Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast José Antonio Zorilla: Post-Cold War Europe - Hope, Hubris & Delusion
Nov 15, 2025
José Antonio Zorilla, a seasoned Spanish diplomat and author, delves into the missteps of post-Cold War Europe, emphasizing how the West's alienation of Russia sowed the seeds for current conflicts. He critiques NATO's expansion and discusses the troubling influence of small states on EU policies. Zorilla explains the consequences of U.S. hegemony on European autonomy and reflects on the strategic vacuum leading to miscalculations in Ukraine. He illustrates the mutual resentment of China and Russia toward the unipolar order, painting a stark picture of Europe's political landscape.
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Helsinki Began Pan‑European Hopes
- José Antonio Zorilla recounts his first diplomatic posting at the Helsinki CSCE during the Cold War's end and the birth of pan-European security.
- He describes the post-1990 period as fifteen years of optimism followed by misguided Western policies toward Russia that destabilized Europe.
Post‑1990 Policy Pushed Russia Away
- Zorilla argues U.S. policy after 1990 intentionally pushed to weaken Russia instead of integrating it into Europe.
- He says that approach provoked nationalism in Russia and ultimately led to the present conflict.
U.S. Hegemony Is Economically Strong, Militarily Overstretched
- Zorilla highlights U.S. hegemonic limits: economic dominance but unsustainable global military overreach.
- He warns Europe's economies and politics suffer by aligning with an overstretched American strategy.
