The General & The Journalist

Cuba is running out of power, fuel and patience. As blackouts spread and anger grows, Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on Havana, blaming the regime for the island’s collapse while Cuba points to decades of US sanctions. The historic US indictment of former president Raúl Castro has raised the stakes and a bigger question – is Trump trying to use his Venezuela playbook on Cuba? With US military power visible in the Caribbean, can Washington force change in Havana or would intervention in America’s Caribbean neighbour could end in catastrophe?Guest: Stephen Gibbs, Latin America correspondent for The Times & The Sunday TimesWilliam LeoGrande, professor of Government at American UniversityHosts: Tom Newton DunnProducer: Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka Deladia Image: Paul Brookbanks and GettyClip: USA TODAY, Getty

Nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine is trying to change the course of the war with drones, AI and battlefield innovation. What began as improvised technology has become central to Kyiv’s strategy, helping Ukraine defend the front line and strike deeper into Russia. But can drones really help Ukraine break the deadlock? And what does this mean for the future of war? Patrick and Tom speak to leading military analyst Dr Jack Watling about the reality on the front line, the rise of AI-enabled warfare and the ethical questions it raises.Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnGuest: Dr Jack Watling, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services InstituteProducer: Shabnam Grewal and Julia WebsterExecutive producer: Priyanka DeladiaImage: Dinesh Mehta and GettyClip: CNNCan drones and AI help Ukraine break the deadlock or make the war more dangerous? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

Two weeks after British paratroopers landed on Tristan da Cunha, one of the world’s most remote inhabited islands, the rescue team are finally heading home.Their mission was extraordinary – reach a critically ill Briton on a tiny British Overseas Territory with no runway, no quick route by sea, and no easy way in. Within hours, 16 Air Assault Brigade was mobilised, sending paratroopers, military medics and vital supplies into the South Atlantic.Brigadier Ed Cartwright, who planned the operation, tells General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton Dunn how the daring rescue unfolded and what it says about Britain’s duty to protect its citizens and remote territories. But could the UK really defend these far-flung outposts from disaster or attack?Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnGuest: Brigadier Ed Cartwright, Commander, 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat TeamProducer: Shabnam GrewalExecutive producer: Priyanka DeladiaImage: GettyGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

Nearly three months after the Iran war began, there is a ceasefire, but no settlement. The Strait of Hormuz remains a global pressure point, Iran’s nuclear programme is unresolved, and Donald Trump is still demanding progress.But the biggest question may be inside Tehran. After war, assassinations and stalled diplomacy, power appears to be shifting away from the clerics and towards the Revolutionary Guards. Has the West weakened the Islamic Republic or helped make it harder to deal with?Patrick and Tom speak to Iran analyst Alex Vatanka about the rise of the IRGC, the myth of division inside Tehran, and what comes next.Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnGuest: Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East InstituteProducer: Shabnam GrewalExecutive producer: Fiona Leach, Priyanka Deladia Image: GettyWho holds the upper hand in the Iran war? Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

As President Trump lands in Beijing for his summit with Xi, Patrick and Tom are joined by China analyst, Sam Olsen, to discuss whether Iran has flipped the balance of power between the rivals.Sam argues the war has degraded America's weapons stockpile, recast China as the reliable global partner, and given Beijing a ringside seat on the US military playbook - gifting China with the strategic edge.And, if Trump needs Xi's help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, will he be willing to sell-out Taiwan in return, with potentially even greater consequences for the balance of power?Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnGuest: Sam OlsenProducer: Shabnam GrewalExecutive producer: Fiona LeachImage: GettyGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

Estonia's foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, says Putin will flood Europe with the criminals he recruited to fight in Ukraine once the war ends.With Russia unable to reintegrate thousands of 'psychologically crazy' ex-combatants, they will be used for Wagner-style sabotage operations on a scale European governments have yet to grapple with.In Patrick's words, 'the moment of maximum danger could be when the fighting ends.'Hosts: General Sir Patrick Sanders and Tom Newton DunnGuest: Foreign Minister of Estonia, Margus TsahknaProducer: Shabnam GrewalExecutive producer: Fiona LeachImage: GettyGet in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk