Escobar: USA vs BRICS: a global power struggle
US vs BRICS: A global power conflict that no 1 can ignore – is the title of the interview that the well-known geopolitic analyst Pepe Escobar gave to justice Andrew Napolitano on 18 March 2026 in the Judging Freedom program.
In the face of violent escalation in the mediate East, Escobar analyses the explosive situation and its far-reaching consequences for the planet order.
The conflict between the US and the BRICS alliance reached a new, dangerous level. While the West, headed by the US and Israel, takes military action against Iran, The multipolar BRICS task is falling apart from the inside.
Escobar draws a gloomy picture: an attack on Iran's civilian energy infrastructure means a transition to a full war that can throw the planet economy into the abyss.
Final escalation: attack on South Parks
Escobar firmly stresses that fresh events are a point of no return.
Israel – supported and under force from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United arabian Emirates – together with the US bombed the South Pars gas refinery, the world's largest gas deposit. This deposit is shared by Iran and Qatar (North Dome).
The attack was not aimed at military targets, but at civilian energy infrastructure. Escobar interprets this as an effort at the economical and political collapse of the Iranian state.
Iran reacted immediately by issuing an order to evacuate many power facilities in the Persian Gulf and threatening to retaliate: refineries in Saudi Arabia (e.g. Samref and Jubail), Al-Hosn gas field in the arabian Emirates, Mesaieed petrochemical complex (related to Chevron) and Ras Laffan refineries (phases 1 and 2) in Qatar – including the world's largest gas export terminal.
Escobar quotes Iranian sources: “We are ready for full war”.
Oil prices have already exceeded $150 per barrel; experts anticipate prices of $200 or more.
Escobar claimed that the US and Israel ignore the global economical consequences. Their goal is to destruct all opposition structures in Iran.
Previous attempts, specified as attacks (e.g. on Ayatollah Chamenei) or bombing, failed due to decentralised Iranian mosaic strategy, which did not violate underground rocket bases and drones. [Neither 31 independent (in case of assault) military territory commanders md]
To guarantee continuity, fresh leaders specified as Saeed Jalili (former head of the atomic program) were appointed.
No Return: The Price of full War
Escobar warns: This is no longer a limited conflict.
Iran has long demanded the withdrawal of all U.S. military bases from Western Asia, the reparation and resolution of the Lebanon problem as conditions for ceasefire.
Negotiations failed; US peculiar Envoy Steve Witkoff sent texts to the Iranian abroad Minister, but failed.
Trump appears to be “out of mind” and “fully controlled” by “the logic of a psychokiller”, and its driving force is despair of failed plans.
The planet economy is facing a disaster: an energy war in the Persian Gulf would destruct supply chains, would origin a sharp increase in inflation and an increase in gas prices in the US to $150 per gallon.
Ormuz Strait: Iran introduces fresh rules
Iran does not block the Strait of Ormuz completely, and even reorganizes it.
Escobar describes the ‘toll collection’ system: tankers pay in Petrojuanas (not dollars), contact Iranian authorities and swim close Iranian territorial waters.
A Pakistani tanker (Karachi) has late successfully done so – payment in Petro-Yuan, work to Iran, way along the Iranian border.
This could possibly bring Iran $70 billion a year and further marginalize the US dollar.
BRICS in Crisis: Betrayal and Fall
The essence of the title: U.S. conflict versus BRICS.
Escobar, who himself comes from the BRICS country, believes that the alliance is “in a deep coma”.
India under Modi "successed all paths" for BRICS:
- Modi succumbed to Trump's force and reduced Russian oil imports, returning later to the first plan – But now Russia does not grant any discounts, only place prices.
- 48 hours before the “decapitalisation” against Iran (28 February 2026) Modi visited Israel, calling him “the Fatherland” and India “the Fatherland” – an open alliance with “the Axis Syndicate”.
Reasons: arms transactions with Israel, ideological proximity to Hindu supremacy and Zionism, financial interests of Indian elites.
Escobar: “If this is not treason, what is it?”
Saudi Arabia and the United arabian Emirates (BRICS member) incited Trump against Iran – they should be excluded.
BRICS could last without India, preferably through suspension or reproof (e.g. on the part of the Lavrow). However, kindness (especially from Russia) prevents it.
BRICS as a hope for a multipolar planet order is “dead” – at least until the next summit in India.
Perspectives: The planet on the Edge
Escobar concludes pessimistically: Nobody sleeps that night.
The conflict threatens to destruct global energy resources, further weaken the dollar and break up BRICS.
Iran is prepared for asymmetric massive attacks on American-Israeli bastions. The U.S. puts everything on a change of government – but Iran holds on tight.
This interview shows that the conflict between the US and BRICS is no longer an abstract concept.
This is manifested by bombs in gas fields, by a sharp emergence in prices and by breaking alliances.
Multipolar imagination dies – or emerges again from chaos.
The next hours and days will find whether the planet will plunge into an uncontrolled energy and economical war.
