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Saboteurs & Suitors

Saboteurs & Suitors

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Is von der Leyen’s proposed EU Security Council an illusion or a realistic response to Russian sabotage? And will her offer of "associate membership" to Canada trigger an all-out trade war with Donald Trump? A European President and an American comedian untangle this week’s continental rift. Chapters 00:00:00 This week's Continental Rift 00:01:21 The Rifty Backstory 00:03:06 Sweden Election Results and Kingmakers 00:05:34 Nail-biter Elections in Germany and… Russia 00:06:46 SOTEU and Security Council Aspirations 00:09:01 NATO Wants No Discussion of Hybrid Threats 00:10:31 Lindsey Graham Act and Trump’s Tariff Powers 00:12:26 EU Commits to Canada with Offer of Associate Membership 00:17:32 AI Safety: Big Tech asks, EU listens 00:19:44 Frog Watch: Russian Wargaming 00:21:58 France Pushes for Oligarch’s Russia Sanctions Release 00:23:26 US Geopolitics: “It’s complicated” 00:25:29 EU Security Council vs. Kallas proposal More information SWEDEN ELECTIONS - the final count reported only on 17 September (after recording): 176 seats for centre-left vs 173 for the ruling right-wing bloc. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson resigned though his government remains in place while the speaker of the Riksdag conducts talks on forming a new one. The party positioned as kingmaker is the Centre Party, a liberal party led by Thand Ringqvist took 7.1%. The Liberals are part of Kristersson’s outgoing bloc. EU SANCTIONS LIST - France and Slovakia are blocking the six-monthly renewal of the EU’s existing sanctions list of around 3,000 Russian individuals and entities over the listing of billionaire Alisher Usmanov. On 14 September EU ambassadors extended the list for one week. France says it has “a specific national security issue”; the Financial Times and Euronews report the request is connected to French nationals detained in Azerbaijan. CANADA/EU – Addressing the European Parliament on 17 September, Prime Minister Carney welcomed von der Leyen’s proposal of EU partnership. He ruled out full EU membership and said any agreement would be put to a vote in Canada’s Parliament. Canada exports no beef to the EU under CETA because its producers use growth hormones banned in the EU. The day before Carney’s statement, President Trump called the proposal “laughable” and threatened “very serious tariffs” on Europe if he judged it “a hostile act”. FROG WATCH, THE NETHERLANDS - On 15 September pipes and cables were placed on railway tracks at more than 35 locations; infrastructure manager ProRail classified it as sabotage, and police, prosecutors and the intelligence service AIVD are investigating. No suspect or motive has been identified. Fires beside Dutch motorways the same day were a farmers’ protest against the budget. FROG WATCH, GERMANY – the Bundeswehr estimates that in event of a conflict on NATO’s eastern flank 300-1,000 wounded a day could be evacuated to Germany; military and civilian hospitals are preparing. RUSSIA – a CNN investigation published on 15 September reported that 14 Russian reconnaissance satellites passed over Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in the two days before Iran’s strike on the base on 27 March and that US officials believe the intelligence was shared with Teheran. Russia denies it. US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE – On 15 September DOJ charged five men – two Russian nationals and three Cuban and Venezuelan nationals living in Russia – with working for Russian intelligence to plan surveillance, sabotage and targeted killings including a plot to murder a Russian dissident in the US. All five remain at large. THE KENNEDY CENTRE – Its board, appointed by President Trump, voted on 15 September to close the venue. The Administration has said in court it could be demolished if its renovation plan is blocked.. LINDSEY O. GRAHAM SANCTIONING RUSSIA AND IRAN ACT 2026 - passed by US House on 16 September after clearing the Senate in August. White House has said the President plans to sign it. It will give the President discretion to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas and on countries judged to help Russia evade sanctions, a clause critics in Congress say reaches far beyond Russia. CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband Producer Lucy Antonatos © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
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