The World of Intelligence

Grey zone and hybrid warfare are no longer peripheral challenges—they are shaping the security environment that democracies must navigate every day. In this episode of World of Intelligence, Christina Varriale and Sean Corbett are joined by Elisabeth Braw, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council to unpack what grey zone and hybrid warfare really mean, and why precision in how we define them matters. The conversation explores how hostile actors operate below the threshold of armed conflict, blending kinetic and non kinetic activity to disrupt societies, undermine trust and complicate decision making. From sabotage and cyber operations to disinformation, espionage and the weaponisation of migration, the discussion examines how these tactics have evolved in scale, scope and intent—particularly since 2022. The panel considers what this means for governments, industry and society at large, including the role of public awareness, resilience and open source intelligence in identifying and mitigating grey zone activity. They also discuss why confronting conflict below the threshold is one of the defining security challenges of our time.

In this episode of World of Intelligence, hosts Cristina Varriale and Sean Corbett, Chair of the Janes Advisory Board, are joined by Professor Dr Katarzyna Zysk of the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies to examine why the High North matters for global security. They explore its strategic geography; sea based nuclear deterrent considerations; undersea cables and critical infrastructure; and the operational realities that shape ISR and communications in austere Arctic conditions.

Conflicts across Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea rarely dominate international headlines, yet their strategic importance, humanitarian consequences, and implications for global security are considerable. In this episode of World of Intelligence, host Cristina Varriale is joined by Sean Corbett, Chair of the Janes Advisory Board, along with Janes analysts Maria Lampoudi and Chris Hawkins, to examine the complex dynamics driving instability across the region. Together, they explore the realities on the ground, including the evolution of Sudan’s civil war, ongoing Ethiopia–Eritrea tensions, shifting alliances, competing armed groups, and the influence of international actors. They assess critical indicators such as military movements, political transitions, armed group capabilities, and the reliability of available information, illustrating how Janes experts anticipate future trajectories in environments where data is fragmented and misinformation is widespread.

In this episode of World of Intelligence, hosts Kate Cox and Sean Corbett are joined by Alexander Stronell, Manager of OSINT Force Monitoring (OFM), and Miko Vranic, Lead Russia analyst, to unpack one of the most daring operations of the Ukraine-Russia conflict – ‘Operation Spiderweb’. Together, they break down how in June 2025 Ukraine executed a meticulously planned series of drone strikes reaching deep into Russian territory, disrupting strategic bomber bases from European Russia to the Far East. The team explores the tactical ingenuity behind the attacks, the intelligence tradecraft used to assess the damage, and the ripple effects across Russia’s long range aviation and nuclear deterrent posture.

Iran’s latest wave of protests—sparked by currency collapse and rapidly shifting into anti government unrest—has been forcefully suppressed by a highly layered security apparatus. In this episode, our hosts Sean Corbett and Cristina Varriale are joined by Lewis Smart, Principal Analyst from Country Intelligence's MENA team, cut through conflicting narratives to explain why the regime remains intact for now, how elite cohesion and information control has shaped events, and which indicators matter for future instability. They also examine external pressures, including sanctions and U.S. force posture, and assess how Iran’s nuclear ambitions intersect with domestic unrest to shape the country’s next moves.