By Sedick Crombie
Introduction
The renowned Spanish-American philosopher, poet, and novelist George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (1). This quotation has never been more relevant than in the context of current global geopolitical developments. The world probably never envisaged that we would once again find ourselves at a crossroads, as developments in the early and mid-20th century had already made this planet a precarious place. That was the century of two World Wars, along with numerous smaller conflicts across the globe.
One would have imagined that the devastation left in the wake of these two calamities would have prompted countries to adopt a more nuanced and measured approach to international disputes. Alas, here we are once again standing at the precipice of potential human annihilation, as global instability persists across the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Southern Asia, and beyond. Humanity appears to have ignored the debilitating effects of large-scale military interventions, which pit nations and peoples against each other. Current global developments are not encouraging; it seems the world is once again sliding toward large-scale conflict, making Santayana’s warning a prophetic reality.
The United States and Israel: Preparing to Invade Iran and the Surge Toward World War III
The escalating tensions between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other, are taking on an increasingly alarming dimension. Each day brings new developments, threats, and counter-threats, compounding an already dire situation. No world leader currently possesses the gravitas or preparedness to de-escalate tensions. In some cases, European nations tacitly endorse U.S. and Israeli intentions by remaining silent.
Donald Trump, emboldened by his high-profile operation in Venezuela against President Nicolás Maduro, is reportedly being encouraged by Benjamin Netanyahu to leverage this momentum to target Iran. This operation would effectively continue the previous 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, after which Israel requested U.S. intervention for a ceasefire. Netanyahu perceives the Maduro operation as an opportunity to intensify efforts against Iran with a multidimensional approach.
The signs of a possible invasion are becoming increasingly pronounced. U.S. strategy has included warnings to the Iranian government, sponsoring and funding internal uprisings, amplifying dissident voices, controlling media narratives to undermine Iranian leadership, and threatening military intervention under the guise of protecting civilians. The U.S. and Israel see this as a critical opportunity to attempt regime change in Iran.
Iran, however, has learned from its previous 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025, and has warned that any sign of U.S. or Israeli aggression will provoke pre-emptive strikes. American military bases and warships in the region would be legitimate targets, and even European or Arab countries supporting an American-Israeli attack would not be spared. The kidnapping of Maduro has heightened Iran’s alertness, as the twin threat of Trump and Netanyahu is viewed as highly unpredictable.
Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear program is increasingly seen as a deterrent against modern imperialist ambitions. The possibility of nuclear warfare is no longer far-fetched, especially given that Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and maintains the so-called “Samson Option” as a last resort. We are living in dangerous and critical times, with global tensions teetering on a knife’s edge—a situation that raises the specter of a potential World War III.
Parallels with History: Déjà Vu and the World at a Crossroads
The world has faced similar crises twice before: in 1914 with World War I and in 1939 with World War II. World War I began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by a Bosnian Serb in Sarajevo. World War II began when Adolf Hitler’s Germany invaded Poland. The protagonists of World War I were Britain, France, Russia, and later Italy against Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire. In World War II, the Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan—faced the Allies: the U.S., UK, Soviet Union, China, and France (2).
Realpolitik: The Realism of Geopolitics
Geopolitical alliances and agreements are fluid and driven by self-interest. Loyalty to a partner may be noble, but it is rarely the final arbiter when decisions are made. Historical and modern events demonstrate that nations prioritize their own interests above formal agreements.
For instance, the U.S., under Trump, exhibited strategic interest in Greenland, allegedly to counter Chinese and Russian activity—claims largely debunked by analysts. Critics argue that the true motivation was Greenland’s untapped natural resources, including oil and rare earth minerals. Trump’s approach reflects a unilateral, coercive style, disregarding Denmark’s NATO membership and historical alliances. Previous U.S. administrations relied on diplomacy and trade-offs, but Trump has favored a “battering ram” approach to foreign policy.
This underscores a critical lesson: agreements, even those that appear ironclad, can unravel under unpredictable leadership—a pattern evident in 1914 and 1939.
Santayana’s Quotation and Modern-Day Geopolitics: An Analogy
Juxtaposing modern developments with 1939-1945 reveals striking parallels. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party exploited domestic economic grievances and targeted “the other” (Gypsies, Jews, homosexuals) as scapegoats. Nazi Brownshirts enforced this ideology through violence and intimidation.
Today, elements of U.S. politics echo this pattern. Trump’s MAGA base identifies immigrants, Hispanics, Blacks, Arabs, and Muslims as scapegoats for domestic woes. ICE enforcement actions mirror historical tactics of targeting marginalized groups. The 2026 U.S.-hosted World Cup evokes a shadow of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, a global stage Hitler used to promote national supremacy. U.S. and European media, like Goebbels’ propaganda apparatus, shape narratives to support this agenda. The parallels between pre-WWII Germany and modern geopolitics are stark, as history appears to be repeating itself.
Conclusion
The world faces unprecedented uncertainty. Polarization among nations is deepening, with weaker countries coerced by stronger, militarily and economically dominant states. Diplomacy and international institutions have been sidelined. Powerful countries such as the U.S., Israel, and EU nations act unilaterally, marginalizing organizations like the UN, ICC, ICJ, G20, WHO, WTO, and UNHCR.
This hegemonic approach accelerates polarization and pushes the world closer to the brink. Karl Marx famously wrote, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce” (4), a notion that seems increasingly validated by current global developments.
References
Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery: https://americanart.si.edu
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org
Wesley D. Chapin, Ausländer raus? The Empirical Relationship between Immigration and Crime in Germany, Social Science Quarterly, Vol.78, No.2, June 1997
Web.onlineplants.com.au
This article represents the personal views and opinions of the author. It does not purport to present established fact, nor does it necessarily reflect the views of publisher. Readers are encouraged to engage critically with the content and seek a range of perspectives on the issues discussed.