Radio War Nerd EP #564 — The UAE Empire, feat. Andreas Krieg + Iraq Elections, feat. Cyrus
Guests: Andreas Krieg + "Cyrus"
Recorded: November 20, 2025
Since we launched RWN, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly appeared as a quietly malign player in wars from Libya to the Horn of Africa to the Arabian peninsula, leading to comparisons to the Venetian Republic. This episode we talk to Dr Andreas Krieg about the UAE's rise to regional power, global statecraft and imperial strategies. Friend-o'-the-show Cyrus joins us from Baghdad as guest co-host of this episode, and to fill us in on the results of Iraq's recent elections.
First - Cyrus reports on Iraq's elections and the state of its democracy
At 33:50 - Music interlude by Brendon Anderegg. Check out music from his group Mountains here
At 35:50 - Our interview with Andreas Krieg on the UAE
Read Andreas' article "Security assistance to surrogates – how the UAE secures its regional objectives" (Mediterranean Politics, 2023) which we discuss. Follow Andreas on Twitter.
Total time: 1:39:06
Direct link to this episode's mp3 here
*
Buy & review John Dolan's new book, They Should Have Been Hanged: War Nerd Essays on the U.S. Civil War
Subscribe to Radio War Nerd at patreon.com/radiowarnerd
Sound production by Telescope Audio
Comments (25)
I’ll have to go back and look if there is an episode on this, but exploring the phenomenon of “special forces” might be an interesting idea. A lot of the time they’re thought of as “super infantry” when they’re not really that
Every Cyrus ep is an all-timer
PS - What happened to EP #564?
Wishing fast recovery for John and all the best for he and his wife. This was a great episode, thank you all. I'd have to say it's peerless, in my limited experience, having looked in the last couple of weeks for anything else that properly introduces and in any way explains adequately the current politics and recent elections in Iraq; let alone the craziness of UAE.
Wishing you a quick and full recovery John! Hope i’m not alone on this but i’d probably pay for a second subscription if Cyrus was a third chair once or twice a month :)
Wishing you a restful recovery John, and trust us that we miss you but understand the time that it takes to heal. Much love and happy holidays to RWN.
Man what is the name of that lovely mid-episode tune?
Read the episode description?
Relieved the Cyrus Conair link has finally been broached
"Virus, I mean Cancer as Cyrus put it"
Andreas Krieg made too many inaccurate statements, iran having houthis in 2014 being one and UAE only being involved in the coastal region. The sowing of chaos by iran baked groups is another very strange rsmark...
“You’re in Baghdad now..” Wow, great opsec mark
Who’s John
Italian doctors have issued order 227 to the war nerd; not one slip back(wards). The Germ invasion must not be allowed to gain any further ground. Only full recuperation is tolerable
Excellent episode.
It's good and cool that the international geopolitical system keeps producing these pissant countries that get to indulge in grandiose and/or genocidal schemes free of any consequences due to being conveniently positioned. I'm sure that's sustainable.
/Venice enters chat
Very insightful episode
I can't believe Ames didn't address the fact that this guest's name is "Dr. Andreas Krieg."
Oh fug, it’s been a while since this topic had an episode! Like double digit days.
Just ordered John’s new book, get well soon
Today’s strikes against Lebanon seem to be another prelude to war with Iran, whether the Donald likes it or not
Thank you for the update about John. And for holding down the fort for us!
Excellent episode, thanks!
“This WhatsApp thing that the kids are into” 😂 truly the dadest way to put it