War on the Rocks

The Arsenal Beneath the Arsenal

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to rebuild the foundation of American military power? Michael Cadenazzi, assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, ...

Power, Paranoia, and the People's Liberation Army

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

China's top military leadership has been shaken by a new round of purges at the highest level, raising urgent questions about loyalty, corruption, and...

The Marines That Led the Evacuation of Afghanistan, Four Years Later

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

On this special, free episode of Marine Pulse, Ian Brown sat down with two Marines who recount their mission at Hamid Karzai International Airport on ...

How We Arrived at this Iranian Moment and What Happens Next

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Iranian regime has crushed the latest wave of protests through brute force, but the regime's survival comes at a cost. It now confronts a volatile...

Airpower, Advice, and D.C. Favorites with David Deptula

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lt. Gen. (ret) David Deptula sat down with Patrick McSpadden in the War on the Rocks studio for a wide-ranging conversation. Deptula highlights the Ai...

The Reckoning of the Ayatollahs: Understanding Iran's Burgeoning Uprising

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan had an hour-long conversation with Afshon Ostovar, a leading expert on the Iranian regime and its brutal security services. Afshon breaks down ev...

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

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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.

The First Royal Marine to Become First Sea Lord

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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....

Gen. Brunson on Holding the Line on the Korean Peninsula

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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, Sout...

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

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Since joining NATO in 2024, Sweden has taken on a more prominent role in European security. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson joined Ryan in Washin...

The Last Stand Dilemma in Ukraine

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 choic...

Is Strategy Possible Now? Ever?

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The American president has a ... different approach to strategy than his predecessors. To make sense of the extent American strategy can work and is w...

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

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Congressman Himes on Venezuela, Latin America & a Disordered World

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut has deep insights into national security. And...

How the Army Wants to Counter Drones

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Army Chief Technology Officer Alex Miller joined Ryan at a live event to talk about what countering improvised explosive devices taught him about def...

Holding Ground: Ukraine, Russia, and the Politics of Persistence

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Kofman and Dara Massicot join Ryan to discuss the state of the front, how Ukraine and Russia are staying in the fight, the possible provision ...

Is Europe Stepping Up on Defense?

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Well, is it? From defense innovation, to scaling capabilities, to budgets, the answers aren't easy. Ryan was joined by General Sir Richard Barrons of ...

Cogs of War: Moving at the Speed of War with Horacio Rozanski of Booz Allen

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The future fight won't be won by those with the biggest budgets, most polished strategies, or largest armies. It will be won by those who can translat...

From Alaska​ to the White House​ to the Battlefields of Ukraine

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the wake of summits in Alaska and Washington, the war in Ukraine has become as much about competing diplomatic positions as it is about hard realit...

The Chip That Crossed the Line? NVIDIA, China, and the Great Power Tech Race

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're diving into a major development at the intersection of tech, trade, and national security: the U.S. government's decision to allow NVIDIA's H20 ...

Forging Minds for Future Wars

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a time of rapid change and global danger, how should the warriors of the future be educated? Ryan sat down with Vice Adm. Peter Garvin, president o...

Drones, Discord, and the Shifting Front in Ukraine

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fresh from his latest research trip to Ukraine's battlefields, Michael Kofman joins Ryan for an insightful discussion on the shifting dynamics at the...

Strategy in Contention: Debating America's Global Priorities

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does the United States need a new playbook — or just fewer plays? In this charged episode, big ideas collide over how to sequence American power acr...

How Ukraine is Adapting, Enduring, and Striking Back

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Kofman and Ryan brought out the mics to discuss the pressing issues in the war between Ukraine and Russia. They focused on drones, the state of t...

Gen. Donahue on Deterring Russia in Europe

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gen. Christopher Todd Donahue, who leads U.S. Army Europe and Africa as well as Allied Land Command, joined Ryan for a discussion at WOTR HQ. For the ...

Introducing "The Iran Reckoning with Afshon Ostovar"

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

War on the Rocks is launching a new show called "The Iran Reckoning with Afshon Ostovar." It's a members-only show but this first episode is free for ...

How to Think About the Future of War

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gen. Jim Rainey, the commander of Army Futures Command, joins Ryan to share how emerging technologies are set to transform the way America's soldiers ...

Making Professional Military Education More Agile in the Air Force

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos joined Ryan at WOTR HQ to talk about her experience and insights into professional military education, both for the joint force...

The Israeli-Iranian War: How We Got Here & What It Means

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Israel's strikes against Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, as well as its key military and security leadership, shocked the world. How did w...

Moving Fast and Breaking Things

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"Innovation adoption is a contact sport." As the chief technology officer of the Department of the Navy, Justin Fanelli is one of the leaders responsi...

How America's Special Operators are Preparing for a High-Tech Future

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Down in Tampa on the sidelines of SOF Week, Ryan spoke with Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan, vice commander of Special Operations Command, in front of a live a...

The Risks of the Latest India-Pakistan Crisis

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We are sharing a free episode of Thinking the Unthinkable with you all due to fast-moving events between India and Pakistan. This episode features hos...

The Army's Upcoming Transformation, with Secretary Driscoll and Gen. George

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan popped across the Potomac to the Pentagon to speak with Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George about the...

Will Russia's War on Ukraine Keep Resisting Trump's Diplomacy?

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Kofman and Dara Massicot join Ryan to unpack how the Trump administration's ambitious peace efforts have collided with reality. They dive into...

Gen. Berger on Leadership in a Turbulent Era

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today's world, turbulence isn't temporary — it's the new normal. In this episode, Gen. (ret.) David Berger, former commandant of the U.S....

The Future of Sweden's Military with Chief of Defense Michael Claesson

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gen. Michael Claesson, Chief of Defense of the Swedish Armed Forces, joined Ryan during a visit to Washington to share how NATO has changed Sweden's a...

Not the Last Net Assessment

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this joint episode with the Net Assessment crew, recorded last week on "Liberation Day," Ryan joins Chris, Zack, and Melanie to talk about what's h...

A Stroll Through the Indo-Pacific, the Most Important Region in the World

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we get into what's driving the Indo-Pacific's security dynamics, from China's threats to Taiwan to AUKUS and the Quad to stability (o...

Can the U.S.-Ukrainian Rift Be Healed?

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, a meeting with President Zelensky of Ukraine at the White House exploded into acrimony in front of the cameras. Since then, an era-definin...

Lt. Gen. Sklenka on Staying in the Fight

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Marine general and deputy commandant in charge of installations and logistics was kind enough to join Ryan for a wide-ranging conversation on mili...

The Puzzling Diplomacy over Ukraine's Future

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing about the war in Ukraine is simple — including the diplomacy, which might be even messier than the battlefield. Michael Kofman, Justin Logan...

"We Stand with Free People" — U.K. Security & Strategy with Tom Tugendhat

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Member of U.K. Parliament and military veteran Tom Tugendhat was recently in Washington and was kind enough to join Ryan for a short but weighty conve...

Transforming NATO for the Future Fight

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Will NATO be able to innovate and adapt before a crisis? Adm. Pierre Vandier popped into War on the Rocks HQ for a most interesting chat about thi...

Assessing Ukraine's Prospects in 2025

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Kofman joined Ryan for a wide-ranging conversation on the challenges faced by both Ukraine and Russia this year. They discuss losses on both side...

Championing NATO's Digital Transformation

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the sidelines of I/ITSEC in Orlando, we hosted a live podcast recording. Our guest for this very special episode was Maj. Gen. Dominique Luzeaux ...

Waiting for a Theory of Victory in Ukraine

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Kofman and Ryan have a high-level conversation on strategy in this war, or the lack thereof. From Ukraine's mobilization reluctance to the Biden ...

Technology, the Battlefield, and Beyond in Ukraine

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are sharing a free Thanksgiving episode of the Russia Contingency with you all to express our gratitude for your listenership and support. Thi...

As Ukraine Stumbles and Russia Advances, What Does it Mean?

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Kofman came by WOTR HQ to discuss the state of the front and findings from his most recent research trip to Ukraine. From North Korean troops, t...

The Transformation of Marine Marksmanship

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan popped over to Quantico to speak with four marines at the forefront of major advances in marksmanship in America's 9-1-1 force. Listen in as Maj....

The Meaning of Creeping Ukrainian Losses in the East

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Kofman popped into WOTR HQ to speak with Ryan about the war. They discussed territorial losses in the Donbas, the situation in Kursk, manpower...

Can ICE Pact Salvage American Shipbuilding?

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Three sharp directors on the National Security Council staff invited Ryan over to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to chat about the Icebreake...

How Ukraine Re-Introduced Dynamism Into the War

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Kofman popped into WOTR HQ to speak with Ryan about the state of play in Ukraine. From south to north, they review the situation at the front, wi...

The Army Wants You to Write. Three Soldiers Explain Why

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. Army, from the chief of staff on down, is putting its weight behind getting soldiers to take writing and publishing more seriously as an impo...

Ukraine Goes into Kursk: A Dose of the "Russia Contingency" with Michael Kofman

10 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is part one of a two-parter on Ukraine's operation into the Russian oblast of Kursk and it's from our members-only show, "The Russia Contingency"...

The Smartest Conversation on Cyber in the Defense Department You've Heard in a Long Time

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan was joined by Melissa Griffith (SAIS-Johns Hopkins), Anne Marie Schumann (Department of the Navy), Alexis Bonnell (Air Force Research Laboratory)...

Can Congress Revive Shipbuilding and Maritime Strategy?

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A sailor from a landlocked state and a soldier from a state with the country's second longest coastline are trying to accomplish something transformat...

How Dangerous is this Summer for Ukraine?

13 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Kofman dropped by War on the Rocks HQ to update us on the war, drawing on his findings from his recent field study in Ukraine. They discuss the s...

A Position of Influence: Adm. Rob Bauer, Chair of NATO's Military Committee

07 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan met with Adm. Rob Bauer of the Royal Netherlands Navy for a conversation in Washington, DC. As chair of the NATO Military Committee, he is the se...

The Actively Retired Polish General Building a Strategic Culture

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, Rajmund Andrzejczak retired as Poland's chief of the general staff, but he has been busy since. During a recent visit to Washington, he spo...

Is Russia's Window for Gains this Summer Narrowing?

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Kofman dropped into WOTR HQ to chat with Ryan about the war in Ukraine. From Russia's culminated offensive on Kharkiv, to battlefields of the ...

CTOing in the Defense Department with Schuyler Moore and Justin Fanelli

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's become more and more common for organizations in the Defense Department, from the military services to geographic combatant commands and beyond, ...

A Conversation with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was kind enough to spend some time with Ryan talking about the reorganization of the Department of the Air Fo...

From Polar Presence to Port Security: A Conversation with the Coast Guard Commandant

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nick sat down with United States Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan to discuss the Coast Guard's global activities, from the Arctic to the Indo-P...

What Will Ukraine Do To Stay in the Fight this Year?

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. Congress finally passed the security supplement, authorizing a large amount of funding and support to keep Ukraine in the fight. This package...

Ukraine and a Fractured World

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan sat down with three friends to talk about the war in Ukraine through the lens of a new edited volume on the topic. Enjoy this conversation with A...

Crossing the Threshold

26 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nick sat down with Eric Brewer, Dana Stroul, and Gavin Clough to discuss how the conventional, proxy, and nuclear threats Iran poses are evolving. Who...

Spacepower and the Private Sector

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the sidelines of the National Space Symposium, we threw a little party and recorded a podcast, because why not? Our special guest was Assistant Sec...

Mike Kofman and Rob Lee on Drones in Ukraine

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This deep and fascinating conversation is one of a two-part discussion that you can listen to on the Russia Contingency, a members-only podcast hosted...

Ammunition, Energy and a Sense of History: The Czech Ambassador on Ukraine and More

08 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nick sat down with Czech Ambassador to the United States Miloslav Stašek for a geographically wide-ranging conversation that moved from Munich to the...

The Laboratory Building the Future of the Army

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan popped into Austin to see what the Army Applications Laboratory was getting up to. Its director, Dr. Casey Perley, was kind enough to sit down wi...

Spotlight on Moldova: Chisinau's Ambassador Talks Democracy, Security and Wine

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Danforth sat down with Moldovan Ambassador to the United States Viorel Ursu last week to discuss democracy, energy and Russian hybrid warfare, no...

Fortifications, Manpower, and Munitions in Ukraine's Daunting Year Ahead

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Kofman, fresh back from a research trip to Ukraine, spoke with Ryan about Ukraine's main challenges in facing down Russia this year.

Warsaw's Man in Washington on European Security and Poland's Defense Buildup

11 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan visited Ambassador Marek Magierowski at the Polish Embassy in Washington. They spoke about Poland's military build-up and the challenges posed by...

Gen. Brito of Training & Doctrine Command Talks Army Professionalism

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan sat down at the Pentagon with Gen. Gary Brito, who leads U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, to talk about strengthening Army professionalis...

The Russo-Ukrainian War at Two

24 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ryan and Mike Kofman sit down to chat about where the war stands today and where...

Iraq Between Suits and Fatigues

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, Nick Danforth sat down with Denise Natali, Doug Ollivant and Bilal Wahab to discuss the latest in Iraqi politics? They debated what Iraq wa...

Security in the Indo-Pacific with Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan and Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, chatted about, well, it's in his job title. They discussed Nort...

The End of the Golden Era of Arms Control

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the world grapples again with the dangers of nuclear weapons use, Aaron sat down with Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for In...

A Conversation with Gen. Randy George, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army

05 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the largest war in Europe since World War II rages and as China rises, the U.S. Army is preparing for an evermore dangerous world with an ambitious...

Ukraine at War, From Avdiivka to Zaluzhny

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As Putin throws his forces relentlessly into the meat-grinder of Avdiivka, Mike and Ryan sort through the state of Russia's offensive there, Moscow's ...

A Very Nerdy Podcast Episode about the Navy

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What is the value of a U.S. aircraft carrier? How are the Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy held to financial account? And why does the Departme...

A Conversation with Gen. David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should the tragedy of war with China occur, the Air Force will play a critical role in ensuring America is able to meet the challenges of conflict in ...

Ukraine Prepares for 2024

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nick sat down with Mike Kofman to discuss where the Russo-Ukrainian conflict stands at the start of 2024. They talked through the situation on the fro...

The Case for Seizing $300 Billion in Russian State Assets

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the last few days of 2023, the United States proposed that working groups from the G7 explore ways to seize $300 billion of Russian state assets. G...

Gaza and the Gulf

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Danforth sat down with Steven Cook, Joyce Karam, and Faysal Itani to discuss how the war in Gaza will impact Israel's relations with the Gulf and...

The Defense Department and the Rise of Commercial Spacepower

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TechCrunch Disrupt hosted Ryan and a top-notch panel for a conversation on the increasing importance of commercial stakeholders in the exercise of mil...

Adaptation at the Front and the Big Picture in Ukraine

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan and Mike Kofman discuss the state of the war before turning to various other issues including important tactical adaptations since the start of s...

Japan Re-evaluates Regional Threats

20 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nick sat down in Tokyo last week with Satoru Mori and Yasuhiro Izumikawa to discuss the evolution of Japan's threat perceptions and defense planning. ...

The Net Assessment Crew Sits Down with Ryan

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The title says it all! If you missed episodes of our show "Net Assessment" over the summer and fall, you aren't alone. Zack Cooper, Melanie Marlow, ...

Some Preliminary Thoughts on Ukraine's Position in the War

06 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Now that the offensive launched by Ukrainian forces is possibly in the process of petering out,  Mike Kofman shares some of his exploratory thoughts...

Defense and Capital: A Conversation with Raj Shah of Shield Capital

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing our series of conversations about issues at the intersection of defense and capital, Ryan chatted with Raj Shah of Shield Capital last mont...

A Conversation with the Commandant, Gen. Eric Smith

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan spoke with the commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, about a range of issues from his forthcoming planning guidance to the future of f...

Looking Beyond the Offensive in Ukraine

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan sat down with Mike to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian war, Russia's effort to seize the initiative before winter begins, Moscow's turn to North Korea...

Tech, Ethics, and the City in Israel's Looming Urban Battlefield

13 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan sat down with John Amble of the Modern War Institute to unpack the challenges Israel is likely to face in Gaza; Israel's world-renowned urban war...

Introducing Thinking the Unthinkable

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to a sneak peek of Thinking the Unthinkable, our newest members-only podcast. We are previewing this members-only podcast on this feed for fre...

The Meaning of the Attack on Israel

09 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan sat down with Bruce Hoffman, the Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Fo...

Finding the Floor: Can the U.S. and China Stabilize Their Relationship?

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nick sat down with Evan Medeiros, Thomas Shugart and Emily Weinstein to take stock of where U.S.-Chinese relations stand today and where they might be...

One Tree Line at a Time: Breaching Russian Defenses in Ukraine

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nick and Mike sat down for an in-depth discussion of what it would take for Ukraine to achieve a true breakthrough against Russian forces. Mike also e...

Dueling Generals on Training and Readiness

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan was happy to welcome back Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson and Lt. Gen. Andrea Tullos onto the show. These Air Force leaders lead Air Education and Traini...

A Chat with Britain's Top Officer, Adm. Radakin

18 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan sat down at the War on the Rocks office with Adm. Sir Antony Radakin, the professional head of the United Kingdom's military. The two discussed t...