World Focus from Brussels

Fighting for Freedom in Belarus - An interview with Vitaliy Molchanov

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 Alexander Lukashenko is still in power and has only tightened his grip, brutally repressing Belarusians and holding elections that are neither free or fair. Those who are fighting for democracy in Belarus are either in prison or in exile. One of the exiled is Vitaliy Molchanov whom I interviewed during the Lampa conversation festival in Latvia in the summer of 2023. Vitaliy is a courageous man who believes that one day Belarus will be free. He works for, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition, who is also in exile. In the episode we also hear clips from some of her speeches, demonstrating how she is encouraging the world to join Belarusian in this difficult struggle, always believing that democracy and freedom will triumph over dictatorship and repression

European Unity on Defence - Crucial Challenges and Political Will - An interview with Rainer Wenning

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0400

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 the UK. In Germany the incoming new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz is wasting no time to implement his plans on boosting defence. In this episode I interview Rainer Wenning, a Lt. Colonel in the reserves of the Germany military, Bundeswehr. He has a long experience in serving his country, including in the NATO multinational battlegroup in Lithuania, led by Germany. We speak about crucial challenges in making Germany and the whole of Europe ready to defend against and deter Russia, the importance of supporting Ukraine and how the transatlantic bond, is now under immense pressure.

Greenland Votes in the Global Spotlight – An Interview with Vilborg Ása Guðjónsdóttir

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

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 United States. Greenland was a colony of Denmark for 300 years, currently has self-rule but is still part of the Kingdom of Denmark. In this episode I interview Vilborg Ása Guðjónsdóttir, an Icelandic expert in international affairs who was in Greenland to follow the elections. We speak about the results, talks to form a new government, the relationship with Denmark and of course Donald Trump. Last night, 13 March, the US President tried to enlist Mark Rutte the General Secretary of NATO to help him in his mission, during Rutte’s visit to the White House. Speaking to reporters Trump was confident that US would be able to annex Greenland.

Deadly Drone War in Ukraine - An interview with Ole Kværnø Director of Danish Drone Centre

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0500

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 director of the Danish Centre for Defence Robotics and Autonomy. He says we are witnessing a military revolution, adding that innovation, matched with mass productions of drones, will be the deciding factor in who wins or loses this war on the frontlines. A war which has killed and wounded more than a million soldiers in all, according to Ukrainian and Western estimates. To underline the point made by Ole Kværnø, drones now kill more soldiers and destroy more armoured vehicles in Ukraine than all traditional weapons of war combined, including sniper rifles, tanks, howitzers and mortars, according to Ukrainian commanders and officials. NATO’s highest military officials are also drawing their lessons. “The war is a mix of World War I and World War III — what could be a future war,” NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, Admiral Pierre Vandier of France told the New York Times. The Russia-Ukraine war has therefore become a war of drones, a deadly cat and mouse game, playing out every single day. This is a compelling interview with Ole Kværnø who was recently in Ukraine and has seen first hand how Ukrainians are leading the way on the drone front.

See below the story about the appointment of Ole Kværnø as the director of the new Danish Drone Centre.

https://www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/fakulteterne/teknik/nyt_fra_det_tekniske_fakultet/tidligere-brigadegeneral-ole-kvaernoe-bliver-direktoer-for-nyt-center-for-forsvarsdroner

The Role of Military AI and the Resort to Force - Discussing Crucial Questions in a Copenhagen Conference

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0500

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 force in the first place? In this episode I continue to focus on the conference "Military AI and the Resort to Force" in Copenhagen on 27 February which brought together legal academics, ethicists, members of the military, IR scholars and the wider public. Speakers and guests discussed the potential impact of autonomous weapons and AI-based decision support systems on the interstate use of force. The conference was organized by the Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen and in the episode I interview four speakers on crucial questions we face in this area. Those distinguished scholars are Elke Schwartz, Alexander Blanchard, Jessica Dorsey and Brianna Rosen.

Military AI is Shaping Modern Warfare and Posing Tough Questions - An interview with US Ret. Lt. General Jack Shanahan

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

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 Resort to Force,” a conference organized by Centre for Military Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen on 27 February. Multiple speakers grappled with crucial military, ethical, legal and political questions on the use of Military AI and it’s role in decision making by leaders. I interviewed Jack Shanahan, a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant General who the first Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center at the Pentagon. He delivered the keynote speech at the conference. We discussed how AI military capabilities are evolving, questions of accountability and responsibility and much more.

Ukraine still stands and fights - Marking three years from Russia's full scale invasion - Special Edition

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500

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 state in the heart of Europe. At the same time the US Trump administration seems to be embracing Russia, the aggressor, and President Donald Trump has called President Zelensky, “a dictator.” US leaders are not in Kyiv today. America’s support to Ukraine is therefore in serious doubt and the transatlantic bond underpinning NATO, is being challenged. Ukrainians have fought bravely, in fact for eleven years, and will continue to do exactly that – to their last breath, as Óskar Hallgrímsson, an Icelandic war reporter and photographer in Kyiv told me. We speak about the decisions he and is Ukrainian wife, Marika, had to make on this fateful morning, 3 years ago, the horrors of war and the future of Ukraine. We also hear voices of Ukrainians I have interviewed on this podcast over the past 4 years. Finally I interview Alina Cherviatsova, an Ukrainian legal scholar from Kharkiv, now at the University of Ghent in Belgium. She is doing important work on the academic front and is deeply critical of President Trump

The Frozen Conflict of Abkhazia and Everyday Geopolitics – An interview with Dr. Görkem Aydemir-Kundakci at KU Leuven University

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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 forgotten conflicts are also impacting people’s daily lives, without getting into the global headlines. One of these conflicts evolves around Abkhazia in the South-Caucasus, which Russia and a handful of its closest Allies have recognized as an independent state. However Georgia and most other UN member states view Abkhazia as Georgian territory, occupied by Russia.

In this episode I interview Dr. Görkem Aydemir-Kundakci the FWO Junior Postdoctoral Fellow, in the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at KU Leuven, who has been researching this frozen conflict. We also talk about other hotspots and conflicts in this very volatile region – about “everyday geopolitics” and how normal people try to get by under difficult circumstances. On 15-16 February KU Leuven, a university in the city of Leuven in Belgium, celebrated 600 years of history, opening its doors to the public and presenting the work multiple scholars in different disciplines. It is a great representation of the dynamic university community in Belgium, supported also by entities like FWO (Flanders Research Foundation).

To find out more about the research of Dr. Görkem Aydemir-Kundakci

https://gorkemaydemir8.wixsite.com/aydemirkundakci

A New Munich Moment for the World - NATO Ukraine Trump and Putin - News analysis

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500

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 of Defence Pete Hegseth told NATO Allies and Partners supporting Ukraine, that it is unrealistic to return to the prewar borders from 2014 between Ukraine and Russia. He added that Ukraine’s membership in NATO would not be included in security guarantees for the country. This contradicts the pledge by NATO leaders at the Washington Summit from 2024 that Ukraine was on an "irreversible path” to membership. The meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels on 13 February is the main focus of this episode but we also hear what Óskar Hallgrímsson, a war reporter who lives in Kyiv, thinks about the latest developments.

This is indeed a new Munich moment, 18 years after Vladimir Putin addressed this major security conference in the German city saying it was time to "seriously think of the architecture of global security," The question is: Will Putin call the shots in a new age of strong man geopolitics? Or are European Allies, Canada, the US and NATO partners able and willing to defend the rules based international order, based on freedom and sovereignty of each nation.

The UK in NATO and Defending Europe - Keir Starmer visits Brussels - An interview with Russia and defence expert Keir Giles

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500

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 years from Russia’s full scale invasion into Ukraine. The two leaders also participated in an informal meeting with leaders of the European Union member states, in Brussels, to discuss European defence. Mr. Starmer also attended a dinner in Egmont Palace where he became the first UK Prime Minister to address the European Council of EU leaders since Brexit. To talk about Starmer’s visit, the state of the UK armed forces, European defence, support to Ukraine, Trump and transatlantic relations, I interviewed Keir Giles from the UK, a long-time Russia explainer and defence expert. His analysis goes beyond the headlines, sending a clear message to political and military leaders to put words into actions as we face a dangerous and divided world. Mr. Giles most recent book “Who will Defend Europe?” is excellent and for those who want to read it you can find a link in the show notes.

https://amzn.to/4cFI1b6

Russia at War – An interview with Félix Krawatzek, expert on Russia and comparative politics

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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 this episode I interview one of the speakers, Félix Krawatzek, Senior Researcher at the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), in Berlin. He says that despite Western sanctions Russia will not run out of money to finance the war effort. We spoke about how the Russian government is increasingly militarizing education through propaganda and other methods. And our conversation also covered potential negotiations to end the war now that Donald J. Trump has taken office as the President of the United States.

More about the conference: “Russia and Europe in Wartime.”
https://coruscant.therussiaprogram.org/tpost/nzgb3v47k1-coruscant-conference-russia-and-europe-i

Trump is back - Is Europe ready? - News analysis and interview with Brussels Correspondent Björn Malmquist

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500

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 of other NATO Allies and the European Union have been bracing themselves for a second Trump presidency and how that will affect transatlantic relations. President Trump takes office at a time when the global security environment is very challenging. The episode focuses on the cooperation between NATO and the European Union as the annual European Defence Agency conference, was held today 22 January in Brussels. The new NATO Deputy Secretary General, Radmila Šekerinska from North Macedonia, delivered a speech at the conference. The episode also includes an interview with Björn Malmquist, Brussels correspondent for the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, about Europe and Trump. We hear other voices from the news, political leaders and experts, responding to Trump’s messages on defence and security in his inaugural speech.

Read the EDA speech by NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska:
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_232543.htm

Sound advice from a military leader - Admiral Rob Bauer's term as the Chair of the NATO Military Committee

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0500

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. This episode focuses on Admiral Bauer’s time in this important post. He was the senior military spokesperson for the Alliance on all military matters and the principal military adviser to the NATO Secretary General, first Jens Stoltenberg and then Mark Rutte. We hear clips from Admiral Bauer's speeches, interviews and press conferences.

Effective deterrence rests on strong military capabilities and political will. The sound advice of military leaders to politicians in democracies is crucial. It is also important that high ranking military officers are able to engage the public – that the voice of the military can be clearly heard in discussions on defence and security in an increasingly divided and dangerous world. Admiral Bauer has been an example of that - greatly contributing to NATO's collective defence and unity.

Icelandic town of Grindavík threatened by seismic activity and potential eruption - Interview with geophysicist Ari Trausti Guðmundsson

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500

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 Guðmundsson, who explains the immense forces at work. Geoscientists still think it is likely that an eruption might start, close to or even in Grindavík itself. Already earthquakes, sink holes and other activity have caused huge damage to houses and infrastructure in the town. Few kilometers away, barriers are being built to protect the geothermal power plant in Svartsengi, next door to the Blue Lagoon, a popular tourist destination. We also hear from Gregory de Pascale, a geologist who went into Grindavík last Monday to assess the situation and inhabitants who were briefly allowed into their town to collect some of their most precious belongings. Special thanks to Icelandic National Broadcasting Service for providing material for the show. You can follow their coverage in English here:
https://www.ruv.is/english/2023-11-10-liveblog-reykjanes-peninsula-and-grindavik-396249

France in the World - Perspective from Paris on Geopolitics and Defence - An interview with dr. Élie Tenenbaum

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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. French President Emmanuel Macron has focused on strengthening the influence and status of France on the global stage, while also emphasizing the importance of Europe's strategic autonomy. For this episode I travelled to Paris and interviewed dr. Élie Tenenbaum, the Director of the Security Studies Center at the French Institute for International Relations - IFRI. We spoke about the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, the threat of terrorism and the role of France in NATO to name few major topics. Before the interview with dr. Tenenbaum we hear President Macron announcing major military support to Ukraine earlier this year.

The role and influence of the European Union on the global stage - An interview with Sven Biscop

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0400

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 complicated history of that region. Leaders of the European Union member states met in Brussels late last week to discuss these two conflicts and other pressing matters. In this episode I interview Belgian professor Sven Biscop, an expert at the Egmont Institute, about the role and the influence of the EU on the global stage. In this context we discuss the Middle-East, China, NATO, US politics and the support of the West to Ukraine, in a wide-ranging interview about geopolitics.

EEAS report on targeting LGBTIQ people by foreign threat actors - Analysis to protect human rights and diversity

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

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 objectives. The most prominent anti-LGBTIQ+ disinformation narrative, asserts that the West is trying to destroy everything that is good, normal, and moral by actively pushing ‘the LGBTIQ+ agenda.” The European External Action Service – the diplomatic service of the European Union – launched a landmark report on this issue at a conference in Brussels last Monday, 23 October. The report identifies cases of foreign information manipulation and interference, or FIMI, targeting LGBTIQ+ communities in the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries, the Western Balkans and the Southern neighbourhood. Building on these cases, interviews with stakeholders and other work the report includes recommendations to address this threat, calling for a collaborative response, basically whole-of-society approach. The goal is to protect diversity and human rights. In this episode I speak to three participants in the conference and below is a link to the report.
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/fimi-targeting-lgbtiq-people_en

Vicious cycle of violence and war - Israel retaliates after Hamas attack. - An interview with Erlingur Erlingsson

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0400

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. On 7 October the Hamas organization launched a horrific terrorist attack on Israel across the border from it’s bases in Gaza. Israel has retaliated with massive air strikes on the Gaza strip, also cutting fuel, water and other supplies to this densely populated area of around 2.2 million people. My guest in this episode is Erlingur Erlingsson, an Icelandic military historian and former diplomat. We speak about, the Hamas attack, what the Israeli military would face in Gaza as a ground invasion seems imminent, the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza, the possibility of a wider regional war, if there is any path to stability and peace and many other related topics.

War in Ukraine has long-term geopolitical implications - An interview with Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

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 Ukraine was welcomed to NATO's headquarters this morning by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, In this episode I speak to top Danish defence and miltary expert Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen, a professor in political science at the University of Copenhagen. He says the geopolitical implications of the war will be felt for generations to come. The use of Artificial Intelligence in warfare and the importance of innovation is another subject we address in this wide-ranging interview. We also discuss how the war in Ukraine has affected the defence strategy of Denmark, a founding member of NATO.

Global Military Power in the Making - the Chinese PLA - An interview with Ole Kværnø

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

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 warfare through developing and analyzing AI – Artificial Intelligence. Brigadier General Ole Kværnø, was a contributor to a conference on 2 October organized by the Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen, about the Chinese military. General Kværnø returned home late summer from Beijing where he had been the Danish military attaché for the past four years. He says that major changes have occurred in the posture and strategy of the PLA which is now focused on global reach while also being able to fight and win potential wars in the region, for example over Taiwan. That of course adds to an already tense China-US relationship. For information on the conference see here: https://cms.polsci.ku.dk/events/cms-conference-chinas-military---present-and-future-/

Launching the 2023 Global Organized Crime Index - An interview with Kosyo Ivanov and Chiara Gentili

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0400

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 highlight the urgent need for informed, practical strategies to combat organized crime globally. The index profiles all 193 member states of the United Nations, by providing a criminality and resilience score for each of them. In this episode I speak with two analysts from the GI index team, Kosyo Ivanov and Chiara Gentili about the main findings and the methodology behind the index. For full disclosure, I was one of more than 400 experts worldwide who contributed to the index. You can find it here: https://ocindex.net/

Brussels Arts Square in Sablon Shows Lively Gallery Scene – An interview with Jonathan F. Kugel

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0400

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 neighbourhood. World Focus from Brussels visits one of art dealers taking part, Jonathan Kugel, in his gallery in the heart of Sablon. We discuss the importance of Brussels Art Square, the market for art in general, how to be aware of forgeries and how the business of art is evolving – becoming more digital but at the same time holding on to personal face to face relationships.

Pivotal Elections for Parliament in Slovakia - An interview with Katarina Klingová

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 06:00:00 -0400

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 because the results might decide whether Slovakia changes course in it’s support for Ukraine, which until now has been robust. On the other hand, Former Prime Minister and front-runner in the elections, Robert Fico, says Slovakia will stop sending arms and ammunition to Ukraine if voters return him to power. That must be a cause of concern for Slovakia’s Allies in NATO and also within the European Union. In this episode I interview Katarina Klingova, an expert at the GLOBESEC think tank in Bratislava, about politics in her home country, how disinformation is affecting the society and what can be done to counter malign actors in the information space.
See also GLOBSEC - including GLOBSEC trends report
https://www.globsec.org/

Ukraine is united around one aim: Victory - An interview with Oleksiy Goncharenko

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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 the invasion on 24. February 2022. He represents Odesa, the biggest city in the south of Ukraine, on the coast of the Black Sea and a key hub for exports. We met at the NATO Public Forum on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11 and 12 July.

The business of sports and Latvian identity - An interview with Kaspars Gorkšs

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

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 footballer from Latvia, In addition to playing for domestic clubs and his national team, Kaspars had a successful 10 years career in England, joining clubs such as Queens Park Rangers and Reading. We spoke about sports and business, a subject of a panel where he was one of the participants at the Lampa conversation festival in the Latvian town of Cēsis I also asked Kaspars about the ice-hockey fever hitting Latvians during the recent World Cup and how the national basketball men’s team will do in the upcoming World Cup finals in Indonesia this August.

Challenges in reporting from the frontlines in Ukraine - An interview with Latvian reporter Gints Amoliņš

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Reporters and journalists in Ukraine face a challenging task in reporting on the horrific war brought on by the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Russia into the country on 24 February 2022. In this episode I speak to Latvian TV-reporter Gints Amoliņš who has been reporting from the frontlines and telling other stories related to war to his domestic audience. I met Gints on the 10 of June, at the Lampa conversation festival in the town of Cēsīs, few days after he returned home for a break. We discussed what it is like working in a war-zone and the importance of keeping the world informed about the war to sustain support for Ukraine in this existential fight.

Fighting on the information front in Ukraine and globally - An interview with Dmytro Pleshakov

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Ukrainians are united in fighting the Russian invading forces on the battlefield but also in the information space. In this episode I speak to Dmytro Pleshakov, a young Ukrainian tech entrepreneur who was a speaker at the Riga StratCom dialogue on 7-8 June. Like millions of his fellow citizens Dmytro decided to help his government in the war effort, contributing his professional skills and knowledge. We discuss how to tell the story of Ukraine to the world and effectively counter the flood of disinformation from the enemy.

Finland joins NATO entering a new era - An interview with Dr. Iro Särkkä

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0400

Finland has joined NATO becoming the thirty first member of the Alliance. This is a historic change for a country that for a long time was militarily non-aligned, charting a tricky path as a next door neighbor to Russia. However the full-scale invasion by Russia into Ukraine on 24. February 2022 has totally changed the security landscape in Europe, eventually leading to the Finnish flag to be raised at NATO HQ in Brussels on 4. April , the founding day of the Alliance. I speak to Dr. Iro Särkkä an expert on defence and security, including Finnish foreign policy and NATO, at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. We discuss how joining NATO is a major step, what Finland brings to the Alliance, the shared security interests of the Nordic and Baltic countries and much more.

The war in Ukraine - high stakes and no end in sight - An interview with Toms Rostoks

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0500

The war in Ukraine rages on, more than one year after the full-scale invasion of Russia into the country on 24 February 2022. The invaders were met with fierce resistance by the Armed Forces of Ukraine that have demonstrated war fighting skills and bravery. Ukraine has also received massive military and humanitarian support from the West. The scale of death and destruction is unspeakable and there seems no end in sight. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, said in a speech on 24 February this year that the invaders would be held accountable for their crimes and he was sure that Ukraine would win the war. I speak at length with Toms Rostoks, a Latvian expert on defence and security. We dive into the situation on the battlefield, the geopolitical context of the war and also what is at stake for Latvia and its neighbours in the Baltic region.

Terrorists on trial in Brussels - An interview with Dr. Thomas Renard

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 02:00:00 -0500

Ten men are now on trial in Brussels, for their involvement in the terrorist attacks in the capital of Belgium on 22 March 2016. 32 people were killed and hundreds more wounded when the perpetrators detonated their bombs in the Maalbeek metro station and at Zaventem airport. In this episode I speak with Dr. Thomas Renard, a Belgian who is the Director of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism in the Hague https://icct.nl/ Dr. Renard, a leading expert on counter-terrorism, talks about the massive trial underway in Brussels but also how the threat of terrorism has evolved in the broader context and the need for authorities to stay vigilant.

Körfuboltalíf í Litháen - Elvar Már Friðriksson landsliðsmaður í viðtali

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Elvar Már Friðriksson landsliðsmaður í körfuknattleik telur að Ísland eigi enn ágæta möguleika á að komast í lokakeppni Heimsmeistaramótsins. Elvar Már átti stórleik um helgina þegar lið hans Rytas Vilnius lagði Siauliai (Síólæ), 107:101 í framlengdum leik í litháísku úrvalsdeildinni. Elvar var að mæta sínum gömlu félögunum en hann spilaði með Siauliai fyrir tveimur árum.

Existential war about values - An interview with Nataliya Gumenyuk journalist from Ukraine

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Russia’s unprovoked, illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to unspeakable human suffering and widespread destruction. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have courageously fought the invaders and backed by weapons supplied by Western Allies gained the momentum on the battlefield. In late September I spoke with Nataliya Gumenyuk, a well known journalist from Ukraine, on documenting the atrocities committed by Russian forces, how this war is about values and is in fact existential for Ukraine.

The powerful printmaking of Aleksandrs Karpovs. Interview with Kārlis Kanderovskis

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Aleksandrs Karpovs, US born graphic artist of Latvian descent, led a remarkable life. An exhibition, presenting his powerful and provocative printmaking was opened in The Global Center for Latvian Art in the town of Cēsis on 25 March. On that day Latvians commemorate every year the mass deportations of over 40.000 people to Siberia in 1949, carried out by the Soviets. I speak with Kārlis Kanderovskis, the director of the Center, about the life and art of Aleksandrs Karpovs and the importance of preserving the strong bond with your home country. Art and politics in the past and the present.

Elections for the Bundestag in Germany - Interview with Hardy Ostry

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 03:00:00 -0400

German voters go to the polls on the 26th of September to choose a new Bundestag, the federal parliament in Berlin. The two current government partners – the CDU/CSU alliance and the Social Democratic Party are almost in a dead-heat in the polls and the Greens are not far behind. Some of the latest polling actually indicates that the Social Democrats are slightly ahead of Angela’s Merkel party, who after sixteen years is stepping down as chancellor. In this episode I speak with Hardy Ostry, an expert on German and European Politics, about the state-of-play in the election campaign and Germany after Merkel.

The Jewish Community in Belgium - Interview with Frieda Van Kamp

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0400

The Jewish community in Belgium has a remarkable history and culture. In this episode I speak with Frieda van Kamp from the Jewish Museum of Belgium about the diversity of this vibrant community, the importance of education and how to promote mutual understanding. We also discuss the horrors of the Holocaust and how to counter Anti-Semitism in the modern day.

How Iceland Changed the World - Interview with Egill Bjarnason

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

“How Iceland Changed the World” is the title of a new book written by my fellow Icelander, journalist Egill Bjarnason and published by Penguin. Egill tells the history of those who have lived on this volcanic island in the middle of the North-Atlantic for 1200 years, featuring various historical figures, from Vikings to the first elected female president plus chess player Bobby Fisher. In this episode I speak with Egill about the book and how Iceland and Icelanders have changed the course of world history.

More about How Iceland Changed the World and reviews:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645812/how-iceland-changed-the-world-by-egill-bjarnason/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/11/books/review/how-iceland-changed-the-world-egill-bjarnason.html

https://apnews.com/article/reviews-europe-iceland-business-entertainment-478bbe17584ec8857f1af60ab2e5f495

President of Haiti Murdered - Interview with Robin Morais

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400

The President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse was assassinated during a night time attack on July 7 by a group of assailants. The murder has shocked the nation, adding to political turmoil in a country already hammered by COVID-19 on top of a struggling economy, In this episode I speak to Robin Morais, an experienced journalist from Trinidad and Tobago, another state in the Caribbean. He has been closely following events in Haiti and how they are affecting this poor nation which also takes pride in it’s independence, more than two centuries ago.

NATO-Summit in Brussels - Interview with Kristine Berzina

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Leaders of NATO Allies meet at a Summit in Brussels on Monday 14 of June to discuss a wide range of issues, including the vision for NATO 2030, how to deal with Russia, the rise of China, and the security implications of climate change. I speak with Kristine Berzina, a NATO-expert, on the future of the Alliance and how to deal with the multiple security and political challenges at hand. This is also the first NATO Summit of Joe Biden as US President.

The rise of transnational repression - Interview with Nate Schenkkan

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 07:00:00 -0400

Transnational repression is on the rise as multiple states deploy a broad spectrum of tactics against their perceived enemies, from spyware and family intimidation to renditions or assassinations. In this episode I speak to Nate Schenkkan from Freedom House, co-author of a recent report on transnational repression "Out of Sight, Not Out of Reach." Find it here: https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/Complete_FH_TransnationalRepressionReport2021_rev020221.pdf

Russia's history and Putin - Interview with Mark Galeotti

Mon, 24 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Russia under the rule of Vladimir Putin and the complicated history of this vast country. This is the subject of my conversation with Mark Galeotti, the author of A Short History of Russia, We Need to Talk about Putin and several other books. Mark closely follows Russian politics and society and also has his own podcast: In Moscow's Shadows. We talk about challenging several myths about Russia and Putin and a range of other subjects.

Saving Stella from Syria -- Interview with Bassel Abou Fakher

Fri, 14 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400

The war in Syria has been going on for more than ten years, tearing the nation and the country apart. I speak with Bassel Abou Fakher, a musician in Belgium, one of the millions of refugees that have fled Syria because of the war. This is a story about courage and building a new life in a new country. Bassel also tells me how he rescued his beloved dog, Stella, with the help of some good people. You can read that beautiful story in the children's book "Saving Stella."

Ukraine faces Russia's military build-up - Interview with Liubov Tsybulska

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Russia’s massive military build-up close to the Eastern border of Ukraine and in occupied Crimea has alarmed NATO and prompted Allies to declare their unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says a path toward NATO membership is the only way to end the war in the Donbass region where Russia has backed separatist forces since 2014. Russia on the other hand claims the military build-up is a response to so called “ threats” from NATO. I spoke with Liubov Tsybulska in Kyiv, an expert on hybrid warfare and strategic communications about Russia’s tactics, including disinformation, and how Ukraine and Western Allies need to stand firm when faced with aggression from Russia.

China and the Uighurs - An interview with Belgian MP Samuel Cogolati

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0400

China faces increasing international pressure over its treatment of the mostly Muslim Uighur population in the north-western region of Xinjiang. More than one million Uighurs and other Muslims, including ethnic Kazakhs and Uzbeks, are in government run detention camps, according to reports by human rights groups, international media and many others. Outside of the camps the eleven million Uighurs living in Xinjiang have continued to suffer from a decades-long crackdown by Chinese authorities Parliamentarians sitting in Belgium’s Chamber of Representatives have now submitted a resolution calling for the Belgian government to declare the persecution of the Uighurs a ‘genocide’ On Monday 29 of March I spoke with Samuel Cogolati, an MP from the Ecolo-Green Party and a co-sponsor of the resolution. He has been sanctioned by the Chinese government which rejects that a genocide is being committed against the Uighurs, calling that and other accusations “the lies of the century.” Samuel Cogolati thinks otherwise and wants the international community to take a real stand against China on the issue of human rights.

Brussels Attacks - Interview with Thomas Renard

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Five years ago on the morning of 22 March 2016, terrorists attacked Brussels, killing 32 people, at Zaventem airport and the Maelbeek metro station, in the heart of Brussels. I speak to Thomas Renard, an expert on terrorism at the Egmont Royal Institute of International Relations, on how the threat of terrorism has evolved in Belgium and in Europe since the attacks, how the EU is taking on a bigger role in countering terrorism and what to expect when ten defendants stand trial in Brussels later this year for their roles in the 22 March attacks.