War on the Rocks

Ryan Evans
  • 4.9 (71)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Discussions over drinks with security, defense, and foreign policy insiders and experts. The original War on the Rocks podcast series.

  1. 2025-12-23

    No End in Sight? The Russo-Ukrainian War at the End of 2025

    As the year comes to a close, Dara Massicot and Mike Kofman talk with Ryan about the state of play from diplomacy to the battlefield.

    41 min

  2. 2025-12-22

    The First Royal Marine to Become First Sea Lord

    Gen. Sir Gwyn Jenkins visited Washington a few weeks ago and was kind enough to invite Ryan to the British Embassy for a nice chat about the U.S.-U.K. alliance, the threat landscape, his vision for delivering seapower, learning from Ukraine, acquisition reform, the future of the Royal Navy — which currently faces serious challenges but also key opportunities, and so much more.

    35 min

  3. 2025-12-18

    Gen. Brunson on Holding the Line on the Korean Peninsula

    Gen. Xavier T. Brunson is a busy man. As the senior U.S. military leader on the Korean Peninsula, he has three jobs, commanding U.N. Command, South Korean-U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea. What all this boils down to is, if the balloon goes up with North Korea, or another adversary in the region, the forces under his command are expected to be ready to "fight tonight." During a visit to Washington, Gen. Brunson popped into WOTR HQ to discuss the security environment, his vision of command, and a host of other issues.    This episode was supported by Legion. Learn more about our friends at Legion here: https://warontherocks.com/legion

    42 min

  4. 2025-12-11

    Getting Faster, Stronger, Ready: Sweden's Defense Minister on Reform and Resolve

    Since joining NATO in 2024, Sweden has taken on a more prominent role in European security. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson joined Ryan in Washington to discuss how Sweden is supporting Ukraine, rebuilding its own military with more resources, and pushing for a faster, more agile defense acquisition system.

    26 min

  5. 2025-11-20

    The Last Stand Dilemma in Ukraine

    When should Ukraine commit more forces to a perhaps desperate stand to hold ground it will likely lose? And when is it the difficult but correct choice to preserve the force and pull back to the next defensive line? This is the real, agonizing strategic dilemma shaping the war, now highlighted in the fight for Pokrovsk. Distinguished strategist Lawrence Freedman joins Ryan at a cafe in Vilnius, where they were both speaking at a conference, to dissect this critical question. They also sort through how this relates to each side's theory of victory and the shifting realities of the battlefield.

    25 min

  6. 2025-11-14

    Is Strategy Possible Now? Ever?

    The American president has a ... different approach to strategy than his predecessors. To make sense of the extent American strategy can work and is working at the moment, Ryan was joined by Frank Hoffman, Justin Logan (Cato Institute), and Rebecca Friedman Lissner (Council on Foreign Relations). Join for the brilliant minds. Stay for the spicy takes on American statecraft in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.

    1h 3m

  7. 2025-11-06

    A Conversation with Former Chairman, Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.

    Gen. (ret.) CQ Brown, Jr. may have been removed from his post as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but he isn't finished serving. He joined Ryan at War on the Rocks HQ to talk about how America can realize the true promise of its faltering defense industrial enterprise (the focus of a recent article he authored). Brown argues the playbook already exists. What is missing is concerted action. He also opens up about his abrupt dismissal and how he sees his duty to the nation in the years ahead.   You can read his article here: https://warontherocks.com/2025/11/racing-against-time-realizing-a-true-defense-industrial-enterprise/

    28 min

  8. 2025-10-30

    Congressman Himes on Venezuela, Latin America & a Disordered World

    As ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut has deep insights into national security. And he is concerned. He joined Ryan to share his thoughts on strikes on drug boats, the Trump administration's foreign policy in Latin America, the way the administration fails to work with Congress on matters of national security, and strategy in other parts of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.

    44 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
71 Ratings

About

Discussions over drinks with security, defense, and foreign policy insiders and experts. The original War on the Rocks podcast series.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Evans
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2025
  • Episodes
    322
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © War on the Rocks Media
  • Show Website
    War on the Rocks

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