John Helmer: US Empire, Iran, Russian Oligarchy, Permanent War, & Whither Multipolarity?

In this in-depth episode of 'Geopolitics & Empire,' host Charissa interviews John Helmer, a veteran foreign correspondent and longtime observer of Russian and Middle Eastern affairs. Helmer provides a sobering analysis of the current global power struggle, emphasizing that the U.S. empire remains resilient despite tactical setbacks in Ukraine and Iran. He argues that while the U.S. has achieved operational success in military operations, Iran has secured a strategic victory by surviving, inflicting unprecedented damage on Gulf states, and establishing a credible deterrent capability. Helmer warns of a dangerous factional divide within the Trump administration, with hardline Zionist advisors pushing for genocidal policies and a counter-faction led by J.D. Vance advocating for a more restrained, long-term imperial strategy. He also critiques the collapse of the BRICS vision for multipolarity, noting that China and India have prioritized bilateral deals with the U.S. over collective anti-imperialism. Russia, he contends, is facing internal economic strain and political fragility ahead of its September parliamentary elections, while Putin’s leadership is increasingly reactive. The episode concludes with a bleak forecast of 'permanent war'—a 100- to 200-year conflict across Europe, Asia, and the Americas—driven by entrenched military-industrial complexes and ideological warfare, with no near-term resolution in sight. Helmer calls for evidence-based skepticism, intellectual rigor, and the cultivation of a genuine anti-war movement rooted in truth, not rhetoric.