In this special episode of Memos to the President, recorded live at the Munich Security Conference, SCSP CEO Ylli Bajraktari is joined by a very special co-host: Benedikt Franke, CEO and Vice Chairman of the Munich Security Conference. Together, they sit down with General Carsten Breuer, the Chief of Defense of the German Bundeswehr, to discuss the most dangerous security environment in 40 years.

The conversation centers on the "2029 Culmination Point." General Breuer provides a candid assessment of why Germany has a five-year window to become "war-ready" to deter a real and growing threat from Russia. From filling the "pit holes" left by decades of underspending to the "hard choices" of buying American tech off-the-shelf versus building a sovereign European industrial base, this briefing covers the critical roadmap for the future of the Alliance.

Key themes from this high-level briefing:

• The 2029 Mandate: Why the German military must be ready to wage war by 2029 to ensure peace through deterrence.
• Modernization on Steroids: Navigating the €100 billion budget to prioritize air defense, long-range fires, and satellites.
• Ukraine as the "Teacher": How front-line lessons are currently rewriting German military doctrine and manuals.
• The War of the Future: The long-term shift toward digitalization and AI as the core of military strength.
• Industry & Innovation: Why the military, policymakers, and the private sector must work in lockstep to upscale production.

Timestamped Highlights:

• 00:08 – Intro: A Joint Podcast with MSC CEO Benedikt Franke
• 00:56 – The 2029 Vision: Why Germany must be "Ready for War"
• 01:58 – Cultural Shift: Instilling a "Sense of Urgency" in the Population
• 03:49 – Modernization: Filling the "Pit Holes" of Underspending
• 04:53 – Strategic Priorities: Air Defense, Deep Strike, and Satellites
• 05:12 – The Tech Advantage: Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence
• 05:53 – Learning from Ukraine: Doctrine Changes and Ukrainian Instructors
• 07:36 – The Private Sector: Transitioning to "Forward-Leaning" Production
• 09:55 – Procurement Tradeoffs: Off-the-Shelf vs. European Sovereignty
• 12:50 – 42 Years of Perspective: Facing the Most Dangerous Time Since the Cold War
• 14:52 – MSC 2026: European Responsibility and the U.S. Partnership
• 16:42 – The Goal for 2029: Deterrence as the Shield for Prosperity

Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!

Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Memos to the President, Ylli sits down with Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of ORF America, to take a deep dive into the complex and evolving role of India on the world stage.

Recorded in late January 2026, the conversation explores how India is navigating its relationship with a "pure competitor" in China and a shifting partnership with the United States. Jaishankar provides an expert assessment of why India's generation of strategic thinkers is more "bullish" than ever, despite significant trade frictions and high tariffs currently impacting bilateral ties.

00:00 – Intro: 20 Years of Perspective on D.C. and Delhi

01:25 – India’s Role in a Changing World Order

01:53 – The Superpower at the Doorstep: Managing China

03:00 – A New Generation of Strategic Thinkers

05:25 – Navigating a World Beyond the U.S. and China

06:08 – Looking Toward 2050: Challenges and Optimism

07:53 – The Paradox of U.S.-India Relations: Friction vs. Cooperation

08:14 – The Tariff Trouble: 50% Levies and Trade Sticking Points

08:51 – Defense as the New Cornerstone of the Partnership

09:13 – People-to-People Ties: The Largest Indian Diaspora

12:24 – The Path to a Comprehensive Bilateral Trade Deal

13:34 – The Russia Oil Factor and Global Energy Markets

14:37 – India’s AI Strategy: Data, Talent, and Use Cases

16:30 – Building Models vs. Building Applications: The R&D Debate

18:47 – Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the AI Age

19:39 – Recommendations for the U.S.-India Tech Relationship

21:43 – Previewing the AI Impact Summit in Delhi

23:43 – Leading the Global South: Reforming International Institutions

26:40 – Why U.S. and India Should Collaborate in Third Markets

28:52 – The India-Pakistan "Deep Freeze" and Terrorism Policy

32:52 – The Diminishing Strategic Value of the Iran Relationship

34:22 – Russia-India Dynamics: Diversifying Defense and Space

36:52 – The Concerns Over the Russia-China "No Limits" Friendship

41:00 – De-risking from China: The Battle for Data and Tech Sovereignty

43:15 – Outro: The Future of ORF America Cooperation

Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!

Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of Memos to the President, Ylli sits down for a second time at the AI+ Fusion Summit with the United States Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright. In their conversation, Secretary Wright urges prioritizing fusion alongside AI and quantum, rebalancing energy spending, and previews the DOE’s next six months.

Watch Memos to the President.

Check out their conversation on the SCSP YouTube channel!

Memos to the President Podcast is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.