Latika Takes: The Podcast

Latika Takes interviews Ben Judah

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is in London speaking with Ben Judah [https://substack.com/profile/10834590-ben-judah] , who served as special advisor to former UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Mr Judah discusses the UK’s relationships with China, Europe, the United States and his failed attempts to kickstart a new CANZUK club, comprising Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He discusses his fears about the debate around UK Defence Spending, the credibility gap opening up in NATO and why the UK needs to borrow Australia’s model of government to be more effective in achieving its goals. This discussion references an article published [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1l25qd43nro] by the Financial Times detailing leaked comments by the UK’s Ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, saying Israel was the UK’s only special relationship. 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 Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is in Slough, the constituency of Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dheshi, who chairs the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. Mr Dhesi discusses the contents of his Committee’s recent review into AUKUS which found the program is ‘faltering.’ He says the program is ‘plodding along’ and needs a new push from the AUKUS leaders. He calls for an AUKUS visa, a dedicated envoy in each country to oversee the program as well as a boost in the UK’s defence spending. The AUKUS review can be found here [https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9068/aukus/]: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9068/aukus/ This discussion also references this article and event. 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 Odesa, Latika Takes interviews Nico Lange

This week Latika Takes: The Podcast is in Odesa, Ukraine attending the Black Sea Security Forum. Latika’s guest is Nico Lange, who served as an advisor to former German Defence Minister AKK. Now, as founder of the think tank IRIS, he goes back and forth from the frontline in Ukraine and monitors the changing nature of warfare. In this episode, Latika and Nico discuss how Ukraine has made its gains in 2026, the ongoing failures of the West to adapt and enable Ukraine, whether the Europeans should negotiate with Vladimir Putin and NATO’s inability to protect its airspace from Russian drones. 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 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]