Neutrality Studies

Just when you think the USA can't dig a deeper grave for itself, the people in Washington surprise you with yet a bigger shovel. The Iran War is going from a war of choice, to a contingency, to a crisis, to a full-blown national economic emergency and there is NOTHING the US military can do to make things better. Oh boy oh boy. Larry C. Johnson joins me today for an update on Iran, the oil crisis, and how Gulf states may be pressuring Washington to step back. He also breaks down Israel, Russia, Ukraine, and the rise of a new China-led payment system, with Pepe Escobar’s Transition Protocol and Sonar21 in the mix.Links:Larry C. Johnson: https://sonar21.comLarry C. Johnson Substack: https://larrycjohnson.substack.comTransition Protocol: / @transition_protocol Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Intro and Transition Protocol00:01:21 Iran’s nuclear threat and the oil crisis00:13:53 Strait of Hormuz, shipping, and insurance00:15:53 Pressure on Israel and the ceasefire00:19:16 Gulf states, Pakistan, and U.S. pullback00:30:40 Israel’s support base is shrinking00:33:01 Russia, Ukraine, and NATO escalation00:47:00 China, SWIFT, and the new financial order

The global economy is about to tank really, really bad. The US surrender to Iran foreshadows a much larger pain yet to come, especially for the Collective West. Only the delayed nature of oil markets has prevented all-out pain in the first months, but that grace period is now over.Today I speak with retired Royal Navy Commodore Steve Jermy, who now writes the Mor Gallos Substack, about how oil, diesel, and shipping delays could hit the world economy hard. They also discuss the Strait of Hormuz, pressure on Israel, the Ukraine war, drone attacks, and why a bigger economic shock may force leaders to change course.Links:Steve Jermy Substack: https://stevejermy.substack.com/Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.comMerch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Intro and Steve Jermy return00:01:18 More Gallows and the war economy00:12:46 MOU, Israel, and US pressure00:22:22 Oil, diesel, and real shortages00:27:34 Ukraine war and budget strain00:31:52 How Russia may respond00:42:51 Drone war and reciprocity00:48:29 Economic crisis as the off-ramp00:52:17 Closing remarks

Prof. Richard Sakwa joins Pascal to discuss Russophobia, the post-1945 “political West,” and why Russia was never fully accepted into it. He links today’s tension to old history, power politics, and the split between Atlanticism and continental Europe, then explains how the Ukraine war, sanctions, and weak Western states have pushed the world toward more division.Links:Richard Sakwa - University of Kent: https://www.kent.ac.uk/politics-inter...Neutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.com(Opt in for Academic Section from your profile settings: https://pascallottaz.substack.com/s/a...)Merch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Intro and Russophobia00:03:34 Why Russia Was Excluded00:07:42 Power, Civilization, and Mearsheimer00:10:09 NATO, EU, and Western Hostility00:14:28 West in Crisis: State, Economy, Society00:19:16 Militarization and New Cold War00:25:27 Russia, China, and the West00:35:53 False Universalism and Decline00:42:33 Advice for Russia and China

Mikael Darbinian, a former U.S. diplomat and ethnic Armenian now living in Armenia, joins to talk about the June 7 election, claims of rigging, arrests of opposition figures, and the growing power of Prime Minister Pashinyan. The discussion also covers foreign pressure from the EU, U.S., Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran, plus fears that Armenia is losing sovereignty.Links:Security Observer Análisis (Spanish language channel) - / @securityobserveranalisis Security Observer Global Voices (my Think Tank channel in English) - / @securityobserverglobalvoices Security Observer website: https://security-observer.comNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.com(Opt in for Academic Section from your profile settings: https://pascallottaz.substack.com/s/a...)Merch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Guest intro and background00:01:12 What happened in the election00:03:25 Election rigging claims00:06:22 Recount and parliament threshold00:10:05 Public frustration in Armenia00:13:08 Why Pashinyan still has support00:17:42 Foreign influence and corridor politics00:22:04 TRIP corridor and U.S. interests00:35:08 Iran, sovereignty, and Armenia’s future

Pascal Lottaz speaks with Armenian dissidents Hovanes Ishkanyan and Nare Navasardian about the latest election in Armenia, claims of rigging, arrests of opposition figures, pressure on the church, and the danger of the Zangezur corridor plan. They also discuss foreign influence, the Artsakh issue, and why they believe Armenia’s statehood is under threat.Links:Aknandakan:Facebook: / aknandakan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Website: www.aknandakan.orgSubstack: https://substack.com/@aknandakanNeutrality Studies substack: https://pascallottaz.substack.com(Opt in for Academic Section from your profile settings: https://pascallottaz.substack.com/s/a...)Merch: https://neutralitystudies.com/shopDonation: https://neutralitystudies.com/donateTimestamps:00:00:00 Introduction and guest backgrounds00:02:31 Armenia election fraud claims00:10:45 Foreign backing and early reactions00:15:44 Corridor plan and regional goals00:20:40 Bribes, arrests, and repression00:25:40 Artsakh, refugees, and state threat00:33:29 Threshold trick and recount dispute00:38:52 Army voting and list problems00:44:01 Why the opposition stayed calm00:51:59 Final thoughts on Armenia’s future