create the largest contiguous empire known to man.  What is the situation in Mongolia today though? Why has Mongolia become a peacemaker in Asia? and where does the future for Mongolia lie, In Moscow, in Beijing or in Washington? We sit down with our expert panel this week.  Morris Rossabi (Columbia University) Andrew Leung (International Consultant) Julian Dierkes (University of British Columbia) For more details visit - www.theredlinepodcast.com Follow the show on @TheRedLinePod Or Michael on @MikeHilliardAus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US has now been at war in Afghanistan for almost 20 years, and three administrations have all failed to find a solution to this war. Now the clock is ticking, with the Taliban gaining more and more ground every day, and the US risks a second "Rout from Saigon". So the US is looking to a peace deal, but will it actually bring stability to the region or simply further splinter an already expanding civil war.  This week's guests are Sahar Khan (CATO) John Glaser (CATO) Jarrett Blanc (Carnegie) For more info visit www.theredlinepodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somalia is often referred to as a failed state, with the nation being fractured into 4 parts, piracy and Al Shabaab controlling large chunks of the country, but Somalia seems to be getting back on its feet now.  What will this mean for the rest of East Africa, and who might be working to knock Somalia back down? We speak to our panel of experts about the regional ramifications. This weeks panel is Omar Mahmood (Crisis Group) Degan Ali (Adeso Africa) Alex De Waal (Tufts University) Follow the show on >> @theredlinepod or Michael on >> @MikeHilliardAus More info at www.theredlinepodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India is fast becoming one of the world's great powers, set to take the number 2 or 3 slot by 2050. This is unless another country were to derail India's current path, and the list of potential derailers is fairly long.  So this week we take a look into who will be India's great strategic threats over the next 3 decades, and where India sits in the power struggle for leadership of South Asia today.  This weeks guests are Swaminathan Aiyar (CATO Institute) Dhruva Jaishankar (ORF/Brookings) Harsh V Pant (Kings College London) More Info available at - www.theredlinepodcast.com Follow the show at @TheRedLinePod Follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thailand has for a long time been the centerpiece of South East Asia, and many powers are starting to relearn its importance when it comes to shifting the direction of the region.  With the boom in internationalism and regional trade, we also see a boom for drug cartels as well; so this week we layout just how chemicals in Southern China travel through a number of nations to be sold as Methamphetamine on the streets of Vancouver and Sydney.  Guests this week are  Matt Wheeler Josh Kurlantzick John Coyne More info at www.theredlinepodcast.com Follow the show at @TheRedLinePod or @MikeHilliardAus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the historical dispute between Belgrade and Kosovo, the challenges of traveling between Serbia and Kosovo, and the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the conflict. Delve into the Kosovo War for Independence, the occupation of Pristina Airport by Russian Special Forces, and China's strategic goals in the Balkans. Discover the possibility of Kosovo becoming a province of Albania as a solution.

When we covered the Libyan Civil War in February it looked like Haftar was about to be victorious, shelling the very gates of his enemies capital in Tripoli; but 5 months can make all of the difference.  The GNA has turned the tide and now Haftar is on the run and held up in the fortress city of Sirte, taking the city though may mean Turkey and Russia escalating to all-out war.  This weeks guests are Jalel Harchauoi (Clingendael Institute) Frederic Wehrey (Carnegie Centre) Jonathon Winer (Fmr Asst Secretary of State for the USA) Find more info at - www.theredlinepodcast.com Follow the show at @TheRedLinePod or Michael the host at @MikeHilliardAus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The South China sea is the new battleground between Beijing and Washington with the winner controlling the trades routes; and therefore the future of Asia. Caught in the middle is The Philippines, now torn between their military partners in Washington and their economic partners in Beijing, with the decision-maker being a wildly popular president accused of numerous human rights abuses. Manila is the linchpin for both sides, and we ask our guests in which direction the nation is heading.  This weeks guests are Aaron Jed Rabena (Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress) Sheena Greitens (Brookings Institute) Derek Grossman (RAND Corperation) Oriana Skylar Mastro (Stanford University) For more information visit www.theredlinepodcast.com Or follow the show on @TheRedLinePod Or follow Michael on @MikeHilliardAus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices