Pepe Escobar | Ukraine War is Desperate Bid by US to Preserve Hegemony and Prevent Multipolar World | Jan. 28, 2023

Source: Finian Cunningham youtube, Pepe Escobar Twitter



The war in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine and Russia with the US and NATO acting as seemingly benevolent supporters of Ukraine, as the Western media portray.

The United States and its NATO allies are deeply involved in the conflict. The military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 – after 20 years of futile occupation – was a calculated “reorganization of firepower” against Russia, says Pepe Escobar.

Ukraine is merely a proxy and ultimately cannon fodder for American imperial planners.

This war is part of a bigger geopolitical confrontation between the US and Russia, China and other nations that are pushing for the emergence of a multipolar world. That is a multipolar world no longer under the hegemony of US-dominated Western capitalism.

Pepe Escobar assesses the bigger picture and outlines how the US imperial state is in "panic mode" to shore up the collapsing American-controlled global capitalist system, and in particular the privileged position of the US dollar.

Going to war with Russia presently and in the longer term against China is part of the desperate dynamic to prolong the dominant position of Washington that was established after the Second World War. That postwar imperial order – euphemistically called the "rules-based order" – is increasingly falling into disrepute from unbridled imperialist wars and abuse of financial controls.

The vast majority of the planet wants liberation from the US/Western warmongering system that underpins capitalist exploitation that only enriches a global elite. The war in Ukraine is but the manifestation of the breakdown in US global power and the desperation to preserve the systematic inequality that defines capitalism.

This year is fraught with extreme danger, says Pepe Escobar. But if the psychotic US deep-state planners can be contained by Russia and China without an all-out catastrophic war erupting then there is a chance of a more hopeful, peaceful and just world order emerging.

Pepe Escobar | Major Insights | BRICS 2025 Summit | July 29, 2025

Source: Think BRICS youtube, Pepe Escobar on X



Description:
BRICS 2025 Summit delivers shocking revelations as Pepe Escobar exposes how the BRICS 2025 summit exceeded all expectations despite initial skepticism. In this exclusive BRICS news analysis, renowned geopolitical expert Pepe Escobar breaks down the major developments from the BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio, revealing how Russia's announcement about the New Development Bank (NDB) bypassing SWIFT represents the most significant de-dollarization move yet.

Discover why Lula's leadership surprised everyone, how Modi's strategic partnership with Brazil positions India as the next BRICS chair, and the real reasons behind Xi Jinping's absence. Escobar reveals exclusive insights from BRICS Business Council meetings, the emergence of a BRICS media alliance, and how BRICS partners like Malaysia and Iran are reshaping global geopolitics.

Learn about BRICS expansion strategies, the critical role of Southeast Asia and ASEAN integration, and how the Global South is building parallel financial systems. This BRICS summit analysis covers everything from Indonesia's growing influence to the formation of alternative payment mechanisms that challenge Western dominance.

Get the inside story on BRICS trade developments, media platform initiatives, and why Trump's immediate tariff response proves BRICS 2025 highlights represent a genuine threat to dollar hegemony.

This BRICS 2025 analysis doesn't include detailed technical specifications of new payment systems, specific investment figures for China-Brazil projects, or comprehensive coverage of all BRICS partners' individual policies. We don't explore internal NDB restructuring processes, detailed ASEAN member country positions, or extensive analysis of Iran-Indonesia bilateral relations outside the BRICS framework.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and welcome to Think BRICS
00:45 - Reflections on the BRICS Summit in Rio and early skepticism
01:35 - Success of the summit and key pre-summit engagements
02:53 - BRICS Business Day and global participation
04:00 - Discussions on BRICS investment and networking
05:15 - Major announcement: NDB to bypass SWIFT
06:42 - The role of Dilma Rousseff and NDB challenges
08:05 - Importance of the Rio Declaration and its geopolitical impact
09:10 - De-dollarization and BRICS economic strategy
10:33 - Lula’s renewed leadership role at BRICS
12:46 - Anwar Ibrahim’s impactful speech and ASEAN connection
13:55 - Malaysia’s diplomatic leadership in ASEAN
16:16 - Key takeaways: Trade in national currencies and geopolitical coordination
17:12 - Hybrid war threats and regional destabilization
18:33 - Leadership dynamics: Anwar Ibrahim’s role and BRICS unity
19:30 - Proposal for an intra-BRICS media alliance
21:01 - Guancha, Sputnik, and Brazil247 media collaboration
22:30 - The need for decentralized media across the Global South
23:00 - Examples of BRICS-aligned media initiatives
24:10 - Audience reach of Guancha and Think BRICS' growth
25:25 - NDB’s second golden decade and expansion plans
26:30 - Importance of NDB’s visibility and future growth
27:45 - Reflections on the Rio summit’s improvisational success
28:56 - On Xi Jinping's absence and Modi’s central role
30:35 - Xi’s strategy and Brazil-India cooperation
31:48 - Major Chinese investments in Brazil are already underway
34:42 - India’s growing influence in BRICS and global outreach
36:28 - BRICS support for Iran and final declaration diplomacy
38:15 - Iran’s vocal participation and united BRICS stance
38:55 - Tensions between India and China within BRICS
39:55 - The importance of Iran and Indonesia as key BRICS members
40:55 - Looking ahead to India’s BRICS chairmanship
42:45 - Conclusion and future outlook

Pepe Escobar Travels Silk Road with Carl Zha | Nov. 3, 2025

Source: Carl Zha youtube



Description:
Carl Zha has an incredible conversation with legendary journalist Pepe Escobar, fresh off the road from a groundbreaking trip across China's Xinjiang region. We traveled the modern Silk Road, from the high-tech capital of Urumqi to the ancient oasis of Kashgar, and what we witnessed completely shatters the Western media narrative.

In this episode, Pepe contrasts his travels in Xinjiang from 25 years ago with the reality on the ground today. We discuss the mind-boggling modernization, the seamless integration of ethnic groups, the truth behind the "redevelopment" of Kashgar's old city, and the shocking scale of the Belt and Road Initiative's infrastructure. This is a firsthand, on-the-ground account you won't get anywhere else.

TIMESTAMPS: Key Topics Discussed

(00:00) - Introduction to Pepe Escobar, the "OG" Foreign Correspondent
(01:45) - Pepe's Career: From Asia Times to Being Smeared as a "CCP Agent"
(06:50) - The Mission: Documenting the New Silk Road in Xinjiang
(08:45) - First Impressions: The "Enormous Shock" of Modern Xinjiang
(11:30) - The Karakoram Highway & China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
(13:45) - Crossing the Taklamakan Desert: A Modern Engineering Marvel
(16:10) - The Reality of Kashgar: From Segregated City to Integrated Hub
(19:30) - An Emotional Moment: Showing Locals Footage of Their City from 1998
(22:45) - People-to-People Exchange: Han Chinese, Uyghurs, and Others Living & Working Together
(25:15) - The Tourism Boom: Driven Domestically, Missing Westerners Due to "Demonization"
(29:00) - On the Ground Security: Facial Recognition, Polite Police, and the Real Story
(33:45) - The Upcoming Documentary: A "Multipolar" BRICS Production
(37:20) - Plans for Part 2: Focusing on Northern Xinjiang and Central Asian Borders
(41:50) - Xinjiang as a High-Tech & Green Energy Hub
(47:10) - The Power of Long-Term Planning: 5-Year Plans vs. Western Short-Termism
(52:30) - The "Asian Century" is Already Here: The Vibe of Development vs. Western Decline
(58:00) - China's Offer to the Global South vs. The Washington Consensus
(01:01:30) - How to Follow Pepe Escobar's Work

Pepe Escobar | Invasion of Libya, Arab Spring & R2P, October 20, 2011

Source: redicecreations.com, Pepe Escobar at Asiatimes



October 20, 2011–Pepe Escobar, born in Brazil, is the roving correspondent for Hong Kong/Thailand-based Asia Times and analyst for Toronto/Washington-based The Real News. Since the mid-1980s he has lived and worked as a foreign correspondent in London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles and Singapore/Bangkok. Since 9/11 he has extensively covered Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia, China, Iran, Iraq and the wider Middle East. He authored three books and is associated with the Paris-based European Academy of Geopolitics. In the first hour, Pepe will talk about the neo-con agenda of “humanitarian imperialism” and the concept of RtoP, “The Responsibility to Protect.” We’ll discuss the NATO agenda and strategies in Libya. Then, Pepe talks about the Arab Spring, rebels and future guerilla wars. We’ll get into the specifics of why the west is so focused on Libya. ~Red Ice Creations
download mp3

The China You've NEVER Seen: Pepe Escobar's Xinjiang Journey Will Stun You | Oct. 9, 2025

Source: Counter Currents youtube



Description:
They told you one story about Xinjiang. Pepe Escobar went to see for himself. What he found was not oppression, but an economic and technological boom that will leave you speechless.

In this latest episode of Counter Currents, Pepe takes us on a journey across China's new Silk Road, revealing:

• The truth about development and life in Xinjiang.
How China built a highway with Wi-Fi across a deadly desert.
• Why Chinese brands are now BETTER than Western ones.
• The end of American dominance and the rise of a new world.
Forget everything you think you know. Watch to see the real China.

Timeline:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Pepe Escobar’s Trip to China
00:01:19 - Journey Planning and Reflections
00:02:44 - Xi Jinping's Influence and Modernization
00:03:05 - Tianjin Summit and Major Events
00:05:07 - Silk Road Journey Begins in Xi'an
00:06:20 - China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
00:10:18 - Exploration of Xinjiang’s Silk Road
00:11:06 - Modernization in Remote Areas of Xinjiang
00:13:56 - Crossing the Taklamakan Desert
00:15:05 - Lost Tribe of the Taklamakan and Uyghur Life
00:17:15 - Modernization and Infrastructure in Xinjiang
00:27:11 - Energy Hub of China
00:29:31 - Economic Transformation of China and Belt and Road
00:48:28 - Chinese Meritocracy and Central Planning
00:51:21 - Technology Leadership and National Development
00:56:17 - Decline of Western Influence
00:59:16 - The Future of Global Relations
01:02:34 - Final Thoughts on China's Development and US Relations

Pepe Escobar | World Reactions to Putin Peace Plan | June 18, 2024

Source: Judge Napolitano youtube



Welcome to our latest episode, where we dive deep into the global reactions to Vladimir Putin's Peace Plan with renowned geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar. In this insightful conversation, we explore the nuances of Putin's proposal and its potential impact on international relations.

Topics Covered:

- The specifics of Putin's Peace Plan
- How different countries are responding to the plan
- The implications for global power dynamics
- Pepe Escobar's expert analysis on the situation
- Potential outcomes and future scenarios

Pepe Escobar on ISIS and on MH17

Source: ancreport.com, Ry Dawson youtube



Description from Pepe Escobar:
Always a pleasure to talk to Ryan in the dead of the Asian night. A lot on Syria, Iraq, Kurdistan, The Caliph, MH17 - the talk was pre-beheading though but the song remains the same. -Pepe Escobar

Pepe Escobar & Larry Johnson | US v. BRICS: The Global Battle for Power | June 28, 2025

Source: Counter Currents youtube



Iran, Russia, and China are at the heart of a geopolitical storm, but why did Iran pull back from its aggressive stance? What’s really going on with BRICS and global alliances? In this interview, geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar helps break down the hidden dynamics that could shape the future of world politics. Watch to understand how Iran, Israel, and BRICS are navigating a complex web of power, strategy, and survival. Don't miss out on the details that are shaping today's global conflicts.

TIMELINE:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:20 - The Growing Power of BRICS and Its Challenge to the U.S.
00:02:47 - U.S. Pressure on Iran: Escobar’s Key Analysis
00:06:05 - BRICS’ Bold Move Against the U.S.
00:07:53 - Russia and China’s Rising Financial Power
00:10:30 - Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions: What’s at Stake?
00:12:17 - Russia’s Military Bond with Iran: A Game Changer?
00:15:54 - Escobar on Iran’s Military Capabilities and Strategy
00:17:43 - Russia, China, and Iran: A New Axis Against the U.S.
00:19:00 - Inside Iran: Power Struggles and Global Influence
00:23:53 - Iran’s Calculated Approach to Beating Up Israel
00:27:52 - Putin and Trump: Global Strategy and Power Plays
00:29:02 - BRICS vs. U.S.: Russia’s Fight for Global Dominance
00:31:43 - The Battle for Hormuz: Iran’s Strategic Calculus
00:34:47 - Putin’s Role in Defending Iran and Strengthening BRICS
00:38:23 - The U.S. and the Global War for Influence
00:41:32 - The Future of Iran’s Nuclear Program and Global Stability

Pepe Escobar | Thailand's coup in four minutes, May 22, 2014

Source: RT.com



Asia Times correspondent Pepe Escobar explains the military coup in Thailand: Bangkok elites, militaries and former PM in a power struggle. Pepe calls it a 'soft coup' but warns of what might happen next.

Pepe Escobar | Can BRICS Dethrone US Empire? | Aug 21, 2023

Source: New Rules youtube



In this week’s episode of the New Rules podcast, host Dimitri Simes Jr. speaks with Pepe Escobar, a geopolitical analyst and writer, about BRICS, its opportunities and challenges, ahead of the summit in South Africa this week.

"We should not expect BRICS in two days in South Africa, turning the rules based international order upside down. No, this is going to be a gradual, slow moving, very challenging process. But what's happening in South Africa and immediately after South Africa, let's say, is a sort of Rosetta Stone for what's going to happen ahead."

00:00 Let's roll!
1:30 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg
8:47 BRICS expansion and BRICS+
22:20 Challenges of BRICS' development
29:49 The rising role of Africa
33:27 BRICS' internal divisions
52:01 BRICS needs its own "soft power"
54:59 Don't be a stranger!

BRICS RISING - Pepe Escobar, Scott Ritter & Mark Sleboda | Oct. 20, 2024

Source: Consortium News youtube



Description:

CN Live! previews the BRICS summit starting Tuesday in Kazan, Russia as Ukraine falters, the Mideast blows up and BRICS advances its alternate economic system. With Pepe Escobar, Scott Ritter and Mark Sleboda.

William Engdahl | The Rape of Russia | Apr. 16, 2018

Source: thesaker.is, williamengdahl.com



Introduction by Pepe Escobar:

William Engdahl is one of the world’s top geopolitical analysts. His books – from Century of War to Full Spectrum Dominance – are absolutely essential to understand how the self-described exceptional nation created and expanded its global hegemony tentacles.

A measure of his influence is that as much as Engdahl may be dismissed or derided across the Beltway, the usual suspects do read him – and are incapable of finding conclusive arguments to prove him wrong.

This extensive interview by financial journalist Lars Schall is largely centered on Chapter 3 – The Rape of Russia – of Engdahl’s new book Manifest Destiny: Democracy as Cognitive Dissonance.

Here you will find all you need to know about the genesis of the 1990s Russian oligarchs; the dirty deals of the Yeltsin mafia; everything from the plunder of Soviet gold to the dodgy operations of the elder Bush’s brother; the incredible Yamashita gold story; the “privatization coupon” scam; the way the Harvard mafia run the Russian economy – all the way to Putin’s uphill battle throughout the 2000s to turn Russia into a functioning economy as NATO kept marching east.

As Engdahl notes, if we don’t understand what happened in Russia in the 1990s it’s absolutely impossible to contextualize the neocons and US Think Tankland’s deep hatred and 24/7 demonization campaign of Putin’s Russia.

So sit back, relax, enjoy the crash course and keep it as an essential reference you will find nowhere else. -Pepe Escobar

Full Transcript

Pepe Escobar | Trump in DEEP Trouble as Putin Drops Missile BOMBSHELL, Venezuela War ERUPTS | Nov. 6, 2025

Source: Danny Haiphong youtube

Description:
Trump is going nuclear on Russia, but Putin has just called his bluff after a humiliating US defeat to China.Geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar joins to break down the bombshell victories achieved by Russia and China over Trump's nuclear escalations, as well as the next phase in the empire of chaos's war on BRICS.

Pepe Escobar | The US 2020 Presidential Election (Day 3) | Nov. 6, 2020

Source: Consortium News youtube



As promised, the full interview with Pepe Escobar, journalist for Asia Times, on the US Presidential Election.

For an unknown reason, the sound cut out twice on this interview during our livestream, but we recorded at our end and have been able to restore the audio.

To make it easy to identify those sections, we have a used gallery view of the participants. Scroll along until you see all 3 onscreen. -Consortium News

CrossTalk: #IranDeal - Good Deal? (ft. Pepe Escobar), November 27, 2013

Source: RT.com



How significant is the nuclear deal with Iran? How does it affect internal politics in Iran? Is this deal a sign of major geopolitical realignment? And what are the biggest stumbling blocks on the way? CrossTalking with Pepe Escobar, Richard Weitz and Daniel McAdams. -RT.com

Pepe Escobar on GRTV | Pipeline Politics and the Syrian War, September 3, 2013

Source: tv.globalresearch.ca



Roving correspondent and frequent guest Pepe Escobar of Asia Times Online joins us once again to discuss the geopolitical machinations behind the latest developments in Syria. We discuss the possibility of an Iran-Iraq-Syria pipeline and how the regional players react to such a proposal, and Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia's role in the current conflict.

Pepe Escobar | Kiev coup is tequila sunrise revolution with neo-Nazi flavor, March 10, 2014

Source: RT.com



A referendum in Crimea will say in a week if the region wants more autonomy from Kiev, or if it sees itself a part of Russia. To discuss the upcoming vote, RT speaks to foreign affairs journalist, Pepe Escobar. -RT.com

On The Money: Who pays the price for InfoWars? (ft. Pepe Escobar & Ben Aris), May 28, 2014

Source: RT.com



News goes on to influence public opinion and private decision making, sometimes forcing the hand of politicians with demands that "something must be done" about this or that situation. With Russia in the info wars crosshairs, is it possible for international players to resist the media hype and focus on maximizing economic opportunity for all sides? To discuss this and more, RT's Peter Lavelle is joined by Ben Aris, Pepe Escobar, John Laughland, Alexander Mercouris, and Sebastian Sass, in co-operation with the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum. -RT.com

CrossTalk | Empire of Chaos (ft. Pepe Escobar) | Nov. 24. 2014

Source: RT.com



How should we describe the era we all now live in – has using the term ‘post-Cold War’ become meaningless? What is the dominant trend – growing multi-polarity or the west’s drive for absolute security and hegemony? Or is it just chaos? CrossTalking with Pepe Escobar, Patrick Henningsen and James Carafano. -RT.com

Pepe Escobar | ‘China's V-Day parade is sending multiple messages to Asia and the West’ | Sept. 2, 2015

Source: RT.com



China is marking the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan in WW2 with a spectacular military parade involving thousands of soldiers and hundreds of military hardware . Political analyst Pepe Escobar told RT what the multiple messages that China is delivering to the world could be. -RT.com