War & Peace

In this episode of War & Peace, Olga is joined by Gabriella Gricius, Senior Fellow at the Arctic Institute and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Konstanz, to speak about Arctic security and how great power competition is playing out in the High North. They examine U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland, whether there is any logic behind the idea that the U.S. needs to own the island, and if the issue could re-emerge. They discuss NATO’s plans for a greater presence in the High North and the rationale behind its new mission, Arctic Sentry. They explore Russia’s priorities in the Arctic, how its posture is shifting with Finland and Sweden joining the alliance, as well as China’s interests in the region. Finally, they discuss the dilemma European capitals face in responding to unpredictability from both Washington and Moscow in the Arctic and identify where space for cooperation in the region remains.

For more, check out our Hold Your Fire! episode “The Greenland Showdown and Board of Peace at Davos”, as well as our Europe & Central Asia page.
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Today, we're bringing you a bonus episode from Crisis Group's global podcast, Hold Your Fire!

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood speaks with Joshua Kucera, Crisis Group’s senior South Caucasus analyst, about progress in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks, U.S. involvement and shifting regional politics. They discuss U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent visit to Yerevan and Baku, why Washington got involved and U.S. efforts to broker agreement on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) – a proposed transit corridor linking mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan through southern Armenia. They talk about whether the corridor could move forward even without a fully ratified peace deal and examine the remaining sticking points. They also assess Türkiye’s expanding role in the region, Iran’s concerns about the corridor, Russia’s waning influence and European policy. They examine why the Trump administration’s peacemaking appears to have been more successful in the South Caucasus than elsewhere.

For more, check out Joshua’s recent Analyst’s Notebook, “Vance Visit Reaffirms U.S. Push to End Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict” and our Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict page.
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In this episode of War & Peace, Olga and Alissa are joined by Nathalie Tocci, director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, to discuss how European capitals are reacting to recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and the Trump administration’s aggressive rhetoric over Greenland, and how EU and NATO member states can navigate an increasingly strained transatlantic relationship. They explore how European governments may rethink security in order to reduce dependence on the U.S. as Washington increasingly disregards international norms and even threatens the territorial integrity of an ally. Finally, they consider how regional states can meaningfully approach multilateralism as the global order continues to shift rapidly.

This episode was made possible through extra-budgetary funding from the OSCE. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the OSCE.
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In this episode of War & Peace, Olga Oliker and Alissa de Carbonnel are joined by Joshua Kucera, Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for the South Caucasus, to discuss the increasingly difficult situation facing people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh in Armenia after Azerbaijan regained control of the territory in a rapid 2023 offensive. They unpack the refugees’ mounting challenges–from insecure housing after cuts to government assistance to discrimination–and their growing frustration with Armenia’s government. They also examine the role refugees from Karabakh might play in Armenia’s 2026 elections and peace efforts with Azerbaijan, their hopes of return, and what the EU can do to help Yerevan respond.

For more, check out our Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict and Europe & Central Asia pages.
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In this episode of War & Peace, Elissa and guest host Alissa de Carbonnel are joined by Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women representative for Ukraine, about how the war in Ukraine has shaped and amplified gender inequalities in Ukraine and how women and women’s organisations are responding. They discuss the mood in Ukraine as it enters its fourth winter of full-scale war and the toll the conflict is taking on women from higher rates of sexual and gender-based violence, mounting mental health pressures and economic insecurity. They explore how women are navigating both the challenges and opportunities the war has created, how the Ukrainian government is addressing these issues, and how women’s organisations are affected by aid cuts. As Crisis Group marks its 30th anniversary, they also discuss how women’s roles in politics and peacemaking in Ukraine and beyond are evolving amid a global pushback against gender equality and women’s rights.

For more, check out our Gender and Conflict and Ukraine pages.
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