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Episode 196—European Defense with Thomas Theiner

Apr 3, 2026 · 1h 14m

About this episode

It is a time of reckoning for Europe as it confronts the possibility of a future NATO without the United States. This scenario should not be dismissed. While, officially, Donald Trump would require congressional approval to withdraw from NATO, as Commander in Chief he could unilaterally reduce U.S. combat forces in Europe, effectively creating a de facto withdrawal. Thomas Theiner returns to the podcast, a former member of the Italian army, a film maker, and a historian. We discuss the problem with European defense, the Russians, Iran, and more! Video: Yaroslav Trofimov on X: "Four years of watching this happen in Ukraine, and yet no lessons earned." / X - https://x.com/yarotrof/status/2036674827663380982?s=46