World Focus from Brussels
The World Focus from Brussels podcast covers international politics, defence, security, culture and anything else of global interest. Policy analyst and reporter Sveinn Helgason dives into the latest on the international scene, speaking with experts and all sorts of people. In a challenging security environment it has never been as important to understand the world we live in, listening to top experts analysis. World Focus from Brussels gets to the heart of the matter, wherever an interesting story needs to be told and provides the necessary background. You can find World Focus from Brussels on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes
44 episodes
Fighting for Freedom in Belarus - An interview with Vitaliy Molchanov
Today 29 March, is the fourth anniversary of World Focus from Brussels. Looking back the world has changed dramatically since the first episode went on line 29 March 2021. However, one thing has not changed. The President of Belarus
•
25:54
European Unity on Defence - Crucial Challenges and Political Will - An interview with Rainer Wenning
Leaders of the European Union meet in Brussels on 20 March to discuss security and defence, following the introduction of a White Paper on European Defence - Readiness 2030. Many allied military leaders are also meeting today in Northwood HQ in...
•
33:14
Greenland Votes in the Global Spotlight – An Interview with Vilborg Ása Guðjónsdóttir
Greenlanders voted for a parliament on 11 March. This tiny nation living on the largest island in the world has been pushed into the global spotlight following Donald Trump's repeated comments that he wants to make the country a part of the Uni...
•
25:10
Deadly Drone War in Ukraine - An interview with Ole Kværnø Director of Danish Drone Centre
Drones have become increasingly important on the battlefields of the Russia-Ukraine war, as three years have recently passed from Russia's full-scale invasion. In this episode I interview Ole Kværnø, a retired Danish Brigadier General now the d...
•
36:34
The Role of Military AI and the Resort to Force - Discussing Crucial Questions in a Copenhagen Conference
In war zones of the world Artificial Intelligence already guides drones, is used in target selection, intelligence and surveillance, just to name a few examples. But how can AI affect decisions by political and military leaders to use military ...
•
17:04
Military AI is Shaping Modern Warfare and Posing Tough Questions - An interview with US Ret. Lt. General Jack Shanahan
Military Artificial Intelligence is already shaping the character of modern warfare, for example in the battlefields of Ukraine and Gaza. The episode focuses on this new arms race and key challenges we face. I attended “Military AI and the Reso...
•
23:20
Ukraine still stands and fights - Marking three years from Russia's full scale invasion - Special Edition
Allied leaders from Europe and Canada, have been in Kyiv today, 24 of February, demonstrating support for Ukraine at a Summit with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Three years have passed since the full scale invasion of Russia into this sovereign...
•
56:10
The Frozen Conflict of Abkhazia and Everyday Geopolitics – An interview with Dr. Görkem Aydemir-Kundakci at KU Leuven University
Russia’s war on Ukraine has left death and destruction in its trail, as we approach three years from Russia’s full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. This is very much a “hot-war.” However, around the world multiple frozen and often forg...
•
21:15
A New Munich Moment for the World - NATO Ukraine Trump and Putin - News analysis
The Munich Security Conference started today 14 February in Germany, two days after US President Donald Trump pushed for peace in Ukraine by talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a 90 minutes phone call. In Brussels US Secretary ...
•
38:38
The UK in NATO and Defending Europe - Keir Starmer visits Brussels - An interview with Russia and defence expert Keir Giles
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, met with Mr. Mark Rutte Secretary General of NATO in Brussel on the 3 of February. They discussed defence spending and ongoing support for Ukraine, as we are approaching three ye...
•
34:00
Russia at War – An interview with Félix Krawatzek, expert on Russia and comparative politics
Russia’s war on Ukraine rages on and soon three years have passed since the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Experts on Russia gathered in Brussels on 27 January at a conference headlined: “Russia and Europe in Wartime.” In...
•
17:53
Trump is back - Is Europe ready? - News analysis and interview with Brussels Correspondent Björn Malmquist
Donald J. Trump is back in the White House, after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on 20th of January. In his inaugural address Trump said that America will “be respected again all over the world." Leaders o...
•
18:58
Sound advice from a military leader - Admiral Rob Bauer's term as the Chair of the NATO Military Committee
On 17 January, Admiral Rob Bauer from the Netherlands finished his term as Chair of the NATO Military Committee, after serving for three and a half years as NATO’s senior military official. His successor is Admiral Cavo Dragone from Italy...
•
27:42
Icelandic town of Grindavík threatened by seismic activity and potential eruption - Interview with geophysicist Ari Trausti Guðmundsson
Massive seismic activity has led to the evacuation of close to 4000 inhabitants from the fishing town of Grindavík, on the south coast of the Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland. I speak to my fellow Icelander, geophysicist Ari Trausti Guðmun...
•
30:13
France in the World - Perspective from Paris on Geopolitics and Defence - An interview with dr. Élie Tenenbaum
France plays a major role in Europe as one of the leading nations of the European Union, plus being a founding member of NATO and a key Ally. Nevertheless French governments have often been critical of the Alliance through the years...
•
1:03:32
The role and influence of the European Union on the global stage - An interview with Sven Biscop
Major conflicts are raging in different parts of the world. The war in Ukraine continues and since early October, a war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, following Hamas terrorist attack on Israel - adding a new chapter to the violent and compl...
•
38:34
EEAS report on targeting LGBTIQ people by foreign threat actors - Analysis to protect human rights and diversity
Targeting LGBTIQ+ people is one tool that the Kremlin and other foreign threat actors use to manipulate the information space, in order to sow discord and weaken democracy, aiming to achieve their own political and even military objective...
•
35:04
Vicious cycle of violence and war - Israel retaliates after Hamas attack. - An interview with Erlingur Erlingsson
US President Joe Biden met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 18 October, in a high-stake visit to Israel, trying to break the latest cycle of violence in the region or at least prevent the current conflict from escalating even further....
•
35:55
War in Ukraine has long-term geopolitical implications - An interview with Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen
NATO ministers of defence meet in Brussels today 11 October and tomorrow to discuss the war in Ukraine as almost 600 days have passed since the full-scale invasion by Russia on 24 February last year. Volodymyr Zelensky President of ...
•
39:01
Global Military Power in the Making - the Chinese PLA - An interview with Ole Kværnø
China’s military – the People’s Liberation Army – aims to be world class by mid century, equal to the United States military. The PLA has already added massive capabilities, such as enlarging the navy and is also preparing for intelligentized w...
•
20:14
Launching the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index - An interview with Kosyo Ivanov and Chiara Gentili
The Global Organized Crime Index 2023 reveals a widening gap between organized crime and our collective resilience efforts. A new edition of the index has been launched by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and the results ...
•
29:16
Brussels Arts Square in Sablon Shows Lively Gallery Scene – An interview with Jonathan F. Kugel
Brussels has a very lively art gallery scene and a thriving market for art that is internationally recognized. This week, from 21 to 24 September, 70 galleries and jewellers take part in the annual Brussels Art Square in the Sablon neighbourhoo...
•
14:39
Pivotal Elections for Parliament in Slovakia - An interview with Katarina Klingová
Slovaks go to the polls on 30 September to select a new parliament. The election campaign takes place in a volatile political environment where disinformation has been rampant and rivals fight bitterly. The elections are also closely watched be...
•
29:38
Ukraine is united around one aim: Victory - An interview with Oleksiy Goncharenko
Ukraine is united in fending off the full-scale invasion by Russia and liberate all occupied territories. In this episode I interview Oleksiy Goncharenko a member of the Ukrainian parliament who took up arms along with his colleagues following ...
•
12:38
The business of sports and Latvian identity - An interview with Kaspars Gorkšs
Sports is a huge global business, one example is English football where billionaires and oil-rich countries have been making big investments. In this episode I speak with Kaspars Gorkšs, former professional footba...
•
11:56