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PODCAST

Battle Lines

Battle Lines is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs podcast. It offers expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting from around the world, everywhere from China and the United States to the Middle East and Europe.Three times a week, veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you on-the-ground dispatches from the world’s most volatile regions and informed analysis from world-class experts.Every Wednesday on Battle Lines x Global Health Security they’re

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All Episodes

50:04

'Prepare for war with Russia by 2030': ex-army chief...

Battle Lines ·

2025/07/14

General Sir Patrick Sanders has a stark warning: Britain must prepare for war with Russia within five years and start building bunkers and better air defences.Speaking exclusively to our Defence Editor Danielle Sheridan, the former head of the British army points to the Nordic countries and says we need to start taking a leaf out of their book.He also discusses why an Iron Dome couldn’t work in the UK, his thoughts on the recent Israel-Iran war, and why he didn’t encourage his son to join the

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49:09

You can't trust Putin or Trump': Hamish de...

Battle Lines ·

2025/07/11

US President Donald Trump has called out Vladimir Putin's "bullshit" and appears to be getting ready to back major US sanctions against Russia. Could this be the end of Trump's soft spot for the Russian dictator?Venetia chats to veteran army officer and chemical and nuclear weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon about what might happen next and why we can't trust either Trump or Putin.They also discuss Russia's campaign of chemical weapons in Ukraine, the dangers of not supporting Syria's new

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53:15

How Israel has reshaped the Middle East + Dalai Lama...

Battle Lines ·

2025/07/07

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets American President Donald Trump to try to hash out a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, a new Middle East is emerging from the ashes of years of war. Iran's nuclear programme has been bombed, Syria's new leader is re-establishing diplomatic relations with the West, and the Gulf is considering normalising relations with Israel.Roland talks to journalist Adrian Blomfield about how people across the region feel about these tectonic shifts and why Israel

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47:19

Trump wants a new armada. Can America still build one?

Battle Lines ·

2025/07/04

Last week, the Pentagon unveiled a jaw-dropping $47.3 billion plan to supercharge its fleet with 19 brand-new battleships. That’s right—nineteen. Up from a paltry five last year. And let’s not kid ourselves: this isn’t just about flexing maritime muscle, it’s a direct message to China—loud and clear.Enter Commander Tom Sharpe, a man who’s not only been there and done it, but practically wrote the manual. A retired Royal Navy heavyweight who’s commanded four warships and earned an OBE for saving HMS

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38:01

Embed with UK's elite paratroopers on the Swedish...

Battle Lines ·

2025/07/02

In this bonus episode, something a bit different: a special dispatch from the Swedish island that has become a Nato bulwark against Russian aggression in the Baltic Sea. Although all troops were removed in 2005, Gotland Island has since been remilitarised and is now home tothe Swedish Armed Forces’ newest outfit: the Gotland Regiment.The troops are charged with protecting this hugely strategic Baltic outpost from Russia - and they are clear-eyed about the threat Moscow once again poses in northern

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45:09

Chinese naval drills put Indo-Pacific on edge plus...

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/30

For several weeks, two Chinese aircraft carrier battle groups have been conducting unprecedented drills in the Western Pacific, sailing further from Beijing than ever before.What message is China trying to send to the world and what can we learn about its Navy’s capabilities? Venetia chats to RUSI's Philip Shetler‑Jones, who specialises in Indo-Pacific security.Plus, a rare journey through Gaza with UNICEF's chief spokesman James Elder and a look at an explosive story accusing Israeli soldiers of

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44:38

How Trump took us to the brink of World War 3 and...

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/27

This week in Trumpland: Trump bombed Iran on Saturday, declared its nuclear programme "obliterated" by Sunday, shrugged off Iranian missile strikes on Monday, and by Tuesday had single-handedly forced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel—only for it to nearly collapse hours later. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he turned up at the NATO summit in The Hague and strong-armed allies into a staggering 5% defence spending target, all while barely mentioning Ukraine.Was this the art of the deal or the

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49:08

Inside Trump's Iran attack and why Tehran can still...

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/23

The United States has just pulled off one of the most audacious bombing campaigns of the 21st century — attacking Iran’s nuclear sites in a stunning show of military might. The Pentagon is calling it a surgical strike. Donald Trump? He’s calling it a “obliteration.” Either way, it’s one hell of a moment in global history.But this didn't come out of nowhere. This is part of a full-blown war that started just ten days ago, when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran. Since then, it’s been chaos

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39:13

"A taste of their own medicine" - how Israel's...

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/20

Israel and Iran are trading missiles. A hospital’s been hit. Thirty injured. Israel’s fired back — hard — targeting Iran’s nuclear sites. Inside Iran? Chaos. Power’s out. Hackers hijack state TV, urging revolt. And Donald Trump? He’s green-lit Pentagon war plans — but is holding fire. For now.We’ve got The Telegraph’s best on the ground: Sophia Yan in Beirut, Paul Nuki in Tel Aviv, and David Blair in the studio. Lebanon’s on edge. Israel’s braced. And the big question — will Trump strike? Or let

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1:08:20

Is Trump about to topple the Iran regime?

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/18

In a bumper, bonus edition of Battle Lines, we are talking to Iranians themselves, those both inside and outside the country, pro and anti regime, to get a sense of how the nation is responding to these missile strikes, what the war could mean for both the regime and ordinary people, and what comes next.Emotions on the ground and among the diaspora are running high,and the stakes are even higher. Israeli strikes have hit targets across the country, in populated parts of Tehran and other cities. Huge

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46:58

The missile war: Iran's nuclear bunkers and Israeli...

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/16

It’s day four of Israel’s relentless bombing campaign against Iran, and the death toll is spiralling. Iran says 224 of its citizens are dead. Israel reports 24 lives lost and over 500 injured in a barrage of Iranian retaliatory strikes. And this war is only just getting started. The Israeli airstrikes have gone far beyond nuclear sites. Government buildings, intelligence headquarters, the ministries of justice and foreign affairs—obliterated. Tehran is being shaken to its core. Is this really just

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54:24

The battle for LA: How Donald Trump's Californian...

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/13

This episode was recorded before the strikes on Iran — a major development we’ll be discussing in detail in Monday’s episode.Los Angeles has descended into chaos. A wave of ICE immigration raids has sparked mass protests, violent clashes with police, and nights of looting, fires, and fear. Now, President Trump has overridden Governor Gavin Newsom using a little-known legal loophole to send in the National Guard — and Marines are on the way.The move has ignited a fierce political battle between

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39:48

Inside Hamas leader's secret Gaza tunnel & North...

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/09

On today’s episode, we confront the brutal realities of two of the world’s most controversial flashpoints.First, our man on the ground, Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin, joins Israeli troops in Gaza for a rare and eye-opening embed. He takes us inside the tunnel where Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was allegedly hiding before an Israeli airstrike on May 13th — one that struck the entrance of the European Hospital, sparking outrage and headlines around the world. We cut through the noise and get

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42:09

Can the UK afford to defend itself from Russia?

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/06

Lord George Robertson,former Nato Secretary General and leadauthor of the UK's new Strategic Defence Review, talks to Roland about what it will take for Britain to be warfighting ready.His message is a vital clarion call for the British government and general public to wake up to the very real threat posed by Russia and the scale of change that needs to be undertaken: "This is not business as usual."But with President Donald Trump's call for spending 5% of GDP on defence likely to be adopted by Nato

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37:55

Britain put on war footing

Battle Lines ·

2025/06/02

After nearly a year of waiting, the UK's Strategic Defence Review has been published.If that means nothing to you - don’t worry, we explain it all on today’s show. The SDR was intended to bea root-and-branch review of the UK Armed Forces that would provide a road map to keep the country safe for decades to come - especially in the face of the growing threat of Russia.But already there are questions over funding and how to boost recruitment. Venetia chats to Lord Richard Dannatt, former chief of the

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47:24

'Trump is enthralled by Putin' & farewell Elon Musk

Battle Lines ·

2025/05/30

Today’s episode has it all — political drama, military build-ups, and yes, Elon Musk with a chainsaw.We kick off with Musk’s big exit from his headline-hogging political role. He endorsed Trump, handed out millions to get out the vote, ran DOGE and even made time for a little on-stage lumberjacking. But now? He’s out. We’re playing some of his highlights.Then we’re off to Washington, where things are heating up in more serious ways. Fiona Hill, Russia expert and former Trump adviser, gives US

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43:58

Gardening in war

Battle Lines ·

2025/05/26

In this special episode of Battle Lines, we’re joined by Lally Snow — a seasoned war reporter and photographer who has spent years covering conflict zones around the world. From the frontlines of Afghanistan to other war-torn regions, Lally has witnessed the brutal realities of war. But amidst the chaos, she discovered something unexpected: people tending to gardens.Her fascination with this quiet act of resilience led to her 2018 book, War Gardens, where she explored how individuals in the midst of

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29:30

Inside Trump’s new Star Wars program, plus HIMARS...

Battle Lines ·

2025/05/23

In today’s episode, we explore Donald Trump’s bold new vision for a space-based missile defence system — a futuristic project dubbed the Golden Dome. Announced in the Oval Office with his defence secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump claims the system will protect the U.S. from missile attacks launched from anywhere on Earth — or even from space.Featuring cutting-edge technologies deployed across land, sea, and orbit, the Golden Dome is billed as the most advanced missile shield ever imagined. But is it

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27:50

Israel's new offensive to seize "all" of Gaza

Battle Lines ·

2025/05/19

As Israel launches a new offensive in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares the goal is full control of the Strip, a move that could signal the war’s final phase. We speak to The Telegraph’s David Blair about what this means for Israel’s military strategy, international support, and the deepening humanitarian crisis.Plus: Britain and the EU sign a new trade and defence pact that could open the door to billions in European defence funding — and as centrists outperform expectations in

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38:12

Trump edition: Has he brought peace to the Middle East?

Battle Lines ·

2025/05/16

This week, Donald Trump completed his first official trip abroad, a bling-filled tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE that was punctuated by lots of his favourite things: lucrative deals.He also announced he would be lifting sanctions on Syria and that a deal with Iran is close.It was a trip designed to focus on positive headlines, alliances, and good vibes - a rare narrative in the Middle East these days.Venetia talks to Saudi policy analyst Dr Najah Al-Otaibi about how the trip went down in the

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