In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Pål Jonson discuss European security concerns, NATO, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and Sweden’s defense technology and innovation, Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Insights from Sweden’s minister for defense, Pål Jonson, shed light on Nordic, Baltic, and European security and the importance of the transatlantic relationship. Reflecting on Sweden as a longtime US partner and new NATO ally, Minister Jonson addresses the country’s key security concerns and priorities, his assessment on the war in Ukraine, Sweden’s strong defense industry, the importance of technological innovation, and lessons around supply-chain resilience, as well as the significance of Sweden’s bilateral relationship with the US.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Sebastian Junger discuss the necessity of unity, the importance of the tribe, and the future of American democracy, Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger joins Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster to explore the lessons that can be drawn from his books on the necessity of unity and the importance of the tribe for the future of American democracy. Reflecting on his own observations about war, society, and freedom, Junger discusses how civilians can better understand the experiences of those who fight on their behalf, the importance of shared responsibility and communal values, and how Western societies can regain a sense of belonging.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Richie McCaw discuss the state of rugby and the lessons the sport offers for developing leaders, fostering teamwork, strengthening communities, and building a better future, Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby captains in history, Richie McCaw, former captain of New Zealand’s national rugby team, joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss New Zealand as a multicultural society and the significant role that rugby plays in the life of the country. Drawing on his 15-year rugby career, McCaw reflects on lessons the sport offers for developing leaders and strengthening communities and how to apply the values it teaches—respect, teamwork, perseverance, vision—to today’s society to build a better future.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Kai Sauer discuss the war in Ukraine, Finland’s priorities in the areas of defense and the economy, digital and energy security, and the future of Europe and the transatlantic relationship, on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Insights from the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland shed light on European security and the transatlantic relationship from the perspective of Finland. Reflecting on Finland’s position as a U.S. ally, strategic partner and new member of NATO, Mr. Kai Sauer assesses the strategic value Finland brings to the Alliance, the country’s key security concerns including Russian aggression and the war in Ukraine, Finland’s priorities in the areas of defense, the economy, digital and energy security, and the importance of the US sustaining commitments in Europe in defense of our common values. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Mr. Kai Sauer is currently the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland since June 2019. Previously he served as the Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations (2014-2019), and as the Ambassador of Finland to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN (2010-2014). Mr. Sauer has worked for the Finnish Foreign Ministry for nearly 25 years and served also in Croatia, Kosovo, Austria and the US. He has held several senior UN positions. He has been appointed as Finland’s next Ambassador to Germany, taking up his post in Berlin later this year. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador John Sullivan discuss Russia's aggression, its impact on the US and NATO, and the future of Ukraine on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. Reflecting on Russia’s history of aggression and Putin’s imperial ambitions, former US ambassador to Russia John Sullivan joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss the 2022 reinvasion of Ukraine and its impact on the US and NATO. Drawing on his experience under the Biden administration in the lead-up to the reinvasion, Ambassador Sullivan assesses the current state of the war, its historical similarities with Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, the uncertain future facing Putin, and how the war in Ukraine may come to an end.   ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ambassador John J. Sullivan served as US ambassador to Russia from December 2019 to October 2022 under presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. During his tenure, he led the US embassy in Moscow through Russia’s 2022 reinvasion of Ukraine. Sullivan completed his law degree at Columbia University and has held senior positions in the Departments of Justice, Defense, and Commerce from the George W. Bush to Obama administrations. He served as deputy secretary of commerce from 2008 to 2009 and chaired the US-Iraq Business Dialogue from 2010 to 2016. Sullivan served as deputy secretary of state from 2017 to 2019. He is a distinguished fellow of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Sullivan is currently a partner in Mayer Brown’s Washington, DC, and New York offices. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Tong Yi discuss the history of the Chinese Communist Party, competition with China, and prospects for human freedom on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Insights from a Chinese human rights advocate and Chinese labor camp survivor shed light on the history and current state of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and People’s Republic of China. Drawing on her experiences as assistant and interpreter to prominent Chinese democracy advocate and dissident Wei Jingsheng and as a political activist during the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Beijing, Tong Yi joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss what motivates the CCP, the influence of Chinese imperial culture on the party's authoritarianism, current conditions of those under CCP rule, and why competition with the CCP matters to Americans. ​ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ms. Tong Yi is a Chinese human rights advocate. She became a political activist during the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Beijing and witnessed killings of civilians by the People’s Liberation Army on June 3–4, 1989. After the massacre, she moved in dissident circles in Beijing. She helped to locate bereaved families and connect them with the Tiananmen Mothers, a group led by Professor Ding Zilin. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Clarence Moniba, Liberian Presidential Candidate, Head of Liberian National Union (LINU), discuss Liberia’s future and political and economic trends in West Africa on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. This perspective from a Liberian presidential candidate sheds light on challenges facing West Africa. Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster hosts Dr. Clarence Moniba to discuss pressing issues of governance and security on the African continent.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Julio Guzmán discuss Peruvian politics, increasing Chinese influence in Latin America, and political, security, and economic trends in the region. Insights from a Peruvian policy scholar and practitioner shed light on political and economic trends in Latin America. Drawing on his experiences in the Peruvian government and as a presidential candidate, Dr. Julio Guzmán joins Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster to discuss Peruvian politics and instability, trends in Latin American politics and leadership, and the benefits and drawbacks to foreign investment in the region. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Julio Guzmán, Former Secretary General of the Office of the Prime Minister, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and General Carter discuss his experiences in the British military, the war in Ukraine, the implications of the US and Coalition withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the future of warfare. H. R. McMaster in conversation with General Sir Nick Carter, Former Chief of UK Defense Force, on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H. R. McMaster and Afghan General Sami Sadat discuss the events that contributed to the fall of Afghanistan, the flawed assumptions that led to U.S. withdrawal, and how the U.S. government and Afghan resistance can jointly support both the Afghan state, in turn, global security. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Lt. Gen. Sami Sadat, Afghan National Army, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

In this special episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster discusses priorities for international cooperation between the United States and its European allies. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Mark Sedwill, Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, and Ambassador Phillippe Etienne on Wednesday, March 23, 2023.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Dr. Krewasky Salter, President of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. In this special episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Krewasky Salter discuss Salter’s scholarship on Black American military history and the implications of that history for the military and society today. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Dr. Krewasky Salter is President of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Alexandros Papaioannou, Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN and International Organizations, on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Alexandros Papaioannou discuss Greece's perspective on international security, energy security, migration, and competitions with authoritarian, hostile regimes. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Alexandros Papaioannou is the Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN and International Organizations. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Vera Songwe, Chair of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility and co-chair of the High Level Panel on Climate Finance, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Vera Songwe discuss the future of the United Nations and security, economic growth, and development on the African continent.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with His Excellency Shaikh Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States, on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah Rashid Al Khalifa discuss developments in Bahrain, regional dynamics, and the future of peace and security in the Middle East.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and activist, on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Masih Alinejad discuss the protests in Iran, their implications, and Alinejad’s vision for the future of her country.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Lithuania, on Monday, November 21 at 9:00am PST. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discuss how to overcome today’s threats and strengthen the alliance for the future.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Vladimir Milov, Russian opposition politician, economist, and advisor to Alexei Navalny, on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Vladimir Milov discuss the status of the Russian opposition and what more can be done to advance Ukraine's fight for freedom.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ingrida Šimonytė, Prime Minister of Lithuania, on Wednesday, October 19 at 9:00am PT. In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė discuss the future of European security, energy security, the future of NATO, Russia's reinvasion of Ukraine and aggression against Europe and the West, and prospects for strengthening the free world for the long competition against authoritarianism.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi discuss the future of Iraq and the Middle East, the threat of Iranian influence in the region, and how to break the cycle of sectarian violence. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Haider al-Abadi on September 28, 2022 at 9:00am PT. Dr. Haider al-Abadi was the Prime Minister of Iraq and led the country’s successful military campaign against the Islamic State (Daesh) as Commander in Chief. He was born in Baghdad in 1952 into a professional, middle class family. He lived in exile in the United Kingdom in for twenty-seven years due to his involvement with the political opposition to Saddam Hussein. During his exile, Dr Abadi founded his own company specializing in rapid transit systems. He also led the Islamic Dawa Party in the UK and was a member of the party’s leadership worldwide. In 2003, he returned to Iraq to join the new government, occupying the positions of Minister of Communications, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Chair of the Parliamentary Finance and Economic Committees and Deputy Speaker of Parliament between the years 2006 and 2014.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Paul Carrese discuss the need for civics and history education and opportunities to foster an understanding of our nation’s history that acknowledges contradictions and imperfections while extolling the virtues and great promise of our republic.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with Paul Carrese, September 7, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Nader Nadery discuss human rights law, the dire situation in Afghanistan, and what more might be done to foster peace and protect innocents. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Nader Nadery, August 10, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan discuss Singapore’s economic and social innovations, the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew; the competition with revanchist authoritarian powers, and how to preserve peace and promote prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on July 27, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ine Søreide discuss geopolitical realities after Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine and implications for European security, the European Union, NATO, and the transatlantic relationship. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ine Eriksen on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ine Eriksen Søreide is a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party and current chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense.  She served as the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2021 and the Minister of Defense from 2013 to 2017. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and David Schwendiman discuss the evolution of human rights law, international criminal justice, investigations and prosecutions, and its implications for prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with David Schwendiman on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS David Schwendiman served for over twenty-five years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Utah. He was the Chief Prosecutor of the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague from 2016 to 2018 and previously oversaw investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo in 1998, 1999 and 2000 as the Lead Prosecutor of the EU’s Special Investigative Task Force (SITF). Schwendiman investigated and prosecuted atrocities committed during the war in the Former Yugoslavia as an international prosecutor in the Special Department for War Crimes of the State Prosecutor’s Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also served as the U.S. Justice Attaché in Kabul, Afghanistan from 2010 through 2013 and spent 2014 as the Assistant Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) and Director of Forward Operations for SIGAR.  He is now an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law.   H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan discuss Jordan-US relations; Jordan’s perspective on the most significant challenges in the Middle East; and opportunities for multi-lateral cooperation to improve security and prosperity in the region.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and European Parliament Secretary-General Klaus Welle discuss European Parliament’s priorities including the EU response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian and security crisis.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with Klaus Welle on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Klaus Welle is a German politician who has served as Secretary General of the European Parliament since March 2009. He was previously Head of the Cabinet of the President of the European Parliament in Brussels and from 2004 to 2007 the Director-General for Internal Policies at the European Parliament in Brussels. At the age of 30, Welle served as the Secretary-General of the European People's Party (EPP) and the European Union of Christian Democrats (EUCD) and then from 1999 to 2003 was Secretary-General of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Witten/Herdecke.   H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Vladimir Milov discuss the Russian opposition, the internal and external threats to Putin’s grip on power, and the impacts of Russia’s aggression on the world. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Vladimir Milov on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Leopoldo López discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela and the prospects for restoration of democratic governance under the Constitution and recovery from economic collapse. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Leopoldo López on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 9:00am PT.

Thursday, March 10, 2022 Hoover Institution, Stanford University In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster speaks to Battlegrounds guest and former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Oleksiy Honcharuk, who is in Ukraine now, fighting for the freedom of his country alongside fellow Ukrainians as they confront a continued assault by the Russian military and the indiscriminate bombardment of Ukrainian cities.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with Oleksiy Honcharuk on Thursday, March 10, 2022.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and General Rajmund Andrzejczak discuss the US-Poland relationship and security  challenges including increasing Russian aggression in Europe, energy security, and transnational terrorism.  H.R. McMaster in conversation with General Rajmund Andrzejczak on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 9:00am PT Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.” ABOUT THE SPEAKERS General Rajmund Andrzejczak is Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. General Andrzejczak has served in the Polish military for over three decades and was nominated to the rank of General in 2019. He is the recipient of the Order of the Second Class Military Cross - Commander's Cross, Star of Iraq and Star of Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Military Academy of the Armored Forces in Poznań, the Defense Academy of the Czech Army, the National Defense Academy in Warsaw and the Royal College of Defense Studies in London. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib discuss the causes of the collapse in Afghanistan, the consequences, and options to mitigate the growing crisis. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 9:00am PT. Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador Joe Hockey discuss economic recovery from the pandemic, trade, the interconnected challenges of energy security and climate change, and the need to compete in the face of a coercive Chinese Communist Party. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Joe Hockey on Wednesday, December 1 at 9:00am PT.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and former Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk discuss the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, the Russian threat to security, and priorities for reform and strengthening governance in Ukraine. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Oleksiy Honcharuk on Wednesday, November 17 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Oleksiy Honcharuk was Ukraine’s 17th Prime Minister (August 2019 – March 2020). He also served as a Deputy Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, member of the National Reforms Council, and as an external advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. Prime Minister Honcharuk also headed Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) a non-governmental organization. Previously he worked in law where he was as an arbitration manager and managing partner at Constructive Lawyers, a law firm he had founded and a lawyer at PRIOR-Invest investment company. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 Hoover Institution, Stanford University   In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Brigadier General Meir Finkel of the Israeli Defense Force discuss Finkel’s latest book, Studies in Generalship: Lessons from the Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and how to evaluate the effectiveness of military leaders.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ambassador Husain Haqqani, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia, on October 6, at 9:15AM PT discussing Pakistani foreign policy, jihadist terrorism, and the future of South Asia in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Yalda Hakim, BBC World News presenter and correspondent on Thursday, September 9 at 9:00AM PT discussing her new film "Return of the Taliban," which explores the Taliban of today, what they stand for and what is at stake in the unfolding situation in Afghanistan. ABOUT RETURN OF THE TALIBAN In Return of the Taliban, which was filmed during the weeks before the Taliban took power, Afghan-born, Australian reporter Yalda Hakim traveled to Afghanistan and secured access to two Taliban leaders and key people in Kabul about the country’s future. In the country of her birth, Yalda talks extensively to a Taliban commander from the front line, as well as to the leadership in Doha. They claim they have changed and have regrets about their actions in the past, but who are the Taliban in 2021 and are they planning a return to the brutal regime of the 90s? And she meets with the then Vice President Amrullah Saleh who is adamant he would never surrender to the Taliban. Yalda asks what is at stake for the Afghans who are now in their first weeks under Taliban rule. To watch Return of the Taliban, click here. Password: 0urw0rld!

In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Peter Bergen discuss the history and evolution of jihadist terrorist groups, their objectives, and the implications for international security. H.R. McMaster in conversation with Peter Bergen on Tuesday, September 7 at 9:00am PT.

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 Wednesday, April 28 at 9:00am PT.

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 Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to the United States (US). He is also a Minister of State for the UAE and holds board memberships with the Special Olympics, the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the American University of Cairo. His Yedioth Ahronoth op-ed, “Annexation will be a serious setback for better relations with the Arab World,” is among his greatest accomplishments as UAE Ambassador to the US as it gained international attention for influencing the Abraham Accords normalization deal between the UAE and Israel. Before his time at the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC, he worked as Director of International Affairs for the court of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

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 conversation with Mark Sedwill, Baron Sedwill of Sherborne KCMG FRGS, on Wednesday, March 31 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Mark Sedwill,Baron Sedwill of Sherborne KCMG FRGS, is Chairman of the Atlantic Futures Forum, Chairman of the G7 Panel on Global Economic Resilience, and a cross-bench member of the UK Parliament’s House of Lords. He is a senior adviser to Rothschild & Co. He was Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Civil Service (2018-20), National Security Adviser (2017-20), Permanent Secretary at the Home Office (2013-17), and HM Ambassador and NATO Representative in Afghanistan (2009-11). H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. _______________________________________________________ Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

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 conversation with Juan Manuel Santos, former President and Minister of National Defense (of Colombia), on Wednesday, March 17 at 9:00am PT. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Juan Manuel Santos is the former President of Colombia (2010 to 2018) and was the sole recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for his efforts to end his country’s civil war.  Before his Presidency, Santos held a number of ministerial roles including Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.  Santos also founded a new political party (The U Party) in 2005. Before public life, he was a deputy publisher and editorial writer in the newspaper El Tiempo. Santos is also the author of several books. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

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 peace in the Levant and the broader Middle East. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Yair Lapid is chairman of the Yesh Atid party and opposition leader in the Israeli Parliament. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. ABOUT THE SERIES Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.” For more information, visit: https://www.hoover.org/battlegrounds_perspectives. Pick up a copy of "Battlegrounds: The Fight To Defend The Free World," by H.R. McMaster here - https://www.hoover.org/research/battlegrounds-fight-defend-free-world.

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 inequities in the U.S. military and how all Americans can learn from his leadership and legacy. General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. was the first Black four-star general in the United States Army. A St. Louis native, Robinson entered West Point in 1947 and led forces in the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was promoted to four-star general in 1982 and served as U.S. Representative to NATO's Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium. General Robinson received the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for his heroic service and valor and retired from the Army in 1985 after 34 years of military service. He also held a Master's in International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1993, General Robinson was recognized by West Point as a Distinguished Graduate. He passed away that year and is survived by his children, Bruce and Carol. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Bruce Robinson is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and the son of General Roscoe Robinson Jr. After retirement from the United States Army in 2006, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson worked as a Homeland Security consultant for a software company in California. He holds a B.S. in General Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an M.S. in Telecommunications Management from the University of Colorado at Boulder. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.  He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.  He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.  

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 17 at 11:00am PT.

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 relations with Rwanda and Africa, the world’s youngest continent in which 50% of the population is under 25 years old. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Paul Kagame is President of the Republic of Rwanda. In 2019 he was elected Chairperson of the East African Community, and has been leading the institutional reform of the African Union (AU) since 2016. President Kagame is currently Chairperson of the AU Development Agency New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) as well as African Union Leader for Domestic Health Financing. H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018. ABOUT THE SERIES Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.” For more information, visit: https://www.hoover.org/battlegrounds_perspectives. Pick up a copy of "Battlegrounds: The Fight To Defend The Free World," by H.R. McMaster here - https://www.hoover.org/research/battlegrounds-fight-defend-free-world 

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 society.

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 from the South China Seas to the Senkakus as well as in space and cyberspace.

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 crisis and the rise of populism in Europe; and the EU and NATO response to the COIVD crisis, Russian subversion and China’s Wolf Warrior diplomacy.

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 States, Afghanistan, and the world as Afghanistan moves towards peace.

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 is increasingly strained due to historical grievances as South Korea-U.S. relations are complicated due to anti-alliance sentiment among a vocal minority of South Koreans as well as demands from American leaders that South Korea share more of the defense burden.