On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute and Jim Townsend, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO who is now with the Center for a New American Security.
Topics:
— Role of past Republican leaders including former Vice President Dick Cheney in the political culture that claimed his daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wy., who lost her primary race to Harriet Hageman
— Update on Russia’s war on Ukraine and potential triggers that could change the course of the conflict, including whether battlefield defeat for Russia is the only way to topple Vladimir Putin
— How Ukraine war has already spread globally, including potential North Korean role in the conflict indirectly through arms supplies and directly through troop deployment
— Impact of Wagner Group mercenaries and whether they can tip the battlefield balance
— China’s new stance in the wake of its wargames around Taiwan to protest visits by leading American lawmakers to Taipei
— Outlook for the relationship as Beijing hardens its stance and Washington looks to expand support for Taiwan
— Prospects for the Taiwan Policy Act and anticipating Beijing’s reaction
— China’s encouragement of North Korea’s role on Russia’s behalf in Ukraine conflict
— Political upheaval for LDP leaders in wake of assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after revelations of links between party and the Unification Church
— Roundup of Middle East news flow including Iran nuclear talks