Is the United States experiencing its own Suez Canal moment?
In this explosive conversation, Jamarl Thomas and Carl Zha examine the consequences of the Iran war and what they see as dramatically weakened U.S. power across West and East Asia.
The discussion begins with a potentially historic shift on the Korean Peninsula: South Korea signals greater military independence and explores an actual peace agreement with North Korea. Could the end of the Korean War remove one of the major justifications for permanent U.S. military presence in South Korea?
Carl argues that Washington's strategic priorities are more centered on Israel and the Persian Gulf. U.S. allies in Asia are asked to carry more of the burden to maintain the American-led security system.
The conversation turns to the condition of the U.S. Navy, the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's ability to strike U.S. positions, and the enormous economic imbalance involved in modern missile warfare.
“The U.S. can print money, but they cannot print missiles.”
Carl and Jamarl also discuss why a direct U.S.-China military confrontation may be far more difficult than many Washington policymakers imagine. China's control of critical supply chains, rare earth elements, and tungsten—combined with America's limited manufacturing capacity—could create enormous problems in a prolonged conflict.
The discussion expands to Japan's accelerated remilitarization, the possible reinterpretation of Article 9, and Washington's effort to turn Japan and South Korea into greater military partners as the United States struggles to maintain global commitments.
Finally, the conversation examines Trump's threat of an unprecedented economic blockade against Iran, China's refusal to obey U.S. sanctions, increased use of RMB settlements, Brazil's interest to borrow in yuan, and the broader movement toward de-dollarization and a BRICS-centered financial system.
In this episode:
• South Korea pushes for greater military independence
• Could the Korean War end with a peace treaty?
• Why the U.S. shifts military resources toward West Asia
• Iran and the Strait of Hormuz
• The limits of U.S. missile-defense economics
• Why America's military-industrial base matters
• China's rare-earth and tungsten leverage
• Why a U.S.-China war may be a fantasy
• Japan's acceleration of remilitarization
• Article 9 and Japan's military role
• The economic crisis that faces Japan
• Chinese EVs and Japan's automotive industry
• Trump's new economic war against Iran
• Why China may ignore U.S. secondary sanctions
• RMB settlements and the decline of dollar dominance
• Brazil and the increased appeal of yuan finance
• BRICS and the long-term move toward de-dollarization
• Is this America's Suez Canal moment?