We're All Hunting a Yellow Submarine (The Roundup)
India's big week, Arctic submarine hunting + all the important stories you've missed (Feb 22, 2026)
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TL;DR
The Bigger Things
India’s Big Week (AI and Wind and Minerals, oh my!)
California signs MoU with UK (Newsom Miliband on the 2028 ballot?!)
The Smaller Things
Europe goes submarine hunting (where are the Beatles when you need them)
King of Denmark visits Greenland (with a royal handwave to match!)
In Other News: Climate superfunds, IEA stops believing in climate change and plenty of other stuff
The Bigger Things
The biggest stories you probably missed:
India’s Big Week: AI, Climate and Minerals
What Happened? This was a pretty big for Narendra Modi and the fourth largest economy in the world:
First, India held a widely covered AI Impact Week, with many of the world’s leading AI CEOs on stage alongside Modi (including a cringe moment with two of them) and culminating in the Delhi Declaration. Second, India joined Pax Silica, the US-led alliance designed to secure AI, semiconductor and critical mineral supply chains.
Finally, India partnered with the UK to create a joint offshore wind taskforce that is supposed to generate ~71GW of wind power available along India’s coasts.
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because India is going for all the marbles and making major moves across three of the most important topics these days. India is trying to position itself as a world leader on par with the US and China, and hosting an AI summit is definitely one interesting way to do so. In the meantime, India is trying to make sure it does not have to choose and is playing with multiple geopolitical parties.
My Take: ✍️ Fun times ahead with India. In my 2025 yearly recap, I mentioned that I will expanding my coverage on India in 2026, and Modi is really making my job easy. Lots to expect to!
Newsom-Miliband on the 2028 Ticket?!
What Happened? California Governor Gavin Newsom signed this week a Memorandum of Understanding for climate collaboration with… UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband???
The agreement is set to create a framework to scale renewable energy and enhance technological and scientific ties between the land of eternal sunshine and California.
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because… I’m actually not really sure, but it sounds like a big deal. this collaboration shows how states can take the place of the federal government in promoting climate goals, while scoring political points. Trump’s reaction probably did not surprise Newsom, who is constantly looking to troll differentiate himself from Trump and signaling that he should be on the 2028 ballot. It just might work.
My Take: ✍️ I mean… yeah, why not. Maybe Miliband will be the runner up as Newsom’s VP candidate? Stranger things happened.
The Smaller Things
The stories you should have on your radar:
Europe is Hunting for (Yellow?) Submarines
What Happened: Norway, Germany and the UK agreed to share responsibility of hunting for submarines in the High North, while relieving the US from the same duty. Several other countries, including France, have indicated they are interested in joining the initiative.
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because this agreement may be a signal to the US that Europe is willing to take more responsibility for its security, and for the security of the US. Just recently, an article illustrated Chinese efforts to map the northern seas, highlighting the concern the US shares over submarine movements close to its borders.
My Take: ✍️ Smart move, Europe. The submarine hunting initiative allows Europe to actually increase its defense posture in the region, show the Trump Administration it is serious about security and relieve US of security burden, all at the same time. Kudos!
I’m just wondering if the Beatles are a part of the UK contingent.
Denmark’s King Visits Greenland
What Happened: Denmark’s King, Frederik X, flew into Nuuk for his second visit to Greenland in under a year, aiming to project unity between Denmark and the autonomous territory amid renewed US pressure from President Donald Trump to acquire the island.
Why Care? 🤷♂️ Because the Greenland saga is not over, with negotiations still underway. As customary in such negotiations, there’s a constant need to send signals of your position. The King’s visit is certainly one.
My Take: ✍️ I still think a renewed flareup of the Greenland saga is only a matter of time, and it seems like Denmark and Greenland understand that, hence their need to show that they are still not interested in selling.
In Other News:
📰 Finland plans a €65m state-backed pilot mine to develop Lapland’s Sokli rare earths and phosphate deposit, seen as key to EU mineral security (Make Finland Rare Again)
📰 US forces global energy watchdog to drop climate as a core priority after Trump officials threaten to quit the agency
📰 Denmark plans more F-35 missiles and Arctic gear to boost NATO-aligned winter readiness (King of Denmark should have traveled on F35 instead)
📰 States are pushing “climate superfund” bills to make fossil fuel companies pay for climate damages despite Trump’s opposition (somebody is trying to make an impression)
📰 Climate change supercharged deadly floods in Spain’s Valencia region, worsening the 2024 storm that killed over 230 people and caused about €29 billion in damage (my condolences to the families of those killed)
📰 Private equity giants are circling battered clean-energy developers, betting on a rebound after last year’s deal slump (Can I buy in on that)
📰 Supreme Court knocks down Trump’s emergency tariffs, likely cutting some solar, battery, and clean-tech costs (let the lawsuits roll)
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See you next week!