BFBS Sitrep

In this episode of Sitrep with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee we hear from Dr Karin Von Hippel the Director General of RUSI about President’s Trump’s recent visit to Europe.  Did he achieve anything other than international confusion?     Also a statement from the government on the Modernising Defence Programme.  James Hirst explains why it doesn’t say anything we don’t already know.   Why has t...

In this episode Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee are joined by Dr Mark Galeotti, senior fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Prague to talk about the latest Novichok incident in Wiltshire.  Will this re-open recent wounds with the Russians?  And also how has the World Cup changed people’s perceptions of Russia.  A PR win for Putin?   Also MP Johnny Mercer is calling for a calmer d...

In this episode with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee it’s all about the money……as Whitehall fights for more funds for defence.  We hear from the new Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter.   Do service people get MOD backing when the going gets tough?  We hear from Major Robert Campbell, a retired Royal Engineer is facing an eighth investigation into alleged war crimes in Iraq for which h...

In Sitrep – it’s a big week for defence stories and in today’s Sitrep Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee look at threats to the defence budget. Find out why Number 10’s  in a Grump with Trump over Putin. NATO’s boss praises the UK but does anyone care? Will Brexit black-out Britain's Euro Security pact? And The RAF police the skies over Romania……

In this episode Kate Gerbeau talks to Matthew Morris who is the UK spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross about the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Yemen.  BFBS defence Analyst Christopher Lee and Professor Michael Clarke formerly of RUSI join the conversation too to discuss the fact that the UK is a major supplier of weapons to Saudi Arabia.   Kate, Christopher and Pr...

In this episode with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee:   NATO - the countdown’s on for the July summit meeting. This week defence ministers meet to plan how to strengthen the alliance’s military forces.  We talk to RUSI’s International Director Jonathan Eyal about this as well as President’s Putin’s plans to entertain Kim Jong Un in Moscow.   The first operational American built F35's for the RAF...

In this episode ….Why is morale so low in the Royal Marines? The MOD announces Sea Ceptor, the Navy’s new supersonic missile defence system has officially entered service. There’s a new way of recruiting for MI6….with TV ads. War is Fun – really?  Dr Mike Martin addresses the sometimes uncomfortable psychology of war. Elisabeth Braw non-resident senior fellow at The Atlantic Council explains why t...

The North Korean summit – has Trump underestimated the Koreans?  We hear from Professor Robert E Kelly from the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Pusan University in South Korea.   Are British pilots flying in a military muddle in the middle east?  We hear the realities of Operation Shader from Air Vice-Marshall Johnny Stringer as he briefs MPs   Back to Bosnia - why a former army o...

This week’s episode looks at the mounting tensions in the Middle East after President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement.  Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee talk to Professor Rosemary Hollis from City University, London, Emeritis Professor Colin Schindler from SOAS, University of London and Professor Paul Rogers from the University of Bradford.   The Chief Executive of Sav...

In this week’s episode:   Forces News Reporter Ali Gibson speaks to the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson at the end of Exercise Joint Warrior.   Civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria – who keeps count?  Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee discuss with Hamit Dardagan who is co-founder of Iraq Body Count and the charity Every Casualty Worldwide.   NATO is neglecting its navies whilst Russia is rebuil...

In this episode with Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee:   Professor Scott Lucas from the University of Birmingham explains the Iran Nuclear deal and why President Trump wants to get rid of it.   Dr Ghanem Tayara from UOSSM talks about the Syrian government’s intimidation of doctors in Douma.   What’s on the agenda for the historic North & South Korea meeting tomorrow?  Dr Hazel Smith from the Centr...

In this episode Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee will be talking about Syria and chemical weapons – what can the OPCW actually achieve in Douma?  They talk to Dr Patricia Lewis, Research Director at Chatham House   Also…North Korea, Andrea Berger, Senior Research Associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey gives her thoughts on planned talks between the US President...

Could Britain be about to go to war in Syria after the weekend’s suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma.   If that’s the case, the Sitrep team ask what would be the main aim of conflict?   If British forces take part - what will they be asked to do?  And will this be an open ended commitment?   Also this episode – Could Russia respond to any attack on Syria by using Cyber warfare and if so is...

In this episode of Sitrep with Tim Cooper and Christopher Lee:   Professor Paul Rogers from the University of Bradford talks about Russia and the Salisbury Novichok attack – was the PM given the wrong information or has she created a new "dirty dossier"?   Elisabeth Braw from the Atlantic Council explains why the Swedes are getting good at fighting off Russian propaganda.   The head of Europol Rob...

In this episode hosted by Tim Cooper with BFBS Defence Analyst Christopher Lee we mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.  Tim talks to Major General Julian Thompson, a former Royal Marine who commanded troops in South Armagh in 1976.  You’ll hear what it was like at the height of the troubles and why the agreement could be affected by Brexit. Also…  Salisbury a...

  Why is the Government so sure the Novichok (pro: Novee- chock) chemical came from Russia?   As we commemorate those killed in the Westminster attack a year ago – Sitrep asks the experts how they think the general public should respond to a terrorist attack?   Could what facebook knows about you send your country to war?   And…. Finally, the Type 45 destroyers are getting an engine refit……….   TH...

As Britain enters a new, difficult relationship with Russia –how will it hurt Moscow?  And who is on the UK’s side?   There’s a new Secretary of State for President Trump – how will U S policy affect the UK?   And the House of Commons Defence Committee, does the MoD listen to its criticism?   You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time) and at 1830 (UK time) on BFBS (via web & App in the UK an...

Today on Sitrep:   Why the Kuwaitis want a greater British military presence in their country. There’s a look at Britain’s foreign policy in the region with LibDem Defence spokesman Lord Campbell.   The Defence Secretary has had his first grilling by committee. Defence Committee Chair Julian Lewis explains how Gavin Williamson got on.   What are the military options in Syria?  with Hamish De Brett...

Nato’s new command structure – what’s changed and why? In Syria, who’s fighting who? Should the West be worried about China and Russia’s increasing military power? And could the damage to Oxfam’s credibility have a serious impact on the search for peace in a region?  THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on BFBS & UK Bases You can listen on BFBS Radio 2 at 1630 (UK time...

  In today’s Sitrep programme – Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee examine the potential of a new, long range super-speed missile that can reach a target anywhere in the world within one hour.   Also this week - what’s the true story behind the threat to the Royal Marines and the two ships that float them?   Find out why the British Army has joined the campaign to make 2018 the Year of Engineering....

In today’s Sitrep programme – Kate Gerbeau and Christopher Lee discuss how a multi-billion pound black hole in the defence budget could affect future spending decisions.   Also this week, Trump delivered his first State of the Union address...are we now seeing a more presidential President?   Plus, the Chief of the Air Staff talks about the RAF's biggest challenges...   And the former Chief of the...

The Government’s Defence Modernisation Programme – what does it mean and what will it do? Drawdown in Germany could be partially reversed, but what does that mean for the Army and European defence? Why the Russian threat is causing concern in the Arctic. Should we be doing more to protect peacekeepers? And, DAVOS – what is it and why is it important? THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and...

The US Ambassador speaks exclusively to Sitrep about the big issues he’s reporting back to Washington.   Today’s Anglo-French summit will boost defence co-operation, but could Brexit cause the two countries to drift apart?   Is Forces accommodation in crisis?   And, find out why cinema audiences are standing up for Churchill     THURSDAYS at 4:30pm UK TIME on BFBS RADIO 2 and at 6:30pm UK TIME on...