Today’s Battlegrounds

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and General John Abizaid discuss the evolution of the Long War against jihadist terrorist organizations, what is at stake across the greater Middle East, and what we might learn from our experience since 9-11. H.R. McMaster in conversation with General John Abizaid on Thursday, August 26 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former Prime Minister Shinzō Abe reflect on his service as prime minister, shared security challenges, and the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Shinzō Abe on Wednesday, July 21 at 9:00am PT.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former Canadian Ambassador to the US David MacNaughton discuss the U.S.-Canada relationship and its implications for trade, economics, security, and climate policy. H.R. McMaster in conversation with David MacNaughton on Wednesday, July 7 at 9:00am PT.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with former Foreign Minister of Mexico, Jorge Castañeda Gutman on Wednesday, June 23 at 9:00am PT, discussing opportunities to promote peace and prosperity as well as the prevailing foreign perceptions of the United States in the Western Hemisphere.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former Danish Prime Minister and former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen discuss the upcoming NATO Summit, international security, and the future of democracy and free markets.    H.R. McMaster in conversation with Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Wednesday, June 9 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discuss how the U.S. can work together with the world’s largest democracy on economics, diplomacy, and security to build a better future. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday, May 26 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former Panama Vice President Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado discuss Panama-US relations, factors affecting Western Hemisphere security and prosperity, and implications for Panamanian and U.S. policy.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with H.E. Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado on Wednesday, May 12 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Philippe Étienne discuss energy security, the European Union’s recovery from COVID-19, intra-EU relationships discuss energy security, the European Union's recovery from COVID-19, intra-EU relations, combatting terrorism in West Africa and competitions between authoritarianism and democracy. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Philippe Étienne on ...

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Yousef Al Otaiba discuss the Abraham Accords, the humanitarian crisis centered on ongoing crises in Syria and Yemen, the threat from Iran, and great power competition in the Middle East. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba on Wednesday, April 14 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Yousef Al Otaiba is the current United Ara...

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Mark Sedwill discuss the future of the transatlantic relationship and priorities for cooperation among allies and partners to take advantage of opportunities and  overcome challenges from Xi Jinping’s China to Vladimir Putin’s Russia to jihadist terrorism. H.R. McMaster in conver...

Wednesday, March 17, 2021 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former President and Minister of National Defense Juan Manuel Santos discuss Colombian security, transnational organized crime and narcotics trafficking, the crisis in Venezuela, and lessons learned from Colombia’s struggle to achieve a lasting peace. H.R. McMaster in conversatio...

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid party and opposition leader in the Israeli Parliament, on Wednesday, March 3 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid party and opposition leader in the Israeli Parliament discuss challenges to Israel’s security, the Abraham Accords, and the prospects for enduring...

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Hoover Institution   In this special episode of Battlegrounds in honor of Black History Month, H.R. McMaster and Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Robinson, US Army (Retired), son of General Roscoe Robinson Jr., the first African American four-star general in the U.S. Army, discuss his father’s determination and dedication to serve his country even as he confronted racial inequ...

In this ninth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović discuss education reform, peacebuilding in South East Europe, and strategies to achieve energy security and combat cyber-enabled information warfare. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, First female President of the Republic of Croatia (2015- 2020), on Wednesday, February 1...

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, on Wednesday, February 3 at 9:00am PT on "Rwanda And The African Union: The Promise Of Increased U.S.-Africa Engagement." In this eighth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and President Paul Kagame discuss the African Union, security in the Great Lakes region, and the future of U.S. diplomatic and economic re...

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, on Wednesday, January 20th at 11:00am PT. In this seventh episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Christopher Heusgen discuss the U.S.-Germany alliance, the European Union, and responses to humanitarian crises.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Staffan de Mistura, Former Special UN Envoy to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria on Wednesday, January 6th. In this sixth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Staffan de Mistura discuss the role of international organizations in promoting peace and improving security as well as limitations and disappointments associated with collective action.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with the Honorable Julie Bishop, Chancellor of the Australian National University on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 9:00am PT. In this fifth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Julie Bishop discuss the tradeoffs between national security and private sector growth, trade, and climate change that are being brought to the forefront of both Australian and American s...

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Tarō Kōno,  Minister of Regulatory Reform and Administrative Reform on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 9:00 AM PT. In our fourth episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Minister Kono discuss the evolution of the Japan-U.S. alliance and growing international cooperation to preserve peace in the Indo-Pacific region and counter threats to freedom and prosperity f...

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 9:00 AM PT. In our third episode of battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador Zappia shed light on the challenges facing southern Europe. The rich discussion will include instability in the Sahel and Libya; relations with Turkey; the refugee cr...

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 9:00 AM PT. In the re-release of this inaugural episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Minister Atmar discuss this critical time for Afghanistan. They look at how the past impacts the present, the role of Afghanistan’s neighbors and what is at stake for the United Stat...

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ho-Young Ahn, President of University of North Korean Studies on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 9:00 AM PT. In this second episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador Ahn discuss the daunting challenges South Korea faces with North Korea’s nuclear and missile ambitions and China’s political and economic aggression. South Korea’s relationship with Japan...