By “The Other Superpower” is a series produced by The Vandenberg Coalition highlighting that current Great Power Competition is not exclusively between the United States and one other nation, but instead between the United States and a dangerous and growing coalition made up of Iran, Russia, China, and other actors. For this debut episode, our guests shed light on the growing relationship between Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Though historically foes, these two nations have moved steadily closer over the last 20 years, accelerating further following the Syrian Civil War, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Joining us to unpack this complex and evolving partnership are Behnam Ben Taleblu, Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Senior Director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and Kateryna Stepanenko, Russia Deputy Team Lead and Analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. Together, they shed light on why this partnership should concern Americans and how the United States can effectively respond.
