About this podcast
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
The newest 20 of 44 episodes
- Fighting for Freedom in Belarus - An interview with Vitaliy Molchanov · 26 minToday 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…
- European Unity on Defence - Crucial Challenges and Political Will - An interview with Rainer Wenning · 33 minLeaders 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…
- Greenland Votes in the Global Spotlight – An Interview with Vilborg Ása Guðjónsdóttir · 25 minGreenlanders 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…
- Deadly Drone War in Ukraine - An interview with Ole Kværnø Director of Danish Drone Centre · 37 minDrones 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…
- The Role of Military AI and the Resort to Force - Discussing Crucial Questions in a Copenhagen Conference · 17 minIn 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…
- Military AI is Shaping Modern Warfare and Posing Tough Questions - An interview with US Ret. Lt. General Jack Shanahan · 23 minMilitary 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…
- Ukraine still stands and fights - Marking three years from Russia's full scale invasion - Special Edition · 56 minAllied 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…
- The Frozen Conflict of Abkhazia and Everyday Geopolitics – An interview with Dr. Görkem Aydemir-Kundakci at KU Leuven University · 21 minRussia’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…
- A New Munich Moment for the World - NATO Ukraine Trump and Putin - News analysis · 39 minThe 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…
- The UK in NATO and Defending Europe - Keir Starmer visits Brussels - An interview with Russia and defence expert Keir Giles · 34 minThe 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…
- Russia at War – An interview with Félix Krawatzek, expert on Russia and comparative politics · 18 minRussia’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…
- Trump is back - Is Europe ready? - News analysis and interview with Brussels Correspondent Björn Malmquist · 19 minDonald 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…
- Sound advice from a military leader - Admiral Rob Bauer's term as the Chair of the NATO Military Committee · 28 minOn 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…
- Icelandic town of Grindavík threatened by seismic activity and potential eruption - Interview with geophysicist Ari Trausti Guðmundsson · 30 minMassive 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…
- France in the World - Perspective from Paris on Geopolitics and Defence - An interview with dr. Élie Tenenbaum · 1 h 3 minFrance 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…
- The role and influence of the European Union on the global stage - An interview with Sven Biscop · 39 minMajor 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…
- EEAS report on targeting LGBTIQ people by foreign threat actors - Analysis to protect human rights and diversity · 35 minTargeting 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…
- Vicious cycle of violence and war - Israel retaliates after Hamas attack. - An interview with Erlingur Erlingsson · 36 minUS 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…
- War in Ukraine has long-term geopolitical implications - An interview with Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen · 39 minNATO 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…
- Global Military Power in the Making - the Chinese PLA - An interview with Ole Kværnø · 20 minChina’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…
