Remote Warfare Podcast

On November 26 Remote Warfare Programme launched a new report on the roll-out of the UK’s Fusion Doctrine. You can find the report here. On the basis of field research in Kenya and Mali, interviews with officials from the British Ministry Of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department For International Development, as well as roundtables with experts from a wide variety of backgrounds, the report argues that as Fusion Doctrine is rolled out it presents an important opportunity to improve our offer to African partners in the Sahel and East Africa. An expert panel discussed the report's findings. 

Ulrike Franke of ECFR joins the podcast to discuss drones, artificial intelligence and the future of technology in warfare.  Music by Bensound.  About the discussants Dr. Ulrike Franke is a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and part of ECFR’s New European Security Initiative. Her areas of focus include German and European security and defence, the future of warfare, and the impact of new technologies such as drones and artificial intelligence.  Abigail Watson is Senior Research Officer at the Remote Warfare Programme. Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen is Research and Advocacy Officer, Remote Warfare Programme. 

Liam Walpole is joined by three guests to discuss defence and foreign policy from the perspective of those who work as researchers for MPs in the House of Commons. The topics covered include where each of the main UK party leaders stand on defence and security, the conflicts between global vs. ethical foreign policy, budgeting for UK foreign policy and whether there is enough accountability in defence policy. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons. Music credit: Bensound. About the discussants Liam Walpole is a Senior Policy Officer at the Remote Warfare Programme. Roddy McGlynn is Researcher for SNP Foreign Affairs team Before joining the SNP Westminster Group, Roddy studied International Relations at the University of St Andrews, during which time he spent a summer interning at the UN in Bonn, working on climate security and climate-driven migration.  He has also worked with civil society and refugee groups in Berlin and Mexico City. In Westminster, he works on foreign affairs for SNP central research, coveri

Abigail Watson and Liam Walpole are joined by Jamie Gaskarth from the University of Birmingham to discuss the accountability of the more secretive elements of the UK security services such as intelligence and special forces.  Music by Bensound  Image credit: Matt Hecht/Flickr.  About the discussants Liam Walpole is a Senior Policy Officer at the Remote Warfare Programme. Abigail Watson is Senior Research Officer at the Remote Warfare Programme.  Jamie Gaskarth is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Birmingham. 

 The Remote Warfare Programme's Liam Walpole and Abigail Watson discuss the latest developments in UK defence and security policy. In July, Boris Johnson's won the Tory leadership race which saw him become Prime Minister of Britain. The two discuss the implications of Johnson's premiership for UK defence and security. They also examine the recent announcement by the Ministry of Defence that 250 British troops will be deployed to Mali next year to join what has been called the world’s deadliest peacekeeping operation, MINUSMA.      Music by Bensound Image credit: Number 10/Flickr. 

The Remote Warfare Programme's Liam Walpole is joined by the Strategic Peacebuilding Programme's Marwa Baabbad to discuss the UK's policy towards Yemen and the impact of its security partnership with Saudi Arabia on the country.      Music by Bensound Image credit: Flickr 

  The Remote Warfare Programme's Liam Walpole and Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen discuss the latest developments in UK defence and security policy. This month the two discuss the increasing tension between Iran and the United States, the recent UK court ruling on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the implications of the Conservative leadership contest for UK defence. 

In this episode, the Remote Warfare Programme's Emily Knowles and Abigail Watson are joined by Rory Cormac and Andrew Mumford of the University of Nottingham. They discuss Rory and Andrew's new project on collusion and whether there are parallels between the work undertaken by Nottingham and RWP's research into remote warfare. Image credit: Tiocfaidh ár lá 1916/Flickr.  About the discussants Abigail Watson is Senior Research Officer at the Remote Warfare Programme. Emily Knowles is Director of the Remote Warfare Programme.  Rory Cormac is an Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Nottingham.  Andrew Mumford is an Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations. 

 The Remote Warfare Programme's Liam Walpole and Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen discuss the latest developments in UK defence and security policy. This month the two discuss Gavin Williamson's recent sacking, the UK's Protection of Civilians strategy, and the MoDs new guidance on intelligence sharing with partners who may have obtained intelligence through torture.  

 In March, after a long legal battle between three Yemenis and the Federal Republic of Germany, a German court decided that Germany must ensure that support provided by a US military base in Germany to the US’ drone campaign in Yemen complies with international law. This case illustrates many of the complexities discussed by the Remote Warfare Programme in its report, released last year, on the legal grey zones created by remote warfare. To discuss the details of the case and its policy implications, the Remote Warfare Programme team are joined by Fiona Nelson of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights and Jennifer Gibson of Reprieve.   Music by Ben Sound Image credit: DJANDYW.COM AKA NOBODY/Flickr.  About the discussants Abigail Watson is Senior Research Officer at the Remote Warfare Programme. Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen is Research and Advocacy Assistant at the Remote Warfare Programme.  Fiona Nelson is legal advisor at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Right

 The Remote Warfare Programme's Liam Walpole and Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen provide their monthly update on developments in UK defence and security policy. This month's big story is Gavin Williamson's announced a new UK Centre of Excellence for Human Security.   Music by Bensound. 

Emily Knowles and Abigail Watson are joined by the Peace Research Institute Oslo's (PRIO) Nic Marsh and Marie Sandnes to talk security assistance and building partner capacity in Africa.  Music by Bensound. 

The roundtable talk AI and the Future of Remote Warfare 

The panel discuss the legality and transparency of remote warfare.  

The speakers discuss the oversight and accountability of remote warfare.  

The speakers discuss the theoretical issues surrounding Remote Warfare.  

 Sir Hew Strachan gives the keynote speech for the event. 

The speakers discuss the cost and consequences of remote warfare.  

The speakers discuss the geographies of remote warfare.  

The speakers discuss building partner capacity in remote warfare.