The former Foreign Minister of Lithuania continues his fight for freedom with a new podcast. Escalation is a series of conversations with experts that help us understand the new geopolitics, and how we can make democracy great again. Well known for his values-based approach to foreign policy, Gabrielius Landsbergis is a tireless campaigner for rule of law and peace through strength.
E07 - Mariia Nazarova, Combat Medic in the Ukrainian Army
Combat medic Mariia Nazarova recounts her experiences in the Ukrainian Army since 2014 and details the evolution of combat medicine, highlighting innovations and training developments that increase survival rates in this interview with Gabrielius Landsbergis.
4 May 2025
E06 - Ben Hodges, Former Commander of US Army Europe
Ben Hodges had an action-packed career in the US military, gaining deep knowledge of the strategic background in Europe. Ben is a vocal supporter of Ukraine and we are honoured to have this opportunity to hear his zoomed-out assessment of the strategic shifts playing out around the world.00:00 Understanding Ukraine's Path to Victory05:35 The Fear of Escalation and Its Implications09:56 Evolution of Ukrainian Military Strategy13:31 Western Support and Capabilities for Ukraine17:26 Logistics and the Challenges of Military Aid21:19 The Debate on Military Support and Strategic Objectives24:43 The Coalition of the Willing: Feasibility and Political Will32:20 Phases of Conflict Resolution35:22 Risks After Ceasefire39:30 Historical Lessons from WWII43:50 Potential Pearl Harbor Moment46:03 US Military Repositioning in Europe51:30 Lithuania's Defense Strategies53:56 Advocating for Ukraine's NeedsSubscribe to the mailinglist at landsbergis.comFollow Gabrielius on socials @GLandsbergis
21 Apr 2025
E05 Jakub Janda – Czech expert on the Indo-Pacific region
Jakub Janda is a Czech political scientist and the Executive Director of the European Value Center for Security Policy. Based in Prague and now also active in Taipei, Jakub has been at the forefront of efforts to counter hybrid threats from authoritarian regimes, with a sharp focus on Russian and Chinese influence operations in Europe and beyond.
00:00 Introduction to Czech Politics and Indo-Pacific Relations
02:35 Czech Republic's Unique Position on China and Taiwan
05:27 The Impact of Czech Elections on Foreign Policy
08:10 US-Russia-China Dynamics and the Reverse Kissinger
11:16 China's Strategic Interests in Europe and Indo-Pacific
13:58 China's Military Assertiveness and Economic Engagement
16:56 Long-term Chinese Strategy and Global Alliances
23:48 The Cost of Alliances in Asia
26:15 The Impact of Ukraine on Indo-Pacific Security
29:05 Taiwan's Lessons from Ukraine
34:38 China's Strategic Options for Taiwan
43:08 Advice for European Leaders on Indo-Pacific Strategy
Join the mailing list: landsbergis.com (https://landsbergis.com/)
Follow Gabrielius Landsbergis on social media: @glandsbergis
26 Mar 2025
E04 Jonas Ohman - Co-founder of Blue/Yellow, top NGO assisting Ukraine
Jonas Ohman is Co-founder of Blue/Yellow www.blue-yellow.lt (https://blue-yellow.lt/en/)Europe's biggest non-governmental supplier of military aid to Ukraine. Blue/Yellow has raised $100million since 2014, primarily in Lithuania, a country of only 3 million people. We talked to Jonas about his personal journey, the outstanding work of his NGO and the situation on the ground in Ukraine as he sees it.
00:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk) Journey to Lithuania
04:15 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=255s) Understanding the Nordic Perspective
06:56 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=416s) The Role of Blue Yellow in Supporting Ukraine
11:14 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=674s) The Evolution of Warfare: Drones and Technology
12:30 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=750s) Changes in Ukraine: From 2014 to Now
16:46 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=1006s) Nation Building and Identity in Ukraine
17:01 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=1021s) Logistics and Challenges of Humanitarian Aid
18:29 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=1109s) Understanding the Humanitarian Response to Ukraine
23:33 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=1413s) Lessons Learned from the Ongoing Conflict
28:09 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=1689s) The Example of Finland
32:51 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edUoHXiLAsk&t=1971s) Shifting Security Paradigms in Europe
Join the mailing list:landsbergis.com (https://landsbergis.com)
Follow Gabrielius Landsbergis on social media:@GLandsbergis (https://x.com/glandsbergis)
Donate to Blue/Yellow:www.blue-yellow.lt (https://blue-yellow.lt/en/)
12 Feb 2025
E03 Dmytro Kuleba - Former Foreign Minister of Ukraine
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, discusses diplomacy in the ongoing war. Together with Gabrielius Landsbergis he talks about the failures of de-escalation and the historical context that has shaped Western perceptions of Ukraine. Touching on peace plans, security guarantees and nuclear weapons, this is a very enlightening crash course in what the West is doing wrong.00:00 Introduction to Ukraine's Diplomatic Struggles02:06 Lessons from Failed De-escalation Efforts05:50 Historical Context and Western Misunderstandings07:57 The West's Evolving Perception of Ukraine09:38 Challenges of Peace Plans and Ceasefires11:19 Ukrainian Opinions about Peace Deals14:15 Putin's Motivations for Negotiation15:59 The Need for Security Guarantees19:14 The Feasibility of Peacekeepers21:04 Historical Lessons from Minsk Agreements22:59 The Importance of Kursk in Negotiations25:03 The Nuclear Weapons Debate31:49 The Call for Elections Amidst War34:35 Responses to the Pope's comments36:39 President Zelensky's Diplomacy
Join the mailing list: landsbergis.com
Follow Gabrielius Landsbergis on social media: @GLandsbergis
2 Feb 2025
E02 Thórdís Gylfadóttir - Former Foreign Minister of Iceland
Thórdís Gylfadóttir was Iceland's Minister of Foreign Affairs until recently. And recently a lot has been going on in her neighbourhood–the North Atlantic and Arctic. She explains her perspective to Gabrielius Landsbergis at this historic and unpredictable moment in the region's history.
00:00 Iceland's Foreign Policy and Political Landscape
08:10 Iceland's Support for Ukraine
14:34 Geopolitics of the Arctic Region
18:55 Greenland's Independence and Future Prospects
Join the mailing list:
landsbergis.com (https://landsbergis.com)
Follow Gabrielius Landsbergis on X and Bluesky:
@GLandsbergis
18 Jan 2025
E01 Vytis Jurkonis - Human rights defender for dissidents from Belarus and Russia
Vytis Jurkonis is a Lithuanian human rights defender and the go-to-guy for dissidents who need to flee Belarus and Russia. In this pilot episode of Escalation, Gabrielius Landsbergis talks to Vytis about how Lithuania became a haven for dissidents, and how we could achieve the goal of Belarus and Russia becoming free, peaceful and democratic countries.
00:00 Introduction
02:17 Lithuania as a Place of Refuge
05:00 The Process of Seeking Refuge in Lithuania
07:39 Understanding the Belarusian Regime
09:52 Negotiating with Authoritarian Leaders
12:37 Lithuania's Role in Supporting Dissidents
15:01 Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya and Lithuania
16:54 Lithuania's Historical Support for Freedom
20:58 Solidarity with Freedom Movements in Eastern Europe
23:30 Understanding Russia's Opposition and Dissidents
29:00 The Role of Independent Media in Russia
32:12 The Complexity of Russian Identity and Guilt
38:53 The Path to a Democratic Russia
Join the mailing list:
landsbergis.com (https://landsbergis.com)
Follow Gabrielius Landsbergis on X and Bluesky:
@GLandsbergis
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