DEEP Dive

How is the Iran conflict impacting on the Middle East, and what does this mean for global security? In episode 61 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan M. Gohel is joined by Dr. Mahmut Cengiz to examine Tehran’s evolving strategy and the wider implications of the current crisis. Drawing on his expertise, Dr. Cengiz explains how Iran relies on asymmetric warfare, including drones, cyber operations, and pro...

How prepared are we for the evolving threat of conflict in the age of ever advancing technology? In episode 60 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Alex Townsend-Drake, Head of the Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network (CTPN), to examine how drones have become a serious counterterrorism and national security concern, particularly in urban environments. Their conversation explores how...

How do decades of frontline counter-terrorism experience shape critical decision-making during moments of national security crisis? In episode 59 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel speaks with Dominic Murphy, Commander of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), about the realities of protecting the UK and allied partners from terrorism and hostile state threats. Drawing on his...

What makes a society peaceful? And how can studying peace help us build a safer world? In episode 58 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan M. Gohel is joined by Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), to explore the global dynamics shaping peace, conflict, and security in 2025 and beyond. Drawing on IEP’s pioneering research, Steve explains why unders...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring teams and fans from around the globe to North America - and with them, a range of potential security challenges. In episode 57 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel speaks with Sasha Larkin, Director of Intelligence and C4 Operations for the tournament, to explore how security planning is unfolding for the world's largest sporting event. They also discuss her e...

The fate of Ukraine has global ramifications. In episode 56 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Lieutenant Colonel (R) Alexander Vindman to assess Ukraine’s war effort and why it needs to be supported and sustained. They also discuss the Kremlin’s surprise reshuffle and Russia’s expanding agenda across Europe and Asia. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://d...

In addition to the events unfolding in the Middle East, global security challenges continues to proliferate elsewhere. In episode 55 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Prof. Mahmut Cengiz to discuss the state of global terrorism from Iran to the Sahel and Somalia to Syria. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcas...

Iran's activities have been at the forefront of global events in recent months. Tehran's proxies have launched multiple missile strikes into neighbouring countries and have targeted the U.S. military, whilst the Houthis in Yemen have brought global maritime trade to a standstill. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel and former CENTCOM Commander Joseph Votel in episode 54 of NATO DEEP Dive to unpack these...

Now more than ever, it is becoming increasingly easier to find extremist content on the internet. We find ourselves in an era characterized by flashy and digestible sound bites that quickly circulate online. This also leads to the proliferation of disinformation. To unpack this, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by two senior members of the NYPD's counterterrorism division, Meghann Teubner and Kelli...

Even after his death, al-Qaeda's last leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, continues to influence global terrorism. Through his 'Safe Bases' strategy, al-Qaeda and its affiliates are seeking to restore capabilities in Afghanistan, the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan. Join the producers, Marcus and Victoria, for the final part of this NATO DEEP Dive special with Dr. Sajjan Gohel, as they...

How does a person of privilege and status become the world's most wanted terrorist? In the first of a two-part special, Dr. Sajjan Gohel discusses his new book, Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist: The Life and Legacy of al-Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri . Often forgotten in the shadow of bin Landen, the Egyptian ideologue was his closest ally and a pivotal figure in his own right, significantly influe...

Journalist, author, and Russian dissident, Andrei Soldatov joins Dr. Sajjan Gohel in the latest instalment of NATO DEEP Dive. In episode 50, Andrei details the brutal methods employed by Vladimir Putin, dating back to the Second Chechen War, to ensure his grasp on power remains firm. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: ⁠⁠⁠ https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/⁠...

Over 2 years after the Taliban takeover, friend of the show David Loyn returns to discuss recent developments in Afghanistan. Alongside Dr. Sajjan Gohel, David discusses how the regime is more extreme now than it was during the 1990s and details its continuous engagement with al-Qaeda and its assault on the rights of women. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: ⁠⁠ https://deepportal.h...

As the only law enforcement agency under the U.S. legislative branch, the DC Capitol Police is responsible for protecting members of Congress both domestically and overseas. In recent years, the Capitol Police have played a crucial role in defending members of the U.S. government, from the storming of the Capitol building on January 6 2021, to protecting Congressmen and women from increasingly emb...

A new and dangerous problem is emanating from Syria. This time, it’s not in the form of civil war chaos, but a highly addictive amphetamine known as Captagon. In episode 47 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr Sajjan Gohel and Caroline Rose, the Director of the Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the New Lines Institute, attempt to get to the bottom of this new epidemic, tracing narcotics routes from the Balkans...

For many years, the internet has become a crucial theatre for terrorist activity. From live streaming attacks to disseminating propaganda, sharing memes and even running their own websites, the threat posed by these groups and individuals on the online space is diverse. This is where Tech Against Terrorism steps in, working to counter the presence of terrorists and violent extremists from the inte...

On 26 July 2023, Niger fell victim to its fifth coup since independence - plunging the country into uncertainty. To help explain why Niger and its fellow Sahel countries have experienced such political turmoil in recent years, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Guillaume Soto-Mayor, a Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute, who is based in Senegal. Episode 45 of NATO DEEP Dive explores Afric...

From Russia to the Sahel and Syria to Afghanistan, Episode 44 covers everything you need to understand about the current geopolitical climate. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel and Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler as they dissect a variety of subjects, including the future of the Wagner Group, the nature of the new Iraqi government, and Pakistan's attempts to handle the extremist groups it once cultivated. Full tran...

Examining 2,000 pages of court records per day, Seamus Hughes has earned his tag as ‘The Document Digger.’ From discovering indictments of the FBI's Most Wanted characters in misfiled cases to uncovering DEA seizures of fentanyl shipped to the US from China, Hughes’ job is never short of drama. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel as he discusses these cases and more with Seamus Hughes in the latest episode...

Since its founding 100 years ago, Interpol has stood at the forefront against transnational crime and terrorism. Interpol remains crucial to international security and capacity building, enhancing cooperation and capabilities among its 195 members. In episode 42 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Greg Hinds, the Director for Counter-Terrorism at Interpol, to discuss how the organisat...

Meta sits at the forefront of the online world, connecting people all over the globe through its social media applications. This also makes Meta proactive to counter bad-faith actors, including terrorists. On episode 41 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Hadelin Feront, a member of Meta's Global Counter-Terrorism Policy team, for a discussion into how the company ensures that ext...

In war, psychology is just as important as sheer strength and troop numbers, and Ukraine has maintained its psychological advantage over Russia since the very start of the latter’s invasion. In episode 40 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel sits down with Mike Martin to discuss the lessons we can learn from not only the war in Ukraine, but also from other conflicts including the war in Afghanistan...

The 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack was a game changer for law enforcement in New Zealand and beyond. The live stream and subsequent reuploads of the attack garnered millions of views, posing a real risk of encouraging copycat attacks. The Christchurch Call was established in this context, as a collaboration between governments, tech companies, and civil society to ensure that terrorists and vi...

Ahead of the release of his new book The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World, author and journalist Tim Marshall sits down with Dr. Sajjan Gohel for part two of their discussion. In episode 38 of NATO DEEP Dive, Tim and Sajjan ponder the growing importance of space to international relations and whether we are in the midst of a Space Race 2.0. One thing is ce...

When Tim Marshall first appeared on the NATO DEEP Dive podcast, he coined the term ‘The Dangerous Decade’ to describe the 2020s. Now, nearly 18 months on, his description has been proved prescient on more than one occasion. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to China’s military posturing in the Indo-Pacific, Dr. Sajjan Gohel and Tim Marshall take stock of all that has happened since and what could...