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

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.

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.