The Red Line cover art

The Red Line

The Red Line

By: The Red Line
Listen for free

LIMITED TIME OFFER

£0.99/mo for 3 months - terms apply. Offer ends 24 August 2026.
Three experts, one Story. Each fortnight we host a panel of international experts diving into the biggest geopolitical stories shaping the news both here and overseas. Hosted by Michael HilliardCopyright 2019 Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 138 - Could Europe Defend Itself Without the US?

    138 - Could Europe Defend Itself Without the US?
    Jun 22 2026
    Long treated as the immovable foundation of European security, America’s role in NATO is now being questioned more openly than at any point in decades, as Washington signals doubts about its commitment to the continent and debates whether US forces should be pulled back toward other theatres. On paper, Europe still looks formidable. Its militaries outspend Russia, field large numbers of troops, aircraft, ships, and armoured vehicles, and are already beginning a major rearmament push. Yet behind those headline numbers lies a much messier reality. Much of Europe’s ability to fight as a single coherent force still depends on the United States: its intelligence networks, satellites, airlift, logistics, targeting systems, command structures, missile defence, and nuclear deterrent. Replacing those capabilities would not simply mean buying more tanks or raising defence budgets, but rebuilding the operating system that allows NATO to function in a crisis. And with Russia’s war economy still running, its northern military districts being rebuilt, and the Baltic states sitting exposed on NATO’s front line, the question is not just whether Europe could defend itself without America, but whether it could do so quickly enough. Our panel of experts examines what the US still provides, what Europe would need to replace, and whether Moscow’s timelines may move faster than Europe’s. - Ruben Stewart (IISS) - Ben Barry (IISS) - Neil Melvin (UI) - Gen. Philip Breedlove (Fmr. Supreme Allied Commander for Europe) Intro - 00:00 PART I - 02:47 PART II - 28:06 PART III - 41:26 PART IV - 1:05:20 Outro - 1:31:31 Follow the show on https://x.com/TheRedLinePod Follow Michael on https://x.com/MikeHilliardAus Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/theredlinepodcast Submit Questions and Join the Red Line Discord Server at: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/discord For more info, please visit: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 47 mins
  • 137 - Exclusive: We Toured One Of Europe’s Most Secretive Tank Factories

    137 - Exclusive: We Toured One Of Europe’s Most Secretive Tank Factories
    Mar 31 2026
    Once synonymous with Europe’s past wars and fading heavy industry, the tank factory has re-emerged as one of the continent’s most guarded and politically charged symbols amid rearmament, strategic anxiety, and a renewed push for deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank. In this special exclusive episode, Michael and two special guests are granted rare access inside one of Europe’s most secretive tank factories to examine the newest generation of armoured vehicles now moving into production. From armour protection and fire control to manufacturing timelines, battlefield doctrine, and the industrial logic behind Europe’s current defence buildup, the visit offers a close look at how these platforms are being designed, built, and sold as part of a broader strategy of containment. But behind the polished production lines and bold promises lies a deeper set of questions about scale, readiness, and whether Europe’s industrial base can actually deliver what its strategic environment now demands. After the tour, the panel sits down to discuss the specifications, the doctrine, and the role this new generation of tanks is likely to play in Europe’s military posture. - James Ker-Lindsay (Prof. James Ker Lindsay) - David Schroeder (The Cold War) Follow the show on https://x.com/TheRedLinePod Follow Michael on https://x.com/MikeHilliardAus Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/theredlinepodcast Submit Questions and Join the Red Line Discord Server at: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/discord For more info, please visit: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • 136 - The Middle Corridor: Reality Vs. Rhetoric

    136 - The Middle Corridor: Reality Vs. Rhetoric
    Mar 17 2026
    Previously dismissed as a niche academic concept and a talking point for Central Asia specialists, the Middle Corridor has re-emerged as one of the most discussed trade routes in Eurasia amid war, sanctions, and growing instability across the world’s maritime chokepoints. Running from western China through Central Asia, across the Caspian, through the Caucasus and on toward Europe, the corridor promises a route that bypasses Russia, avoids Iran, and reduces dependence on vulnerable sea lanes through Hormuz, Suez, and the Red Sea. Yet behind the hype lies a much messier reality. The route is fragmented, expensive, capacity-constrained, and still plagued by border delays, port bottlenecks, gauge breaks, and political risk stretching from Kazakhstan to Georgia. But as China searches for strategic redundancy, Europe looks for alternatives to the Russian route, and Central Asia seeks deeper regional integration and greater leverage between Moscow and Beijing, the question remains: is the Middle Corridor a viable new artery of Eurasian trade, or merely an overpriced hedge for a more dangerous world? Our panel of experts examines the economics, the geopolitics, and the hard limits of the route in 2026. - S. Frederick Starr (Central Asia -Caucasus Institute) - Bruce Pannier (Foreign Policy Research Institute) - Peter Leonard (CAPS Unlock) - Eric Rudenshiold (Caspian Policy Center) Intro - 00:00 PART I - 03:20 PART II - 23:08 PART III - 50:12 PART IV - 1:03:39 Outro - 1:23:54 Follow the show on https://x.com/TheRedLinePod Follow Michael on https://x.com/MikeHilliardAus Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/theredlinepodcast Submit Questions and Join the Red Line Discord Server at: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/discord For more info, please visit: https://www.theredlinepodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 41 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet