In addition to the events unfolding in the Middle East, global security challenges continues to proliferate elsewhere. In episode 55 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Prof. Mahmut Cengiz to discuss the state of global terrorism from Iran to the Sahel and Somalia to Syria. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠ Follow DEEP Dive to stay up to date with each new upload.

Iran's activities have been at the forefront of global events in recent months. Tehran's proxies have launched multiple missile strikes into neighbouring countries and have targeted the U.S. military, whilst the Houthis in Yemen have brought global maritime trade to a standstill. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel and former CENTCOM Commander Joseph Votel in episode 54 of NATO DEEP Dive to unpack these issues and more. Full transcripts for each episode can be found...

Now more than ever, it is becoming increasingly easier to find extremist content on the internet. We find ourselves in an era characterized by flashy and digestible sound bites that quickly circulate online. This also leads to the proliferation of disinformation. To unpack this, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by two senior members of the NYPD's counterterrorism division, Meghann Teubner and Kelli Foy, in episode 53 of NATO DEEP Dive. Full transcripts for each episode can be found...

Even after his death, al-Qaeda's last leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, continues to influence global terrorism. Through his 'Safe Bases' strategy, al-Qaeda and its affiliates are seeking to restore capabilities in Afghanistan, the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan. Join the producers, Marcus and Victoria, for the final part of this NATO DEEP Dive special with Dr. Sajjan Gohel, as they discuss his new book, Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist: The Life and Legacy of Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman...

How does a person of privilege and status become the world's most wanted terrorist? In the first of a two-part special, Dr. Sajjan Gohel discusses his new book, Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist: The Life and Legacy of al-Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. Often forgotten in the shadow of bin Landen, the Egyptian ideologue was his closest ally and a pivotal figure in his own right, significantly influencing transnational terrorism across five decades. Full transcripts for each episode can be found...

Journalist, author, and Russian dissident, Andrei Soldatov joins Dr. Sajjan Gohel in the latest instalment of NATO DEEP Dive. In episode 50, Andrei details the brutal methods employed by Vladimir Putin, dating back to the Second Chechen War, to ensure his grasp on power remains firm. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at:⁠⁠⁠ https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/⁠⁠⁠  Follow DEEP Dive to stay up to date with each new upload.

Over 2 years after the Taliban takeover, friend of the show David Loyn returns to discuss recent developments in Afghanistan. Alongside Dr. Sajjan Gohel, David discusses how the regime is more extreme now than it was during the 1990s and details its continuous engagement with al-Qaeda and its assault on the rights of women. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at:⁠⁠ https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/⁠⁠  Follow DEEP Dive to stay up to date with each new...

As the only law enforcement agency under the U.S. legislative branch, the DC Capitol Police is responsible for protecting members of Congress both domestically and overseas. In recent years, the Capitol Police have played a crucial role in defending members of the U.S. government, from the storming of the Capitol building on January 6 2021, to protecting Congressmen and women from increasingly emboldened hostile state actors. In episode 48 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Ravi...

A new and dangerous problem is emanating from Syria. This time, it’s not in the form of civil war chaos, but a highly addictive amphetamine known as Captagon. In episode 47 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr Sajjan Gohel and Caroline Rose, the Director of the Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the New Lines Institute, attempt to get to the bottom of this new epidemic, tracing narcotics routes from the Balkans to the Middle East and beyond. Full transcripts for each episode can be found...

For many years, the internet has become a crucial theatre for terrorist activity. From live streaming attacks to disseminating propaganda, sharing memes and even running their own websites, the threat posed by these groups and individuals on the online space is diverse. This is where Tech Against Terrorism steps in, working to counter the presence of terrorists and violent extremists from the internet. In episode 46 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Anne Craanen, Research...

On 26 July 2023, Niger fell victim to its fifth coup since independence - plunging the country into uncertainty. To help explain why Niger and its fellow Sahel countries have experienced such political turmoil in recent years, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Guillaume Soto-Mayor, a Non-Resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute, who is based in Senegal. Episode 45 of NATO DEEP Dive explores Africa's relationship with external forces, including the Wagner Group, ISIS, and al-Qaeda. Full...

From Russia to the Sahel and Syria to Afghanistan, Episode 44 covers everything you need to understand about the current geopolitical climate. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel and Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler as they dissect a variety of subjects, including the future of the Wagner Group, the nature of the new Iraqi government, and Pakistan's attempts to handle the extremist groups it once cultivated. Full transcripts for each episode can be found...

Examining 2,000 pages of court records per day, Seamus Hughes has earned his tag as ‘The Document Digger.’ From discovering indictments of the FBI's Most Wanted characters in misfiled cases to uncovering DEA seizures of fentanyl shipped to the US from China, Hughes’ job is never short of drama. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel as he discusses these cases and more with Seamus Hughes in the latest episode of NATO DEEP Dive. Full transcripts for each episode can be found...

Since its founding 100 years ago, Interpol has stood at the forefront against transnational crime and terrorism. Interpol remains crucial to international security and capacity building, enhancing cooperation and capabilities among its 195 members. In episode 42 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Greg Hinds, the Director for Counter-Terrorism at Interpol, to discuss how the organisation works across the globe in an ever-changing and evolving threat landscape. Full transcripts...

Meta sits at the forefront of the online world, connecting people all over the globe through its social media applications. This also makes Meta proactive to counter bad-faith actors, including terrorists. On episode 41 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Hadelin Feront, a member of Meta's Global Counter-Terrorism Policy team, for a discussion into how the company ensures that extremists are countered in the online space, whilst also respecting the privacy and end-to-end...

In war, psychology is just as important as sheer strength and troop numbers, and Ukraine has maintained its psychological advantage over Russia since the very start of the latter’s invasion. In episode 40 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel sits down with Mike Martin to discuss the lessons we can learn from not only the war in Ukraine, but also from other conflicts including the war in Afghanistan. Full transcripts for each episode can be found...

The 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack was a game changer for law enforcement in New Zealand and beyond. The live stream and subsequent reuploads of the attack garnered millions of views, posing a real risk of encouraging copycat attacks. The Christchurch Call was established in this context, as a collaboration between governments, tech companies, and civil society to ensure that terrorists and violent extremists can never use social media to amplify their attacks again. In this episode of...

Ahead of the release of his new book The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World, author and journalist Tim Marshall sits down with Dr. Sajjan Gohel for part two of their discussion. In episode 38 of NATO DEEP Dive, Tim and Sajjan ponder the growing importance of space to international relations and whether we are in the midst of a Space Race 2.0. One thing is certain: what happens in space will shape human history the same way the geography of mountains,...

When Tim Marshall first appeared on the NATO DEEP Dive podcast, he coined the term ‘The Dangerous Decade’ to describe the 2020s. Now, nearly 18 months on, his description has been proved prescient on more than one occasion. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to China’s military posturing in the Indo-Pacific, Dr. Sajjan Gohel and Tim Marshall take stock of all that has happened since and what could take place in the future of this dangerous decade. Full transcripts for each episode can be...

In modern warfare, controlling the online information space is as important as making physical gains on the battlefield. In addition to its military defence capabilities, Ukraine has proved it can win hearts and minds through social media by documenting its army's successes and Russian atrocities. In episode 36 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by senior behavioural scientist at RAND, Todd Helmus, to discuss the importance of the information battlefield and how artificial...

From opposition groups forming in Tajikistan and beyond, to the growth of the TTP in Pakistan, the Taliban's return to power has had far-reaching implications for the region and ultimately the world. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel for the third and final part of our three-part special with Foreign Policy's Lynne O'Donnell to explore these very dynamics. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/  Follow DEEP Dive to stay up to date...

Since their return to power, the Taliban have reimposed their draconic doctrine on Afghans, particularly women. Following her first-hand experience in the country, Lynne O'Donnell provides her assessment of the new regime and the key decision-makers. Lynne also details how China has sought to enhance its position in Afghanistan, but faces the same challenges as the West once did. This is episode two of a three-part special. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at:...

In July 2022, Foreign Policy's Lynne O'Donnell returned to Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban had retaken the country. What was meant to be a typical reporting trip suddenly turned into an ordeal when Lynne was detained and interrogated by senior members of the Taliban's leadership. In episode 33 of NATO DEEP Dive, Lynne joins Dr. Sajjan Gohel to recount her own personal experiences facing the Taliban’s misogyny and intimidation tactics. This episode is the first of a three-part...

After a distinguished and decorated career in policing that spanned decades, Terri Nicholson shifted roles to provide security for Paramount Pictures, one of the world's leading producers of entertainment content. In episode 32 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel speaks with Terri about her career and experiences dedicated to global security as well as the transferable skills from law enforcement to the private sector. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at:...