In this episode of The Focus, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins us to unpack Europe’s growing defence dilemma. As U.S. support for NATO faces political headwinds and war rages in Ukraine, can Europe stand on its own? Or is it still relying too heavily on the American security umbrella?

We explore NATO’s credibility, European rearmament, and what’s needed to keep the continent safe in an age of rising threats.

Show Notes:

Contact Ben:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-hodges-1674b1172?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BsE89zn7ZQEaGKjLMT3r2PQ%3D%3D

The Alphen Group (TAG):

https://thealphengroup.com/ben-hodges/

Top 5 Articles by Ben:

📰 1. Business Insider – “A key NATO ally said it would be 'really big mistake' for Europe to break away from the US weapons industry”

Date: June 25, 2025
A detailed interview where Hodges cautions Europe against moving away from U.S. defence suppliers.

📰 2. Business Insider – “Most NATO armies likely 'could not meet Ukrainian standards' in combat effectiveness, retired US Army general says”

Date: June 18, 2025
Hodges argues NATO should learn from Ukrainian battlefield experience rather than the other way around

📰 3. Cipher Brief – “Getting NATO to Be Able to 'Fight Tonight'” (Expert Q&A)

Date: July 1, 2025
Hodges examines NATO’s readiness following the Hague summit, focusing on rapid mobilisation and military preparedness.

📰 4. Cipher Brief – “Expert Q&A: Can Europe Defend Itself?”

Date: March 27, 2025
A deep dive into Europe’s defence capacity, allied cohesion, and whether the continent can maintain security without U.S. support.

📰 5. Swissinfo – “Former US general advises Switzerland to prepare for war”

Date: March 16, 2025
In this interview, Hodges urges Switzerland to ramp up defence — particularly drone defences and large-scale manoeuvres — as a precautionary measure.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Roy Casagranda returns to The Focus to explore the global and domestic impact of a second Trump term—covering democracy, immigration, alliances, Ukraine, Iran, and more.

🎧 Watch now & subscribe for more insight on geopolitics and global affairs.

#geopolitics #trump47 #roycasagranda #uspolitics #thefocuspodcast #globalsecurity #foreignpolicy

Show Notes:

🔗 *Connect with Roy Casagranda*

X: @RoyCasagranda

Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html

Books by Roy:

The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.

Articles by Roy:

Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with economist Nicolas Michelon on how protectionism and power politics are reshaping global trade.

🎧 Watch now on YouTube | Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Show Notes:

Connect with Nicolas

X: @MichelonNicolas

Asia Power Watch: https://asiapowerwatch.com/

Alagan Partners: https://alaganpartners.com/our-team/nicolas-michelon/

Nicolas’ Recent Publications:

"Navigating Corporate Geopolitics in a World Between Orders” Asia Power Watch, April 14, 2025.

"The Renault-Nissan War and the Future of the Automobile Industry: An Interview with Carlos Ghosn” Asia Power Watch, October 9, 2024.

"The Price of East-West Economic Warfare: Carlos Ghosn and the Fate of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance” Asia Power Watch, July 8, 2023.

"The Death of Multilateralism: Disruptions of the Trump Era” Asia Power Watch, May 21, 2021.

"The Carlos Ghosn Case: Business Warfare, Economic Patriotism and the Fate of Foreign CEOs in Japan” Asia Power Watch, March 8, 2020.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is General Joseph Aoun the man to rescue Lebanon’s institutions? Can the Lebanese Armed Forces disarm Hezbollah? Can the Lebanese state recover from years of corruption and poor governance? And what role do external powers—Iran, Israel, Syria, and the Gulf states—play in Lebanon’s fate? Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Imad Harb to unpack the country’s fate under new leadership.

Show Notes:

Connect with Imad:

Arab Center Washington D.C. https://arabcenterdc.org/team/imad-k-harb/

X: @harb3imad

Imad’s Top Publications:

Articles:

The Prickly Issue of Disarming Palestinian Factions in Lebanon

President Trump’s Gulf Trip: Post-Visit Observations

Books:

• The Arab World Beyond Conflict
  Co-editor: Imad Harb and Zeina Azzam
  Published by the Arab Center Washington DC, 2019 newarab.com+11arabcenterdc.org+11chs-doha.org+11
• Trump and the Arab World: A First Year Assessment
  Editor: Imad Harb
  Published by the Arab Center Washington DC, 2017 arabcenterdc.org+5me-policy.org+5arabcenterdc.org+5
• Domestic and Regional Challenges to US–Iran Relations
  Co-authors: Imad Harb and John Bruni
  Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, April 2015 books.google.com+11arabcenterdc.org+11chs-doha.org+11
• Higher Education and the Future of Iraq
  Author: Imad K. Harb
  United States Institute of Peace Special Report No. 195, 2008 globalresilienceconsortium.org+10

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel vs. Iran: What Drives Tehran’s Strategy? Dr. Ori Goldberg joins The Focus to decode ideology, deterrence, and the risks of a wider Middle East war.

Show Notes:

X: @ori_goldberg

Bluesky: @origoldberg.bsky.social

Ori’s Top Publications:

Selected Articles (2024)

• “Why Israelis Do and Don’t Want War with Hezbollah” – New Lines Magazine, September 2024
• “Israel’s Attack on Hezbollah’s Communications Network Is Not the Victory It Claims” – New Lines Magazine, September 2024

Faith and Politics in Iran, Israel, and the Islamic State: Theologies of the Real (2017)

Published by Cambridge University Press, this book examines how religious worldviews shape political action across diverse ideological contexts.

Understanding Shiite Leadership: The Art of the Middle Ground in Iran and Lebanon (2014, co-authored with Shaul Mishal)

This work explores how Shi‘ite leaders balance ideological commitments with pragmatic governance in both Iran and Lebanon.

Shi‘i Theology in Iran: The Challenge of Religious Experience (2011)

Published by Routledge, this book investigates the role of religious experience in shaping revolutionary Shi‘i political theology.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Australia charting its own defence course—or simply meeting U.S. demands? Dr. John Bruni speaks with strategist Dr. Peter Layton on AUKUS, strategic autonomy, and Australia’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific.

Show Notes:

Contact Peter Layton on:

Griffith Asia Institute: p.layton@griffith.edu.au

LinkedIn

X: @GAIGriffith

Peter’s Top Five publications:

Ensuring Australia’s Defence Through Complex Interdependence (May 2025)

In this article, Dr. Layton advocates for a shift in Australia's grand strategy towards complex interdependence. He argues that by building robust connections with multiple countries, Australia can enhance its resilience against strategic, economic, technological, and societal shocks.

Australia’s First National Defence Strategy: Deterrence Rules (2024)

Dr. Layton analyses Australia's inaugural National Defence Strategy, emphasising its focus on deterrence. He critiques the strategy's approach and discusses its implications for Australia's defence posture in a rapidly changing strategic environment.

Evolution Not Revolution: Defence AI in Australia (2024)

In this chapter, Dr. Layton examines Australia's approach to integrating artificial intelligence into defence capabilities. He argues for an evolutionary path that enhances existing systems, emphasising the importance of human-machine teaming.

Being Prepared for Unprecedented Times: National Mobilisation Conceptualisations and Their Implications (2021)

Commissioned by the Australian Department of Defence, this paper explores how Australia can conceptualise and implement national mobilisation strategies in response to emerging security challenges. It offers insights into resilience planning and whole-of-nation defence approaches.

Grand Strategy (2018)

In this book, Dr. Layton presents a practical framework for developing grand strategy, integrating international relations theory with real-world policymaking. The book is recognised for its clarity and applicability, making it a valuable resource for both scholars and practitioners.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🎙️As China increases military pressure and Trump 47 reshapes U.S. foreign policy, Taiwan’s future is more uncertain than ever.
Dr. John Bruni speaks with Dr. Alice Yang from Taipei’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research about Taiwan’s fight for democracy, U.S. ambiguity, and what regional conflict could mean for the world.
🎧 Available now on Spotify, iTunes & the Auscast Network.

Show Notes:

Connect with Alice:

At INDSR - indsr2018@indsr.org.tw

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/INDSRTW

X - @INDSRTW

YouTube - https://youtube.com/@indsr8906?si=diU9m_YM3w2438vp

Taiwanese political parties:

🇹🇼 1. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

• Position on China:
• • Pro-status quo with an emphasis on sovereignty
  • While it doesn’t formally push for de jure independence, it views Taiwan as already independent under the name “Republic of China (Taiwan)”
  • Strongly resists unification with China

✅ Supports a Taiwanese identity distinct from China
🚫 Opposes “One China” or any future unification with the PRC

🇹🇼 2. Kuomintang (KMT)

• Position on China:

• • Supports eventual peaceful unification under the right conditions but rejects the use of force
  • Favors closer economic and cultural ties with China
  • Supports the "1992 Consensus" (One China, but each side has its own interpretation)

⚖️ Seeks peace and dialogue with Beijing
🧩 Ambiguous on independence vs. unification, but tilts toward eventual integration if democratic and safe

🇹🇼 3. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP)

• Position on China:
• • Promotes status quo
  • Calls for pragmatic engagement with both the U.S. and China
  • Avoids strong ideological stances on unification vs. independence

🧭 Middle-of-the-road approach: avoid provoking China while protecting Taiwan’s democracy

🇹🇼 4. New Power Party (NPP)

• Position on China:
• • Advocates for formal independence
  • Strongly opposes unification or the “1992 Consensus”

🔥 More hardline than the DPP on Taiwanese independence

🇹🇼 5. People First Party (PFP) (Now marginal)

• Position on China:
• • Pro-unification under peaceful, negotiated terms
  • Supports “One China” framework

📉 Formerly significant, now politically marginal

Top Publications:

Publications: Annual Assessment Reports at INDSR: These reports cover various aspects of Taiwan's defence strategy, including military technology trends and China's military developments (INDSR).

Weaponized Interdependence: China’s Economic Statecraft and Social Penetration against Taiwan: This paper discusses how China uses economic means to influence and penetrate Taiwanese society, published in the journal Orbis (TAEF).

Building a Disaster Resilient Community in Taiwan: Co-authored with Judy H.S. Wu, this research analyses the social capital in disaster preparedness in Taiwan, published in Politics and Governance(TAEF).

Enabling Human Values in Foreign Policy: This paper explores the transformation of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy, emphasizing the human values driving Taiwan's foreign policy, published in the Journal of Human Values (TAEF).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does Finland still rely on conscription? And what can Australia learn from it?

Brigadier General Jyri Raitasalo breaks down Finland’s “Total Defence” strategy, NATO’s Nordic front, and how citizen readiness can shape national security.

🎧 Watch now on The Focus with John Bruni.

Show Notes:

Connect with Jyri -

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyri-raitasalo-4b96bb96/

X: @JyriRaitasalo

Finnish National Defence University: https://maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu.fi/en/frontpage

Top 5 publications by Jyri:

Finnish Defense 'Left of Bang'

Published in PRISM, Vol. 10, No. 2 (2023), this article explores Finland's evolution from a Cold War-era total defence model to a comprehensive security approach. Raitasalo discusses how Finland integrates military and civilian sectors to address modern hybrid threats. NDU Press+1NDU Press+1

"Cyber Deterrence: An Oxymoron for Years to Come

Co-authored with Joshua Stowell and published in Global Security Review (2020), this article examines the challenges of establishing effective cyber deterrence. The authors contend that the lack of clear empirical evidence in cyber warfare complicates traditional deterrence models. Muck Rack+1Muck Rack+1

2. "Scandinavia Won’t Be Russia’s Next Target"

In this Foreign Policy piece (2019), Raitasalo counters claims that Russia is poised to target Scandinavian countries. He argues that Finland and Sweden's strategic positions and defence policies make them unlikely immediate targets for Russian aggression. Muck Rack+1Foreign Policy+1

5. "Hybridisota ja hybridiuhat – paljon vanhaa…onko mitään uutta?"

Published in Tiede & Ase (2018), this Finnish-language article critiques the Western narrative on hybrid warfare post-2014. Raitasalo argues that the concept of hybrid threats is not novel and reflects traditional great-power behaviours.Wikipedia+2Journal.fi+2

4. "Reconstructing Finnish Defence in the Post-Cold War Era"

This academic paper (2010) analyzes Finland's defence restructuring following the Cold War. Raitasalo discusses the shift in threat perceptions and the adaptation of defence policies to address new security challenges. Academia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.