Europe Turns on Turkey as the War Cycle Expands

Europe Turns on Turkey as the War Cycle Expands

Martin Armstrong

I have warned that once geopolitical tensions ignite, they do not remain contained, and what we are now witnessing is the steady expansion of conflict lines as Turkey is being recast from a strategic NATO partner into a geopolitical threat by the very alliance it once helped anchor.

The European Union has now openly shifted its tone, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen effectively grouping Turkey alongside Russia and China, stating that Europe must ensure it is not influenced by “Russia, Turkey or China,” which is an extraordinary statement when directed at a NATO member and signals a clear break in strategic trust, especially when such language aligns closely with broader geopolitical narratives emerging from the Middle East.

Not so coincidentally, tensions are escalating rapidly between Turkey and Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that Israel faces a widening circle of adversaries and must prepare for emerging threats across the region. 

Turkish officials have responded by accusing Israel of deliberately seeking its “next enemy,” with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stating that Israel “cannot live without an enemy.” Bibi has remained in control by posturing Israel as on the defensive against external enemies, yet he has become the aggressor. It is Netanyahu, not Israel, who could not survive without an enemy to ward off.

When you step back and examine Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, this is a nation that has never accepted a subordinate role within Europe. Turkey has long viewed itself as a regional power with deep historical roots tied to the Ottoman Empire, and Erdoğan has made that posture explicit by declaring that no one can “threaten or bully Turkey,” reinforcing Ankara’s willingness to confront both Europe and its traditional allies when it perceives its sovereignty to be at risk.

What makes this situation far more dangerous is that Turkey is not a minor player that can simply be pressured into compliance, because it possesses one of the largest and most capable militaries in NATO, second only to the United States in manpower, with hundreds of thousands of active personnel, advanced drone capabilities, and a strategic geographic position controlling access between Europe, the Black Sea, and the Middle East, which makes any deterioration in relations far more consequential than policymakers appear willing to acknowledge.

Europe continues to depend on Turkey for migration control, regional security, and energy transit routes, yet it is now publicly labeling the nation as a threat. This is precisely how alliances fracture and friends turn into foes.

The growing hostility between Turkey and Israel introduces an additional layer of risk, because both nations operate militarily within overlapping regions such as Syria.

Europe’s decision to move against Turkey also risks pushing Ankara further away from the Western sphere and toward alternative alliances, including Russia and China, thereby accelerating the fragmentation of the global order and weakening NATO cohesion at a time when it is already under strain.

Broader conflicts are not triggered by a single event, but by a series of shifts in rhetoric, policy, all building momentum until the system reaches a breaking point. The reality is that Turkey is no longer treated as a reliable ally by Europe. As Israel elevates Turkey within its own threat framework, Europe appears to be following that trajectory, signaling a deeper realignment that will have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and the future of the Western alliance.

The Push For Globalism

The Push For Globalism

J.B. Shurk

When the Soros family or other globalist billionaires pay rioters to take to the streets, corporate newsrooms (often owned, directly or indirectly, by the same billionaires paying for the street theater) cover the anti-Western mayhem as if globalist temper tantrums were exotic breaking news (when, in reality, Western citizens are keenly aware that globalists excel at whining, breaking things, trespassing, stealing, and assaulting people).  When pro-illegal immigration crowds show up to burn the national flags of Great Britain, France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, news cameras catch the action.  When those same throngs of foreigners wave the flags of their home countries, news cameras record the scene as if it were some righteous and historic fight for “diversity” and “multiculturalism.”  When the peoples of Europe whose ancestors have lived on the continent for several thousand years wave the flags of their political states, however, “reporters” pretend that the assembly of citizens is doing nothing but “promoting hate.”

What an interesting time to be alive.  For all of human history, when a group of foreigners occupied the territorial home of another people and waved the emblems of their foreign states in the faces of the natives, we recognized that event as an “invasion.”  Today, Western governments — stewing in the poisons of globalism and advancing a religion of self-immolation — treat invaders as citizens and citizens as nuisances. 

Across Europe, North America, and Australasia, globalist governments have lowered their drawbridges for outsiders while throwing insiders into the moats.  It is easy to imagine French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, or European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hiding in medieval castle keeps while instructing self-loathing guards to fire arrows only at the people waving French, British, or European flags. 

This “awakening” that is happening throughout the West — wherein ordinary citizens have begun to rebel against their governments’ suicidal policies — is picking up steam.  It seems to reflect a social consciousness that is increasingly aware that home governments have long been behaving as enemies.  “Enemy” is a strong word reserved for those who oppose us with great hostility or malice.  Generally, “enemies” lie on the other side of a country’s borders or across entire oceans.  But when Western governments invite mortal enemies inside their nations’ borders, those governments aid and abet the very people who wish us harm.  Traditionally, we call government officeholders who betray citizens “traitors.”  Traitors, of course, are enemies, too.

Globalism, by design, works to destroy national borders.  Its proponents pursue this goal through increasingly overt ways.  In Europe, the Schengen treaties and rules incorporated into European Union law have eliminated internal border controls between most countries.  Originally touted as a way to allow the citizens of European nations to travel freely throughout the continent, it was always a mass migration weapon that has enabled globalists to flood the discrete nations of Europe with foreigners from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.  In North America, the United Nations and globalist-funded NGOs spend billions of dollars each year in assisting migrants from South and Central America to travel through Mexico and flood the United States.  In both Europe and North America, the same wealthy, powerful globalists pursue one goal: to replace native citizens with so many foreign peoples that it becomes impossible for any nation to maintain a distinct identity.

Globalists are internationalists.  They seek to create a new world order with global government, international agencies, and international law.  One way to accomplish these objectives is to erase national borders and to invite an international population to resettle inside a formerly sovereign nation.  By doing so, both foreign allegiances and international laws are injected into the domestic governing system, whether the native population desires that result or not.

Just as the devil is the father of lies, globalism is the philosophy of liars.  Those liars call illegal immigrants “asylum seekers.”  They call foreigners who are financially dependent on government welfare “contributors,” “taxpayers,” and “economic boons.”  They call citizens who wish to enforce their country’s borders and protect their country’s culture “racists,” “bigots,” “fascists,” “Nazis,” and “xenophobes” (as if foreigners are known for flocking to racist, bigoted, fascist lands filled with Nazis who discriminate against outsiders).  Globalist liars pretend that borders are antiquated relics of “colonialism” and “imperialism,” even though it is foreigners who are colonizing nations by building little ethnic empires that refuse to assimilate.

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Trump Orders Navy to “Shoot and Kill” Mine-Laying Boats in Strait of Hormuz

Trump Orders Navy to “Shoot and Kill” Mine-Laying Boats in Strait of Hormuz

Emmitt Barry

President Donald Trump on Thursday issued a stark directive to the U.S. Navy, ordering forces to “shoot and kill” any vessels attempting to lay mines in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, signaling a sharp escalation in enforcement amid ongoing tensions with Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared there would be “no hesitation” in neutralizing small boats suspected of deploying naval mines. The directive comes as U.S. forces continue active mine-clearing operations in the region, which the president said are now being intensified to “a tripled up level.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments passes. The administration has effectively sealed the waterway as part of a broader pressure campaign aimed at forcing Tehran into a negotiated settlement.

Trump’s announcement coincides with a fragile ceasefire, as the U.S. awaits a unified peace proposal from Iranian leadership through Pakistani mediators. While expressing willingness to allow time for negotiations, the president indicated frustration with internal divisions in Tehran, describing ongoing infighting between so-called “hardliners” and “moderates.”

Despite maintaining the ceasefire for now, Trump’s order underscores the volatility in the region. Iranian forces have reportedly seized foreign vessels and continue to pose a threat through potential mine-laying operations—one of the most disruptive tactics available in the narrow shipping corridor.

The president emphasized that U.S. forces currently hold decisive control over the strait. “No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy,” Trump wrote, describing the waterway as effectively “sealed up tight” until Iran agrees to terms that meet U.S. demands, including halting its nuclear ambitions.

The developments reflect the high-stakes balance between military pressure and diplomatic outreach, as Washington seeks to compel Tehran to the negotiating table while preventing further disruption to global commerce and regional stability.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei Surrounded By 24/7 Medical Team In Hideout As Generals Run Iran: NYT

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei Surrounded By 24/7 Medical Team In Hideout As Generals Run Iran: NYT

TYLER DURDEN

The NY Times in a new deep dive of what governing structures now look like inside Iran says what's already long been obvious to many in the wake of longtime Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death: "When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran as the supreme leader, he exerted absolute power over all decisions about war, peace and negotiations with the United States. His son and successor does not play the same role."

The publication says it was able to interview at least half-a-dozen Iranian insiders, including IRGC officials, and individuals who know the younger Khamenei "well". The NY Times describes of Mojtaba Khamenei: "His father, wife and son were all killed. Access to him is extremely difficult and limited now. He is surrounded mostly by a team of doctors and medical staff who are treating the injuries he sustained in the airstrikes."

Apparently even top 'trusted' generals and IRGC commanders do visit him for fear of being surveilled and tracked to his location by Israel and the United States.

Per the sources cited in the Times, "Though Mr. Khamenei was gravely wounded, he is mentally sharp and engaged, according to four senior Iranian officials familiar with his health."

And more: "One leg was operated on three times, and he is awaiting a prosthetic. He had surgery on one hand and is slowly regaining function. His face and lips have been burned severely, making it difficult for him to speak, the officials said, adding that, eventually, he will need plastic surgery."

This fact has unleashed an avalanche of speculation as to his fate over the course of the war, and who is "really in charge". And yet it's also well-known that Iran is able to function militarily based on autonomy and dispersion of command among units, with the IRGC given more independence to act.

The White House has alleged there are essentially two factions vying for power and direction over the war - the civilian leadership and the IRGC command sides. 

"Mojtaba is not yet in full command or control," Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa for Chatham House, claimed in the NYT report. But as expected the situation is nuanced: "There is, perhaps, deference to him," he continued. "He signs off or he is part of the decision-making structure in a formal way. But he is presented with fait accompli presentations right now."

With all due respect, remain skeptical about the credibility of the The New York Times report.

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Putin: Arctic of Strategic Importance for Russia's Economic Development

Arctic of Strategic Importance for Russia's Economic Development - Putin

Sputnik

The Arctic is of strategic importance for Russia's economic development and the protection of its sovereignty, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. 

"I have repeatedly noted the special strategic importance of this region for our country, for the domestic economy, for building Russia's industrial potential, for ensuring national security, and for protecting our sovereignty," Putin said during a meeting with members of the Russian government. 

Putin also emphasized the growing global role of the Arctic, including in terms of sustainable supply chains. 

Russia is strengthening its Arctic logistics network and will protect its interests in the region, Putin said, adding that Russia is ready to cooperate in the Arctic with all interested countries.

The northern Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor is one of the safest, most reliable and effective routes, Putin said.

"The importance of the northern Trans-Arctic route as the safest, most reliable and efficient one is becoming more and more obvious against the background of disruptions in global transport chains due to numerous conflicts, including, as we are now seeing, in the Middle East," Putin said during a meeting with members of the Russian government.