The Security Podcast

Has Trump Lost the Initiative in Iran?

In this episode of The Security Podcast, I’m joined by strategic studies professor Paul Cornish to examine one of the most pressing questions in global security today: has Donald Trump lost the initiative in the war with Iran?We explore how this conflict may be reshaping the nature of modern warfare and consider whether the United States remains the military superpower it once was.We also turn to the UK, where the war has exposed weaknesses in Britain’s defensive posture, and ask what this means for the future of its armed forces.

The Iran War: Who Actually Wins?

As the war with Iran enters its third week, I speak with Major General Charlie Herbert about the reasons behind the decision by the United States and Israel to attack Iran.US President Donald Trump has declared that the war against Iran has been won. Yet the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz — the shipping lane through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil passes — remains closed. Although the US and Israel have eliminated much of Iran’s senior military leadership, the regime itself endures, and Trump’s ambition of regime change now appears a distant prospect.So how might this conflict end? Who could realistically emerge victorious , and how will victory even be defined? Trump has suggested that victory would mean Iran’s unconditional surrender. But Tehran may well claim victory simply by surviving, if the current regime remains in power.

Iran Crisis: Strategic Ambiguity and America’s Endgame

In another emergency edition of The Security Podcast, I’m once again joined by former Army Colonel and Military Intelligence Officer Philip Ingram MBE to examine the ongoing conflict in Iran.Together, we reassess President Trump’s strategy and the “strategic ambiguity” surrounding the United States’ military objectives. Is the goal regime change, the destruction of Iran’s ballistic missile capability, or some combination of the two?We also explore the wider regional and global implications,  from the impact on the Gulf states to a looming global oil crisis, and ask whether there is a realistic endgame that could satisfy the Trump administration.

Iran in Crisis: Strategy, Legality, and the Endgame

In this emergency edition of The Security Podcast, I’m joined by former Army Colonel and Military Intelligence Officer Phil Ingram to unpack the escalating conflict in Iran. Together, we examine President Trump’s strategic objectives, the legal questions surrounding U.S. involvement, what a credible “win” would look like for Washington, and, perhaps most critically, how this conflict could ultimately unfold and come to an end.

Strategic Insights: Trump, Iran, and the Arctic

In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I sit down with Paul Cornish, a former Army officer and current Professor of Strategic Studies. We delve into President Donald Trump's objectives regarding Iran and whether the US military have been given a clear mission,  and explore Greenland's significance to US security. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, now entering its fourth year. Paul shares his insights on why he believes the war could persist until Putin's death.

Navigating critical issues: Lethality; Veterans; Gaza.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Security Podcast, we tackle three pressing questions:
Can the British Army double its lethality in the next two years?
What does the future hold for veterans facing legacy investigations in Northern Ireland?
Does Gaza have a viable future?
Join me as I engage with Major General Charlie Herbert to explore these contentious topics and gain insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Trump, Russia and Iran - the triumvirate dominating the news.

In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I’m joined by former Army Colonel and Intelligence Officer Phil Ingram. We delve into President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks regarding NATO troops on the frontline in Afghanistan, as well as the situation in Russia and ongoing peace talks. Additionally, we address Iran, the tragic number of protesters killed by the regime, and the potential for a U.S. military attack.

Why Ajax Failed.

In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I take apart the £6.3bn procurement disaster that is Ajax. Billed as the vehicle that would transform the British Army into a force ready to take on the UK’s adversaries anywhere in the world, Ajax was surrounded by hype from the start. The reality is very different. The Army has been left with a dud — a vehicle that has injured soldiers during testing and is still not fit for purpose.My guest is Colonel Harry Fullerton, former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment and someone who spent much of his career in the reconnaissance vehicles Ajax was meant to replace. He was also involved in the programme years ago, when it was known as the Future Rapid Effects System. Few people are better placed to explain how this went so badly wrong — and why.

Why did Ajax fail?

In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I take apart the £6.3bn procurement disaster that is Ajax. Billed as the vehicle that would transform the British Army into a force ready to take on the UK’s adversaries anywhere in the world, Ajax was surrounded by hype from the start. The reality is very different. The Army has been left with a dud — a vehicle that has injured soldiers during testing and is still not fit for purpose.My guest is Colonel Harry Fullerton, former commanding officer of the Life Guards and a man who spent much of his career in the reconnaissance vehicles Ajax was meant to replace. He was also involved in the programme years ago, when it was known as the Future Rapid Effects System. Few people are better placed to explain how this went so badly wrong — and why.

Lord West - Is Nato at war with Russia?

In this episode of The Security Podcast I am joined by Lord West of Spithead, a former Chief of the Naval Staff and Security Minister and who now sits on the Intelligence and Security Committee. During the podcast, we examine the claim that the West is involved in a Grey Zone war with Russia and how Nato needs to prepare for a potential attack by Putin. We also look at the current state of the Royal Navy, discuss whether the aircraft carriers are white elephants and whether the UK's submarine based nuclear deterrent is still relevant.