The Globalist – European Renewable Energy & North Sea Security Cooperation

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Georgina Godwin (from London)
Main Segments:

• Europe’s renewable energy independence and North Sea wind cooperation
• Iran’s continuing unrest and blackout
• Review of international front pages and cultural spotlights

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into Europe’s new era of strategic autonomy: how a landmark North Sea wind power accord signals an ambition to loosen dependence not only on Russian but also American energy supplies. Host Georgina Godwin and regular guest Nina Dos Santos (former CNN Europe Editor) also examine the security challenge for Europe’s offshore infrastructure and the broader geopolitical shift this signifies. The episode then moves on to critical reporting from internet-blackout Iran and an update on US-Korean trade tensions, among other global headlines.

1. Europe’s North Sea Renewable Ambitions and Energy Security

Introduction and Context

• Host Georgina Godwin sets the agenda (01:10). She emphasizes the shift in European thinking about energy independence—no longer just about Russian gas, but increasingly about American energy and strategic autonomy following US-EU turbulence over Greenland.
• Key Quote:
  "Europe needs to be able to do more by itself...no continent, and definitely not Europe, should be dependent on a very limited number of suppliers."
  — Danish Climate and Energy Minister, cited by Georgina Godwin (01:10)

Key Discussion with Nina Dos Santos (Starting ~04:00)

What’s New About the North Sea Agreement?

• The Hamburg Declaration is signed by 10 European countries, including the UK, committing to 100GW of jointly developed North Sea offshore wind—interconnected for the first time by shared undersea cables.
• This is an acceleration of plans initially devised post-Ukraine invasion (2022).
• Notable Insight: The agreement is a pivot to “do it really quickly” and build up political as well as energy independence.

Strategic Shift: From Russia to the US – and Beyond

• Post-2022 focus was replacing Russian gas, mainly with US LNG—now Europe worries about overdependence on the US, especially after complicated talks around Greenland.
• "Wind may be unreliable, but it’s not always as unreliable as the US Trump administration at the moment."
  — Nina Dos Santos (04:56)

Do Shared Wind Farms Affect Energy Prices for Consumers?

• Uncertainty remains about consumer prices. The energy mix is changing—US LNG imports have quadrupled since Russia’s invasion.
• Some countries (e.g., Slovakia) are still winding down Russian contracts.
• Renewables can’t fully supplant gas (yet):
  "Nobody’s saying that wind energy can completely supplant all of this and replace it...energy security is also about getting the right mix."
  — Nina Dos Santos (05:37)

Infrastructure Security Risks

• Massive new undersea interconnectors are at risk from sabotage or hybrid warfare—cable-dragging incidents by Russia have already exposed the vulnerability of energy and data lines.
• The summit’s new action plan includes burying cables, boosting costs but increasing security.
• Quote:
  "They’re going to have to do more to protect them...Russia has been engaged in increasingly aggressive hybrid warfare..."
  — Nina Dos Santos (07:17)

Is This Really About Climate – or Redrawing Power?

• Europe wants to control its energy destiny and invest in homegrown wind tech—US is now a competitor, especially under the Trump administration.
• Trump labeled European wind investment as "for losers" at Davos.
• Europe now faces critical questions—should turbines be built locally (Denmark, Germany) or sourced from China?
• Quote:
  "It's also about who holds the power, whatever power source that is...developing wind turbine technology like Europe has invested in."
  — Nina Dos Santos (09:01)

Timeline for Implementation

• Targeted for as soon as possible, with 100GW as the immediate goal and ambitions to triple to 300GW.
• Other priorities: finding investment, mass-producing turbines at scale, future-proofing the grid and infrastructure. —

[Important Timestamps]

• Hamburg Declaration context: 03:10–04:06
• Security and sabotage risks: 07:06–08:48
• Technology and sourcing fault lines: 09:01–10:30

2. Iran’s Internet Blackout and Daily Life under Crackdown

Guest: Tara Kangalu (Journalist and author)

Ground Realities in Iran

• Internet blackout and severe repression have left Iranians feeling "abandoned" and "in a coma."
• Over 6,000 protester deaths confirmed, with tens of thousands more possibly uncounted.
• Tara Kangalu shares harrowing civilian testimonies:
  "It's as if we're all in a coma and we have no idea if or when we're going to wake up."
  — Tara Kangalu quoting a contact in Isfahan (13:24)

Life Under Siege

• Economic collapse, work and school disruptions, "digital prison" conditions, widespread surveillance.
• "Everything is on hold, everything is on pause...the country is fully bankrupt."
  — Tara Kangalu (15:00)

Prospects for Protest and Regime Change

• Demonstrations have subsided due to fear, not lack of will:
  "They're not reneging from their demands...if anything, they more so want a change and full dismantling of this regime."
  — Tara Kangalu (16:14)

• Potential outcomes: internal power struggles, role of the IRGC, regional nervousness about regime collapse.

[Key Timestamps]

• Firsthand stories: 13:20–15:00
• Protest suppression analysis: 16:10–17:28
• Regional and international dimensions: 17:28–19:05

3. Global Front Pages and Features

Highlights:

• US-Japan alliance tensions over Taiwan and neutrality (02:12, 30:11)
• Minneapolis ICE shootings and political response (20:17–23:18, Janelle Alldred)
• North Korean “returnees” win compensation case (23:39)
• Israel, Rafah crossing, and Middle East peace process developments (25:13–27:14)
• Social media “addiction” trial and tech responsibility (27:14–30:11)

[Memorable Quote]

"Social media is a tool...there are lots of good things...there is a really harmful side if unchecked."
— Janelle Alldred, on regulation vs. usage (28:49)

4. Other Segments

• Olympics Winter Sports Exhibition: Impact of climate change on design and athletics (31:42–33:14)

• Greece Update: Infrastructure challenges amid storms, naval modernization, and new direct air routes to India (33:46–38:32)

• US-Korea Trade Tensions:

  • Trump threatens new tariffs on South Korea after investment deal stalls.
  • Potential impacts on Korean automakers and national finances.
  • Quote:
    "That patience seems to have evaporated, and they are definitely under a lot of pressure now."
    — Steve Borwick, Nikkei Asia (43:27)

• Culture:

  • New film "Voice of Hind Rajab" on the realities of Gaza, blending documentary and fiction as a form of witness (45:39–52:26)
  • Paris High Jewels show: Haute couture of jewelry, trends in asymmetry, colored diamonds (52:58–57:50)

Notable Quotes

• "Europe realizes it also has to unhook itself off of American energy that supplanted some of that Russian supply." — Nina Dos Santos (04:40)

• "It will power 143 million homes...that’s roughly the power needs of the entire United Kingdom." — Nina Dos Santos (07:30)

• "People of Iran...we are here to help you."
  — Donald Trump, quoted by Tara Kangalu (14:21)
  (she notes the lack of substantive support)

Summary Table of Key Segments

| Time (MM:SS) | Segment Summary | Main Contributors | |--------------|------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | 04:00–11:21 | North Sea wind: Policy, security, geopolitics | Georgina Godwin, Nina Dos Santos | | 13:20–19:05 | Iran unrest: Life under blackout, regime analysis | Tara Kangalu | | 20:17–30:11 | Front pages: Minneapolis, North Korea, Israel, Tech | Janelle Alldred, Georgina Godwin | | 31:42–33:14 | Olympics exhibition: Climate & sports | Ed Stocker | | 33:46–38:32 | Mediterranean papers, Greek news | Emanuele Papavasiliu | | 39:20–44:47 | US-Korea tariffs & investment dispute | Steve Borwick | | 45:39–52:26 | “Voice of Hind Rajab” film: Witnessing Gaza | Katha Ben Hania, Ed Stocker | | 52:58–57:50 | Paris High Jewels: Trends in luxury jewelry | Brenda Tuohy, Georgina Godwin |

Takeaways and Tone

• Urgency & Independence: The tone is direct and matter-of-fact, reflecting Europe’s urgency for energy autonomy in a “post-American” mindset, amidst changing transatlantic relations.
• Resilience & Human Cost: Both the energy and Iran segments stress resilience and the human cost—whether in geopolitics or on the streets of Isfahan.
• Nuance & Depth: The episode mixes hard policy analysis with personal stories, memorable quotes, and expert commentary, maintaining a thoughtful and occasionally wry tone throughout.

For further detail, consult the cited timestamps for each segment above.