Latika Takes: The Podcast

🇨🇿 From Prague, Latika Takes interviews Mark Esper

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is in Prague at the GLOBSEC Forum, now in its 21st year. She interviews Mark Esper, who served as US Secretary of Defence under Donald Trump, between 2019 and 2020. Secretary Esper discusses why he felt ‘offended’ by the European response to the United States and Israel’s decision to launch a war against Iran in February and why it has set back NATO, already under fire from US President Donald Trump. He discusses US expectations of allies in the event of a Chinese grab on Taiwan and how allies should approach dealings with the Trump Administration. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe [https://www.latikambourke.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

🇪🇪 From Tallinn, Latika Takes interviews Kaupo Rosin

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn, Estonia. Her guest is Kaupo Rosin, the Director General of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, which is widely regarded as one of the best when it comes to understanding what is going on inside Russia. Latika and Kaupo discuss the unfavourable turn that the war in Ukraine has taken, the effect it has had on Vladimir Putin, what the West should now do, and China’s dominance over Russia. They also discuss the societal unhappiness with Vladimir Putin’s shutdown of messaging services, the internet and VPNs and the possibility that the Russian President may have to start conscripting men to fight, bringing the war to the homes of those who have previously felt untouched. They also discuss the effect of US President Donald Trump’s disparaging comments about NATO as well as the pause and withdrawal of military assets from Europe. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe [https://www.latikambourke.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

🇦🇲 From Yerevan, Latika Takes interviews Robert Abisoghomonyan

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is at the Yerevan Dialogue in Yerevan, Armenia. Latika’s guest is Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan. Mr Absioghomonyan discusses the transformation in Armenia, a post-Soviet state, that is underway, with a societal push to seek EU membership. This week, Armenia hosted the European Political Community to which Canada’s Mark Carney and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky were also invited, in a show of the EU’s pulling power. Armenia also hosted the EU-Armenia summit aimed at deepening ties between the tiny country and the 27-member bloc, which many countries are trying to join. Latika and Robert discuss how Russia’s failure to come to Armenia’s aid under it’s military alliance obligations when Azerbaijan seized Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. They also discuss the true viability of EU membership for Armenia, Yerevan’s special relationship with the Iranian regime, and the delicate balancing act the country's government is playing as it heads to elections next month, battling Russian interference. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe [https://www.latikambourke.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

🇬🇷 From Delphi Economic Forum, Latika Takes interviews Carla Sands

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is in Greece at the Delphi Economic Forum. Latika’s guest is Carla Sands, who served as Donald Trump’s Ambassador to Denmark during his first Presidential term. Carla Sands discusses NATO, why Article 5 is no longer considered iron-clad by MAGA and will change post-Trump. Carla Sands also discusses President Trump’s comments disparaging allied war dead in Afghanistan and what Australia can do to be a model ally. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe [https://www.latikambourke.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Latika Takes interviews Michael Fallon

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is in London and is joined by the UK’s former Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. Sir Michael served as Defence Secretary between 2014 and 2017 and during part of President Donald Trump’s first term. He discusses why the UK, NATO and Indo-Pacific allies, including Australia should have supported the US war in Iran. Sir Michael also discusses the UK’s defence spending and the likelihood of the UK delivering on AUKUS. Latika Takes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.latikambourke.com/subscribe [https://www.latikambourke.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]