The General And The Ambassador: A Conversation

General Tod Wolters and Ambassador David Satterfield talk about the key elements of their successful partnership in managing the US-Turkey security relationship (2019-2022): having a clear strategy, relying on the strong US/NATO/Turkey mil to mil relationship and holding frank talks.  Topics:  Turkey’s strong commitment to NATO;  US Turkish differences over the US partnership with the SDF in Syria;  Turkey’s purchase of a Russian missile defense systems; Greek/Turkish clashes & Turkey’s relationship with Russia.

Admiral James Foggo and Ambassador Philip Kosnett talk about their collaboration to launch the book “Boots and Suits”,  share their personal observations of US civil military relations in the field and explain how they led US diplomatic and military engagement in Kosovo in the midst of continued tensions with Serbia and Russian influence operations in the Balkans.

General Mejia and Ambassador Whitaker discuss the arduous effort to negotiate a peace agreement between the Govt of Colombia and the FARC. Topics include: the campaign plan (Espada de Honor) in which the military got access to new key intelligence & used tactics/ equipment provided by the US through Plan Colombia, to drive the FARC to the table;  the multiyear negotiations pursued in Cuba in the presence of a special US envoy; the complicated broad terms of the agreement; how it has been implemented (demobilization, transitional justice and coca cultivation); and the continued challenge of dissident FARC members, other insurgent/paramilitary groups & criminal networks.

Mississippi Adjutant General, General Janson Boyles, and former US Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Pamela Spratlen discuss the role of the US national guard overseas, focusing on the State Partnership Program between the Mississippi National Guard and Uzbekistan.  They review the US-Uzbek security relationship over the years;  their joint efforts to encourage the country’s emergence from isolation; the Mississippi National Guard’s role in influencing Uzbek military leadership and in strengthening bilateral civilian/economic ties; and the important role of the Mississippi Assistant Adjutant General, Congressman Trent Kelly.

Admiral Franken and Ambassador Pasi talk about shifting US strategic interests in Africa, the key role of the US base in Djibouti,  the challenge of regional terrorist groups (Al Shabaab, Boko Haram),  the policy of “sound bites” of the Trump Administration, sitting on prayer rugs to inform the government of Chad of the Trump travel ban,  the effects of China’s vast economic investments across the continent and Russia’s “moon” promises to the region.  

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel Erikson and Ambassador Luis Arreaga review the transformation of the role of the military Latin America, attempts by some governments today to use them for political purpose, the value of US regional engagement in training/disaster response/climate change/cybersecurity and how the region views China. 

General Curtis Scaparrotti and Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison talk about how they tag teamed to engage with NATO during the Trump Administration: pressuring NATO members to boost defense expenditures, expanding the US military presence in Europe, training the Ukrainian military, talking to Russia, traveling to Afghanistan with key partners and keeping them informed of the US-Taliban negotiations. They stress the importance of NATO to the US and explain membership requirements which permit some countries (Finland/Sweden) to join more easily than others.

General Darren McDew, former Commander US TRANSCOM and Dr. Alan Misenheimer, former Political Advisor to TRANSCOM, explain how the command projects and sustains US military operations around the globe, drawing on its formidable assets and those of private industry.  They describe how the Dept of Defense and the Dept of State negotiate transit access for US military equipment and personnel as well as the threats posed by Chinese global infrastructure investments and by constant cyberattacks on the networks TRANSCOM depends on.

Ambassador Kathleen Doherty and former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Rachel Ellehuus talk about their work together on Cyprus - the effects of the division of the island on US engagement in the region and on NATO,  the decision to lift the long standing US arms embargo,  the dispute over energy resources between Cyprus and Turkey,  Russia’s decades long ties to the island and the “time warp” of the UN monitored buffer zone.

General Hodges and Ambassador Jones discuss how Poland has become the center of gravity for the US and NATO on the Eastern Front.  They review their joint work to preserve the  security relationship despite major political transitions in both Poland  and in the United States and to prepare for the Warsaw NATO Summit after Russia’s invasion of Crimea.  They also discuss the issue of a permanent US military base in the country,  President Trump’s visit,  the threat to the region from Russia’s military capability in Kaliningrad and Poland’s support for Ukraine after the Russian attack in February 2022.

General McKenzie (former Commander USCENTCOM) and Ambassador Henzel (former US Ambassador to Yemen)  talk about US counter terrorism and political objectives in Yemen, managing a US Embassy in exile,  US security assistance to Saudi Arabia and human rights concerns, Iran’s major military advances in ballistic missiles, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and UN peace settlement efforts.

Former USSOUTHCOM Commander, Admiral Faller, and former US Ambassador to Brazil, Ambassador Chapman, talk about singing together and their long friendship, their intense efforts to deepen the US-Brazil security relationship with staffs stymied by the COVID pandemic, the long-term significance of the military-to-military relationship, and the Trump/Bolsonaro dynamic.

Fighting Al-Shabaab, losing US soldiers, living in an Embassy bunker and managing the Trump Administration’s abrupt order to pull out US troops.  National War College classmates,  General Waldhauser (former Commander US AFRICOM) and Ambassador Yamamoto (US Ambassador to Somalia) describe how they partnered to 1)  build a new Somali national army to fight Al-Shabaab; 2) relieve massive poverty and famine; and 3) juggle clan divisions/clashes to create a new national government.  

Admiral Davidson & Ambassador Juster discuss their joint efforts to strengthen the US-India security relationship despite India’s military dependence on Russia, tense relations with Pakistan & China, and its policy of strategic autonomy.

In this special episode, former ISAF Commander British General David Richards and former US Ambassador Ronald Neumann critically review ever-shifting US and Western goals and objectives in Afghanistan,  the weakness of the US-led DOHA peace agreement and the effects of the chaotic withdrawal. In their view, the US and its allies CHOSE to lose and have obligations towards those who were left behind.  They offer perspectives on next steps.

General Abrams and Ambassador Harris discuss their partnership,  the treaty alliance with the ROK,  the shift under the Trump Administration to a top down approach to foreign policy and to a transactional relationships with allies, US summitry efforts with North Korea, managing  ROK initiatives, the storming of the Ambassador’s residence, the threat of the PRC and the value of the Quad and AUKUS.  

Former US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman and former US Defense Attaché Admiral David Manero describe the effects of the large expulsion of US diplomats from Russia during a period of heightened tensions, their ground game to advance US interests in a hostile environment, Russia’s toolbox and offensive tactics and US actions to counter them.

Ambassador Roebuck and General Jeffers discuss: how the US diplomatic team in northeastern Syria was embedded and partnered with US Special Forces; the pushback of ISIS working with the SDF; managing encounters with Russian troops; the major fallout of US acquiescence of Turkey’s 2019 invasion to drive the SDF forces away from the border; prospects for a political solution to the unwinnable war and lessons learned on US dip/mil cooperation in conflict areas. 

Ambassador Sanders (former US Ambassador to Nigeria & Congo) and General Ward (former Commander US AFRICOM) discuss US interests in the region including the opportunities (huge markets, a youth bulge, many UN Votes) and the dangers (political instability, sharply rising violence from criminal networks and extremists groups including Boko Haram). They talk about the region’s original rejection of the US African Command and its current request for a greater US military presence.  Finally, they discuss the issue of great power competition on the continent, the mixed messages coming from the US and Africa’s rejection of being “the chessboard on which China and the US play”.     

Admiral Swift (former PACOM) and Ambassador Osius discuss; 1) how legacy issues (cleaning up after Agent Orange, finding POW/MIA) have slowly laid the basis of trust; 2) how key visits and US gestures have led to breakthroughs; 3) the role of US veterans and of Vietnamese refugees in building ties; 4) managing sensitive issues (human rights and the long history between China and Vietnam).