Geopolitical Economy Report

Ben Norton analyzes the importance of the recent BRICS meeting where new members were invited, challenging the US petrodollar system. The bloc now represents 37% of global GDP, over 40% of global oil production, and 1/3rd of global gas production. Topics include the threat to the petrodollar, BRICS' massive economic weight, de-dollarization, Saudi-Iran peace, BRICS vs. G7, new BRICS currency, and Africa-Latin America cooperation.

BRICS summit debates its mission: challenge the G7 and promote de-dollarization or stay neutral? US's love-hate relationship with International Criminal Court. Iran joins China and Russia in calling for dropping US dollar in trade. The dynamics, economic potential, and rivalries within BRICS. India's alliance with the West and the debate on BRICS' role. BRICS countries' efforts to challenge US dollar dominance. The failure of Western powers and the importance of BRICS in addressing global issues.

Most people in Germany and France blame the US and NATO for the war in Ukraine. A newly discovered document proves that the US, UK, and France promised not to expand NATO east of Germany. The US government knew that NATO expansion to Ukraine would force Russia to intervene.

Explores US hypocrisy in violating economic rules, China's criticism of US hegemony and foreign interventions, and the critique of free trade and historical imperialism. Highlights power dynamics enabled by the US dollar and calls for support against US unilateralism.

As part of negotiations for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel, the United States is demanding that Riyadh keep pricing its oil in dollars, not China’s renminbi or other currencies. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=NmYybJZo3fo Sources and more information here: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/10/us-saudi-arabia-sell-oil-dollars-chinese-yuan How Israel is an apartheid regime, with Ali Abunimah: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2022/02/03/israel-apartheid-ali-abunimah

Western governments have demonized the coup in Niger and threatened intervention, but polls show that 78% of Nigeriens support the military government's anti-colonial policies. France is extremely unpopular due to its neocolonial practices, whereas Russia is widely seen as an ally. The new nationalist junta pledges to pursue true independence and sovereignty. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=tAcc6U69E6o Check out our related video "US/France threaten intervention in resource-rich Niger - Fears of war in West Africa": https://youtube.com/watch?v=JZ_5nuoB940

US government documents reveal that the atomic bombing of Japan was not necessary to end WWII, and that Japan was on the verge of surrendering. The bombing was the first strike in Washington's Cold War on the Soviet Union. The podcast analyzes the political motivations behind the decision, discusses evidence from a US Department of War document, and explores the impact on the Soviet Union and Japan's post-war government. It also examines President Dwight Eisenhower's criticism, his visit to the Soviet Union, and addresses the potential whitewashing of the bombings in the film 'Oppenheimer'.

Political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson are joined by geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar to discuss how the war hawks' drive to expand NATO into Asia to contain China may destroy the Western military alliance. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=vKS1IdQpBkA Transcript: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/04/nato-expand-asia-china-russia Part 1 of their discussion: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/07/28/nato-ukraine-russia-china-war You can watch other episodes of their program Geopolitical Economy Hour here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDAi0NdlN8hMl9DkPLikDDGccibhYHnDP

The US and France have threatened foreign intervention to re-install a pro-Western regime in Niger, which produces uranium needed for nuclear energy and hosts large US drone bases. This follows coups led by nationalist, anti-colonial military officers in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, which warn intervention could set off a regional war in West Africa. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=JZ_5nuoB940

Political economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson are joined by geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar to discuss how NATO has shifted from its proxy war against Russia in Ukraine to targeting China in the Pacific. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2q6Usko4x6s Transcript: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/07/28/nato-ukraine-russia-china-war