As Charles Dickens had written, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.
As Charles Dickens had written, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.
By Onur Sinan Güzaltan
The world keeps revolving, Swiftly, relentlessly. And it changes…
A brief glance at the past month’s headlines reveals the weight of change and uncertainty.
1. Trump’s new tariffs
President Trump declared a new wave of tariffs only on China, the European Union and the southern neighbors tightening his policy of “turning inward”. We are now entering a chapter where Europe must fend for itself not just politically, but economically. Analysts increasingly warn that Trump’s moves could ignite a new global inflationary surge. The already-strained world economy is getting closer to a meltdown.
2. The US and Israel persist in their stance on Iran
From Palestine to Lebanon, Iraq to Syria, and Yemen… Tehran’s allies have been systematically targeted. Now, whispers grow louder of an assault on Iran itself. Iran, in turn, remains defiant, rejecting US’s demands outright. Meanwhile, China and Russia reiterate their opposition to any such aggression. The Trump-Netanyahu meeting on April 7 suggests that, for now, Washington will try diplomatic channels before resorting to force.
3. The collapse of the state in Syria
Following Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Syria’s disintegration created a power vacuum, and it was seized by Israel. Crossing the Golan Heights, Israeli forces now operate deep within Syrian territory, particularly around Damascus. Meanwhile, the al-Golani government embroils in tensions with Syria’s Nusayri community. Israel’s recent attacks targeted areas where Turkey wants for bases, which signals a clear intent to curb Ankara’s influence in the region.
Without US intervention, a direct Turkish-Israeli confrontation in Syria appears likely. However, the Trump administration would play mediator, leveraging his ties with both Erdoğan and Netanyahu to prevent an open conflict, thus allowing all their power to allocate on Iran.
4. Gaza
As Israel extends its occupation in Syria, it continues its genocide in Gaza. The Arab states, Egypt in the first place, watch passively, only giving hollow declarations. The ongoing genocide in Gaza is putting immense pressure on Arab governments. In the coming months, popular uprisings across the Middle East may gain momentum.
5. The US fails to isolate China through rapprochement with Russia
The alliance between Moscow and Beijing grows stronger. High-level visits and economic agreements continue interrupted. Meanwhile, Trump’s new tariffs have thrown global markets into disarray. China’s response, whatever it turns out, will be decisive in shaping what comes next.
6. Yemen’s resistance continues
Despite US’s bombardments, Yemeni resistance continues. The people of Yemen persist in targeting US and Israeli ships in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which has delivered heavy blows to the economies of Israel and several European states. The fate of Yemen’s resistance is tied to US/Israel-Iran dynamics.
7. Europe in political turmoil
The political chaos unleashed in Europe following Trump’s coming to power rise continues. After efforts to block anti-EU candidate Georgescu in Romania, Marine Le Pen, the frontrunner in upcoming elections in France, was disqualified.
These moves clearly target anti-Brussels voice in Europe. It is likely that similar purges will expand to all Europe. Yet, dissent also stirs in the mainstream politics. In France, figures like Dominique de Villepin advocate a Europe that is “respectful of national states, open to diplomacy with Russia and distanced to the US”. This stance that may gain more support from the European people.
8. Europe’s rearmament
While Brussels purges its dissenters and the ones who advocate for good relations with Russia, the continent accelerates its arms buildup. Led by the usual suspect of wars, Germans, Europe is rearming against the “Russian threat”.
Perhaps European technocrats see in war economics a path out of economic stagnation.
9. The US and Russia couldn’t come to terms completely
Even if they were to reach an accord, Kyiv seems determined to ignore it. In the coming period, purge of Zelenskyy wouldn’t come to be a surprise.
10. Russia stands its ground against Europe’s war drums
In the face of Trump’s unpredictability and Europe’s rearmament, Russia maintains its military position. President Putin has approved a decree to conscript 160,000 new soldiers. Draft notices are already being distributed across the country.
11. In Türkiye, where the public grapples with economic hardship and social inequality, the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, became the final spark.
Millions, many of them young, have taken to the streets, chanting for justice, equality, and the republic. Clearly, the protests go beyond support for İmamoğlu or the Republican People’s Party (CHP). It is rather a broader Kemalist awakening.
In short, humanity continues to navigate in the midst of a great storm.
The Western-centered world has collapsed.
A battle is being fought over what will replace it.
In the words of Charles Dickens:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way”
Yes, I think we are again at the point Dickens described.