Interesting that Adm. Aquilino lists #Russia among top threats U.S. Indo-Pacific Command face in the Indo-Pacific, along with China, the DPRK & violent extremism. '1,700 miles of Russian coastline' & Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine - 'that's a problem in this theater as well.'

Always fun being on PBS NewsHour, especially to talk about the big announcements this week from the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.

As I told Nick Schifrin, I think these are major moves with lasting importance. More here:

youtu.be/rbQTJOhSS4U?si…

Senator Vance says the math on supporting Ukraine “doesn’t add up” but entirely elides the crucial variable in the equation: the cost of failure.

To the uncertainty of victory, Vance prefers the certainty of defeat, and the immense costs for America and the world as a whole.

Great essay of the role of the historian as an increasingly necessary figure of discernment in an age of information overload, at once a ‘truffle hunter’ and a ‘parachutist’, to borrow from Ladurie

No surprise here. One of the best national security and military history podcasts out there.

New report by RUSI on mass precision strike and future development of UAS/UAVs. ⁦Jack Watling⁩ ⁦Justin Bronk⁩ rusi.org/explore-our-re…

Nice speech by Kishida to Congress, which acknowledges that there is self-doubt and exhaustion among Americans for upholding the international order single-handedly.

'The U.S. should not be expected to do it all, unaided and on your own,' he said.
asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Inter…

One of my big takeaways from my latest #Ukraine visit is the need to change strategy. Current war strategy is focussed on 'defending Ukraine'. This is now a strategy for defeat and must evolve. 1/10 🧵🇺🇦
lowyinstitute.org/the-interprete…

I enjoyed this piece. Being a historian really does enable optimism (well, I cling to that anyway)

Iskander Rehman Neville Morley Beatrice de Graaf Suzanne Raine Maeve Ryan Lawrence Freedman Our final panel sees Dr Ryan introduce the editors of the ‘Classics of Applied History’ - Andrew Ehrhardt, Prof John Bew and Mattias Hessérus.

Useful comment / underlying thread. Lots to say here, but there are three ways of understanding how people use the term 'neocon,' at least when it comes to criticizing aid to Ukraine. 1/x

Iskander Rehman Neville Morley Beatrice de Graaf Suzanne Raine Our co-Director Maeve Ryan introduces the next discussion, with Lawrence Freedman presenting on history and the war in Ukraine.

Wonderful to launch “Iron Imperator” in a packed room in London today. Thanks to the Ax:son Johnson Foundation & Centre for Grand Strategy for their organizational prowess & to Neville Morley for his generous and thoughtful commentary.

Great essay to read as I sit in my study surrounded by a veritable paper mountain of books, scores of open tabs, and tens of thousands of photos from the archives…

Starting now!

‘An Afternoon of Applied History’ with The Ax:son Johnson Institute (AJI)

Iskander Rehman Neville Morley takes up the role of discussant. Noting the sophisticated understanding of the primary sources and their relevance, or not, in contemporary issues by the book.

Iskander Rehman Iskander notes that when it comes to Grand Strategy and Rome often Classicists and Strategic Studies talk past each other. A respective balance of the two is required.

Iskander Rehman gives the room a run down of what he set out to do with his new book, ‘Iron Imperator: Roman Grand Strategy under Tiberius’

An early modern guide to information overload | Iskander Rehman

engelsbergideas.com/essays/an-earl…

My latest in Engelsberg Ideas. For all the doom & gloom surrounding the future of historians, their ability to sift through & process vast amounts of information renders them uniquely suited to jobs in policy in an era of cognitive overload & distraction.

engelsbergideas.com/essays/an-earl…