Mark Urban
@markurban.bsky.social
Host @crisisroompod.bsky.social writes for Sunday Times, ex-BBC guy covering war & peace + sometime Newsnight presenter 1990-2024, IWM trustee, author Big Boys Rules, Generals, Rifles, Task Force Black, The Tank War, Skripal Files, Red Devils, Tank & more!
Reposted by Mark Urban
🔥 Sad to say that the @CrisisRoomPod podcast is coming to a close on Global. To all the listeners in UK and around the world – thanks for a wild ride! We pulled no punches+made news on occasion. To my cohosts @markurban.bsky.social and Amber Rudd-you made me smarter, our friendship means a ton. 🫡🙏🇺🇸🇬🇧
In this, the final regular episode, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social take a look at which crises are on the horizon, from tensions between Israel & Turkey to the future of Venezuela
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
January 30, 2026 at 10:51 AM
🔥 Sad to say that the @CrisisRoomPod podcast is coming to a close on Global. To all the listeners in UK and around the world – thanks for a wild ride! We pulled no punches+made news on occasion. To my cohosts @markurban.bsky.social and Amber Rudd-you made me smarter, our friendship means a ton. 🫡🙏🇺🇸🇬🇧
Alas the Crisis Room is coming to and end after 8 months - so in this episode we take stock of a momentous period in global security
In this, the final regular episode, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social take a look at which crises are on the horizon, from tensions between Israel & Turkey to the future of Venezuela
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
January 29, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Alas the Crisis Room is coming to and end after 8 months - so in this episode we take stock of a momentous period in global security
Reposted by Mark Urban
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next Q&A episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #questions #podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #questions #podcast
January 27, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next Q&A episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #questions #podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #questions #podcast
Reposted by Mark Urban
“The world has changed quite dramatically”
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson reflects on triggering Article 5 after 9/11, and addresses whether today’s world is more divided than ever
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#NATO #Article5 #Trump
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson reflects on triggering Article 5 after 9/11, and addresses whether today’s world is more divided than ever
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#NATO #Article5 #Trump
January 26, 2026 at 4:10 PM
“The world has changed quite dramatically”
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson reflects on triggering Article 5 after 9/11, and addresses whether today’s world is more divided than ever
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#NATO #Article5 #Trump
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson reflects on triggering Article 5 after 9/11, and addresses whether today’s world is more divided than ever
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#NATO #Article5 #Trump
Reposted by Mark Urban
“It’s a unique style"
After Trump’s Davos speech, former NATO Secretary General George Robertson shares an anecdote that reveals how Trump approaches the presidency like a business deal
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos #NATO
After Trump’s Davos speech, former NATO Secretary General George Robertson shares an anecdote that reveals how Trump approaches the presidency like a business deal
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos #NATO
January 23, 2026 at 6:20 PM
“It’s a unique style"
After Trump’s Davos speech, former NATO Secretary General George Robertson shares an anecdote that reveals how Trump approaches the presidency like a business deal
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos #NATO
After Trump’s Davos speech, former NATO Secretary General George Robertson shares an anecdote that reveals how Trump approaches the presidency like a business deal
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos #NATO
Reposted by Mark Urban
🚨 New episode alert!
After a wild week in Davos, is the Western alliance cracking? @markurban.bsky.social & Amber unpack Trump, Macron and Carney, and ask if a new world order is emerging
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos2026 #NATO
After a wild week in Davos, is the Western alliance cracking? @markurban.bsky.social & Amber unpack Trump, Macron and Carney, and ask if a new world order is emerging
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos2026 #NATO
January 22, 2026 at 6:19 PM
🚨 New episode alert!
After a wild week in Davos, is the Western alliance cracking? @markurban.bsky.social & Amber unpack Trump, Macron and Carney, and ask if a new world order is emerging
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos2026 #NATO
After a wild week in Davos, is the Western alliance cracking? @markurban.bsky.social & Amber unpack Trump, Macron and Carney, and ask if a new world order is emerging
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Davos2026 #NATO
Former Nato boss & Labour minister Lord George Robertson tells us he is "very frustrated" that the government has not set out a clear path for increasing defence spending. He also reacts on the Crisis Room podcast to claims Trump is destroying Nato t.co/NHhPTvr03N
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-crisis-room/id1815989479?i=1000746229681
t.co
January 22, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Former Nato boss & Labour minister Lord George Robertson tells us he is "very frustrated" that the government has not set out a clear path for increasing defence spending. He also reacts on the Crisis Room podcast to claims Trump is destroying Nato t.co/NHhPTvr03N
Reposted by Mark Urban
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next Q&A episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
January 20, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next Q&A episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
Reposted by Mark Urban
Magisterial, as ever, from @markurban.bsky.social who always tells the lay reader something she has not heard elsewhere. How foolish the BBC were to let him go.
@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social should invite him back as a regular guest to discuss #defence+#diplomacy. It wd add so much for their audience.
@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social should invite him back as a regular guest to discuss #defence+#diplomacy. It wd add so much for their audience.
After a dizzying week of presidential bombshells, I look at the signs of others combining against Trump and how that plays out across the globe open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Trump Is Triggering Too Many People
And that is constraining his foreign policies almost everywhere
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Magisterial, as ever, from @markurban.bsky.social who always tells the lay reader something she has not heard elsewhere. How foolish the BBC were to let him go.
@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social should invite him back as a regular guest to discuss #defence+#diplomacy. It wd add so much for their audience.
@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social should invite him back as a regular guest to discuss #defence+#diplomacy. It wd add so much for their audience.
After a dizzying week of presidential bombshells, I look at the signs of others combining against Trump and how that plays out across the globe open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Trump Is Triggering Too Many People
And that is constraining his foreign policies almost everywhere
open.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 5:10 PM
After a dizzying week of presidential bombshells, I look at the signs of others combining against Trump and how that plays out across the globe open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
WATCH: How long will Russia need to rebuild its forces? And once he’s finished in Ukraine will Putin turn them on other European countries? My latest Times video www.thetimes.com/article/a857...
Is Russia ready for war with Nato?
The country has sustained heavy losses, but experts say it could rebuild its military by 2029. Mark Urban examines the ‘very big Russia problem’ ahead
www.thetimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 12:08 PM
WATCH: How long will Russia need to rebuild its forces? And once he’s finished in Ukraine will Putin turn them on other European countries? My latest Times video www.thetimes.com/article/a857...
Reposted by Mark Urban
Thank you for your endorsement @markurban.bsky.social. Order #mindfulsoldier here and support multiple charities doing incredible work*: geni.us/MindfulSoldier
*100% of author profits is being donated to multiple international veterans charities
*100% of author profits is being donated to multiple international veterans charities
January 17, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Thank you for your endorsement @markurban.bsky.social. Order #mindfulsoldier here and support multiple charities doing incredible work*: geni.us/MindfulSoldier
*100% of author profits is being donated to multiple international veterans charities
*100% of author profits is being donated to multiple international veterans charities
Reposted by Mark Urban
'Bombs smuggled into Iraq during the occupation also killed British soldiers'
As Trump plans to send troops to #Iran, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social discuss whether the fall of the regime is in the UK's interest
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
As Trump plans to send troops to #Iran, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social discuss whether the fall of the regime is in the UK's interest
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
January 16, 2026 at 5:29 PM
'Bombs smuggled into Iraq during the occupation also killed British soldiers'
As Trump plans to send troops to #Iran, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social discuss whether the fall of the regime is in the UK's interest
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
As Trump plans to send troops to #Iran, Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social discuss whether the fall of the regime is in the UK's interest
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
Reposted by Mark Urban
Trump says "the killing in Iran has stopped" - for now - but will the President go through with his threats to intervene in the protests? Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social examine the chances of a US military intervention
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
January 15, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Trump says "the killing in Iran has stopped" - for now - but will the President go through with his threats to intervene in the protests? Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social examine the chances of a US military intervention
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
Reposted by Mark Urban
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next Q&A episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
January 13, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Do you have a burning question you’d like Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to answer in the next Q&A episode? 🤔
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
Drop your suggestions below 👇🏻 or email us at thecrisisroom@global.com ✉️
#QnA #Questions #Podcast
Reposted by Mark Urban
Is Trump uniquely transgressive when it comes to international law or is this Great Power business as usual? markurban.substack.com/p/trump-make...
Trump Makes His Own Rules
But relying on old school power politics creates plenty of jeopardy for him
markurban.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Is Trump uniquely transgressive when it comes to international law or is this Great Power business as usual? markurban.substack.com/p/trump-make...
Reposted by Mark Urban
“This is not regime change”
After Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social explain why appointing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is not a victory for the Venezuelans
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Maduro #Venezuela
After Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social explain why appointing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is not a victory for the Venezuelans
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Maduro #Venezuela
January 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
“This is not regime change”
After Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social explain why appointing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is not a victory for the Venezuelans
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Maduro #Venezuela
After Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s President Maduro, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social explain why appointing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is not a victory for the Venezuelans
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Trump #Maduro #Venezuela
Reposted by Mark Urban
Is NATO’s worst nightmare becoming reality? Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace joins Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to dissect Trump's threats to Greenland and the possibility of sending UK troops to Ukraine
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Venezuela
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Venezuela
January 8, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Is NATO’s worst nightmare becoming reality? Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace joins Amber, @markurban.bsky.social & @mpolymer1.bsky.social to dissect Trump's threats to Greenland and the possibility of sending UK troops to Ukraine
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Venezuela
Listen to The Crisis Room on @globalplayer.com 🎧
#Venezuela
It's our first @crisisroompod.bsky.social of the year! so much is happened - not least Trump's operations against Venezuela and threats towards Greenland. We've been asking a former defence secretary whether Nato still is a credible alliance - his verdict is hardly reassuring t.co/GnISskyhOP
https://linktr.ee/thecrisisroom
t.co
January 8, 2026 at 5:44 PM
It's our first @crisisroompod.bsky.social of the year! so much is happened - not least Trump's operations against Venezuela and threats towards Greenland. We've been asking a former defence secretary whether Nato still is a credible alliance - his verdict is hardly reassuring t.co/GnISskyhOP
Reposted by Mark Urban
I love this spy stuff!!!
January 7, 2026 at 2:02 PM
I love this spy stuff!!!
Who's running Venezuela now anyway? And what about the democratic opposition? I've blogged on the perils of 'regime change lite' open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Venezuela - Who's in Charge?
And where do we go from here ...
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Who's running Venezuela now anyway? And what about the democratic opposition? I've blogged on the perils of 'regime change lite' open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Reposted by Mark Urban
Thoughtful+informative as ever. "In a way Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine is the largest of these forever wars..There are risks of sparking bigger wars with this type of action – whether that’s Russia against the West, China taking Taiwan, or Israel and Turkey coming to blows.."1/
Global security trends for 2026 - five things I'll be looking out for markurban.substack.com/p/five-trend...
Five Trends to Watch in 2026
America's ebbing power opens opportunities for challengers
markurban.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Thoughtful+informative as ever. "In a way Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine is the largest of these forever wars..There are risks of sparking bigger wars with this type of action – whether that’s Russia against the West, China taking Taiwan, or Israel and Turkey coming to blows.."1/
An MBE for Julie? Congratulations to her for decades of professional service to the BBC
Also Julie Ritson MBE for years a great camerawoman in dangerous places, of whom I can find one picture on BlueSky
bsky.app/profile/mark...
bsky.app/profile/mark...
2006 Basra, Iraq: a v different world, access v hard without embedding with the military. Many dilemmas. We didn’t want to wear uniform but Julie Ritson was filming out top so used their body armour. I’m still in ‘journalist blue’ with bullet proof plates front & back + Kevlar
December 30, 2025 at 9:26 AM
An MBE for Julie? Congratulations to her for decades of professional service to the BBC
Global security trends for 2026 - five things I'll be looking out for markurban.substack.com/p/five-trend...
Five Trends to Watch in 2026
America's ebbing power opens opportunities for challengers
markurban.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Global security trends for 2026 - five things I'll be looking out for markurban.substack.com/p/five-trend...