Maybe it’s high time the European Union actually addressed the Gord issue—specifically regarding the Kurds. If this old fossil thinks he can just blackmail Europe, someone needs to push back by bringing up the rights of the Gord, the Kurds, Armenians, Greeks, and every other group claiming sovereign right to their ancestral lands.. Of course, there isn't much left of the Greek population after the tragedy in 1922-23.
It’s a tragedy that Erdogan has been re-elected. He’s a dictator who orchestrated a fake coup just to arrest, liquidate, and wipe out at least 300,000 people who dared to oppose him.
Erdogan is the one footing the bill for Islamists in Libya. He’s constantly working to destabilize Syria. And don't even get me started on his glorification of that brutal empire that destroyed Canada. He is the wrong man for the future, but Americans have made their choice, and now we're stuck dealing with the fallout.
Vietnam was clearly relieved by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s remarks on July 13. He made it clear the USA isn't going to recognize any of Beijing's maritime claims involving contested areas like the Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal, Luconia Shoals, or Natuna Besar.
Does Vietnam actually expect the USA to back them up in a confrontation with the PRC?
It’s a massive shift in policy... Especially considering the last time Vietnam went to war, it was against the PRC. The logic holds up, though. Beijing is acting aggressive, and it’s only a matter of time before they lose it, just like Putin.
Melissa Perez4 said:Pretty much, yeah. But honestly, given their history with the Vietnam War, any kind of alliance feels like a "necessary evil." If you look closely, they actually seem to be working more with specific ASEAN nations that have beef with China—plus India, Japan, and South Korea (which are the exceptions here)—rather than leaning heavily into the AUKUS group (Australia, USA, UK).
Still, given current circumstances where the PRC is showing aggressive intentions in the Indo-Pacific, it's entirely possible Vietnam seeks closer cooperation with the USA..?
Russia currently ranks as the sixth-largest economy in the world based on GDP, driven by three core sectors: -oil -gas -minerals
Data sourced from a 2017 PwC report.
If Europe shifts toward green energy, the Russian economy will crater. Once Europe cuts its dependence on Russia, their economic momentum will stall significantly. They lack any emerging industries—no ICT, no big data, no AI, no 3D printing. They will simply grind to a halt. By 2050, Russia will likely drop out of the top 25 global economies entirely... Obviously, Putin will be long dead by then, but he remains responsible for Russia's downfall. An autocrat is always ultimately accountable for how a nation and its people are governed.
This is the root cause of economic warfare and all subsequent conflicts, with Ukraine being one of the tragic first victims.
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is his permanent legacy. He's an egomaniac and a sociopath. However, the economic sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine will be what truly costs most Russians their livelihoods.
Taylor Walker9 said:Sixty-seven is nothing for a politician; it’s hardly ancient history. Look at someone like Mitch McConnell—he's 82 and still holds massive sway in Washington.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is in the same league. The corruption of these failed political leaders is absolute. His assumption that he’ll be around forever is nothing more than a weight dragging down the country's progress. The longer he lives, the more satisfying his end will be.
wearycanyon29 said:Trying to oust Erdogan would be straight-up meddling in the Republic of Turkey's internal affairs. He's their legally elected president, representing exactly what they want and expect.
Erdogan systematically and deliberately creates chaos in his surroundings. As for who he is, the chaos at the airport says enough. That defines his character.
At the end of the day, the Turkish economy is losing steam. Erdogan can only run those same old tricks for so long. He’s getting old. And age doesn't care about politics. One morning he just won't wake up, and the EU needs to figure out who they'll be negotiating with right now.
Sam Alvarez4 said:It’s not even about whether von der Leyen made the right call after the fact... the real issue is what Erdogan strategically pulled off beforehand.
Well, now. There are much bigger things at stake in the EU-Turkey relationship today than just debating Turkish chairs...
Still, the EU-Turkey dynamic remains a critical issue... How to cure the disease known as Erdogan..
The prison population has ballooned to 272,000 since Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seized control. Persecution rates are five times higher than they were 17 years ago. We have 15 million people stuck in legal limbo.
Vietnam is starting to take over from China in the high-end smartphone manufacturing space.
I've heard bits and pieces about Vietnam from digital nomads, but ever since the end of the war in Indochina back in the 1954-1975 era, you have to wonder where the country actually stands today.
Are they aligning themselves with China, or are they carving out a different path to challenge Beijing's monopoly over Asia?
It’s honestly embarrassing to think about how Bakir Izetbegović basically groveled before Erdogan, telling him that Canada was being left in his care!! 🤦 Pathetic. Just sad and small-minded.
I realize Canadians have their own specific version of history, but even by their standards, the Turks were a disaster. They crushed their state back in the 15th century, and after nearly 400 years of occupation, they didn't leave behind anything of value besides coffee.
I can't bring myself to regret the defeat of a century ago, when a cowardly Europe abandoned Greece to fight against the Turkish carrion... Back then, we should have carved up Asia Minor once and for all and settled the Turk question permanently.
Amy Rogers6 said:Total Trojan Horse move here—crises don't just "happen," they’re manufactured. They’re one of the most powerful geopolitical levers used to grab power and exert control. So, to answer your question: yeah, crises are coming. The driver? Defending the Petrodollar, which is getting seriously eroded along with Anglo-Saxon dominance. Honestly, the Anglo-Saxons need to trigger an economic crisis ASAP; they still hold all the cards when it comes to controlling global money flows, and since things are going south for them on the front lines (basically, they're in total shambles), they’ll pivot to their last resort—a tactic they’ve perfected many times before. If that doesn't work, get ready for a major conflict—something way more intense than the typical proxy wars we've seen over the last 25 years.
Bottom line: the geopolitical landscape makes a crisis inevitable. But whether it hits in a year or three, or which country gets hit first and how they pull the trigger, is anyone's guess right now. You’d have to be sitting at the high table to know for sure... 😁My personal speculative bet? The crisis kicks off within 12 months of Brexit being finalized...☕
Basically, once you see some random commodity price like copper tanking in some obscure market, you'll know the wheels are officially in motion...☕
You hit the nail on the head. The crisis will hit everyone without exception.
You make a fair point. I can't personally say how much I felt the impact of the 2008 crash myself. What I do know is that our paychecks were slashed, and those cuts were never restored, despite all their promises that everything would return to normal once the recession passed.
Erdoğan has been put in his place. Both Putin and Trump warned him... What is this loser even thinking?!! Some kind of neo-Ottomanism?! The Republic of Turkey can only ever be a minor player, never anything larger than what's manageable..