Jeffrey Sachs’ Explosive Speech: Blasts U.S. Dominance in EU Parliament & Europe’s Wake-Up Call

Introduction: A Call for Peace in a World Shaped by Power

The global stage is shifting, and few voices cut through the noise like Jeffrey Sachs—an American economist with decades of experience advising governments worldwide. In a fiery speech to the European Parliament in 2025, Sachs took aim at U.S. foreign policy, blaming it for three decades of conflict and instability, from Iraq to Ukraine. With a front-row seat to history and a sharp, no-nonsense perspective, he urged Europe to break free from America’s grip and chart its own course. This article dives into Sachs’ bold arguments, unpacking six key ideas: America’s push for unchallenged power through NATO, its role in sparking wars globally, the Ukraine crisis, Europe’s fading influence, the Middle East’s turmoil tied to U.S.-Israeli goals, and a possible reset under a practical-minded Donald Trump.

At its heart, this piece explores how U.S. decisions have sent shockwaves worldwide, often leaving devastation in their wake. Sachs doesn’t just look back—he’s sounding an alarm for Europe, a continent of 450 million people and a $20 trillion economy, to step up. With the Ukraine war’s brutal toll and Trump’s unpredictable leadership in play as of March 2025, the timing couldn’t be more critical. This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a deep dive into what’s happened and a guide for what Europe could do next. We start with the big picture: how America’s quest for dominance, driven by NATO’s expansion, set the stage for today’s tensions.

Section 1: America’s Drive for Dominance Through NATO Expansion

When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, the world changed overnight. Jeffrey Sachs argues that instead of building a shared future, the United States seized the moment to cement itself as the planet’s lone superpower—a choice that’s fueled decades of unrest. In his 2025 European Parliament speech, he pinpointed NATO’s eastward growth as the centerpiece of this strategy, turning a Cold War defense pact into a tool for American control. This section breaks down how it started, how it unfolded, and what it’s led to, using Sachs’ insider insights alongside historical records.

A Broken Promise: The 1991 Turning Point

Sachs zeroes in on a key moment: February 7, 1991. That day, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker III and German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher met Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to hash out German reunification. Baker promised Gorbachev that NATO wouldn’t creep “one inch eastward” beyond a united Germany—a commitment backed up by Genscher and preserved in declassified files at the National Security Archive. Sachs calls this a serious pledge, meant to seal the end of Europe’s Cold War divide. But within years, it was scrapped. By 1994, President Bill Clinton greenlit NATO’s expansion, launching what Sachs labels a 30-year U.S. mission to push the alliance right up to Russia’s borders.

This wasn’t about reacting to new threats—it was a power play. With the Soviet Union gone, U.S. leaders like Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz saw a chance to call the shots globally. Sachs says neutrality became a dirty word in Washington, replaced by a mindset that any region outside U.S. influence was a risk. NATO morphed from a shield against Soviet tanks into a battering ram for America’s new world order.

The Plan Takes Shape: A Strategic Blueprint

The idea wasn’t hidden—it was spelled out in Zbigniew Brzezinski’s 1997 book, The Grand Chessboard. Sachs, who knew Brzezinski, calls it a roadmap for decisions already brewing in Washington. Brzezinski saw NATO’s growth as a way to lock in U.S. dominance over Europe and Asia, betting Russia would have no choice but to fall in line. Sachs disagrees, pointing out this ignored Russia’s ability to push back or team up with nations like China. Still, the plan rolled forward: Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999, followed by seven more countries—including Baltic states right next to Russia—in 2004.

The real trouble brewed when NATO eyed Ukraine and Georgia, nations hugging Russia’s edges. Sachs sees this as crossing a line from reassurance to provocation, echoing old British tactics to box Russia in via the Black Sea. It wasn’t just about defense anymore—it was about power.

Evidence vs. Excuses: What the Records Show

Sachs urges a look at the National Security Archive’s “What Gorbachev Heard” files—dozens of documents proving those 1991 promises. He slams U.S. officials for later dodging them, claiming they were vague or just about East Germany. This rewrite let America shrug off Russia’s complaints as NATO edged closer. The 2008 Bucharest Summit, where NATO vowed Ukraine and Georgia would join someday, was the breaking point. Vladimir Putin begged the West to stop in his 2007 Munich speech, but Sachs says the U.S. forced it through, leaving Europe little say.

The Fallout: A World Split Anew

The result? Russia saw NATO’s march—and U.S. missile systems in Poland and Romania after ditching a key arms treaty in 2002—as a direct threat. What started as grudging acceptance turned into defiance, sparking the 2014 Ukraine crisis and the 2022 invasion—conflicts Sachs ties to U.S. choices. Europe, dragged along by NATO, lost its own voice, stuck watching a mess unfold on its doorstep. This wasn’t just a post-Cold War flex; it was a calculated strategy that’s left the world less secure, setting up our next look at how America’s war habit took hold.

Section 2: Wars as America’s Global Projects

Jeffrey Sachs doesn’t mince words: the wars of the last 30 years—from Iraq to Syria to Ukraine—aren’t random flare-ups. In his European Parliament address, he calls them deliberate U.S. efforts to lock in its top-dog status. With 36 years advising governments across Europe, Russia, and beyond, Sachs argues these conflicts, like the 2003 Iraq invasion and the 1999 Serbia bombing, show a pattern: America picks fights to reshape the world, often dragging Europe and others down with it. This section digs into his evidence, showing how these wars fit the unipolar playbook and what they’ve cost everyone else.

A Mindset of Control: War Over Talk

Sachs traces this to the early ’90s, when the Soviet collapse handed America the reins. Instead of teamwork, leaders like Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz chose to go it alone. Sachs recalls pitching U.S. aid for Gorbachev’s reforms in 1991, only to get a cold shoulder from the National Security Council—they wanted the Soviet Union weak, not stable. From there, war became the go-to tool. Any country not in America’s orbit—former Soviet allies or independent players—was fair game. Sachs calls it a “non-cooperative” approach, skipping diplomacy for preemptive strikes to keep the U.S. on top.

This wasn’t a fluke—it spanned presidents from Clinton to Biden. Sachs says these wars aimed to knock out threats or boost allies like Israel, leaving chaos in their wake. It’s a thread he sees running through every major conflict since the Cold War ended.

Proof in Action: Iraq, Serbia, and More

Take the 2003 Iraq War. Sachs calls it a setup by Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. hawks like Paul Wolfowitz, not a 9/11 reaction. He points to a 1996 plan, “Clean Break,” where Netanyahu’s team pushed for Iraq’s fall to help Israel dominate—a scheme the U.S. ran with years later. France and Germany said no at the UN, but America went anyway, and Sachs says that was the last time Europe really pushed back.

Then there’s 1999, when NATO bombed Serbia for 78 days over Kosovo. Sachs sees it as America flexing muscle in Europe’s backyard, splitting Yugoslavia to prove NATO’s worth after the Cold War. It wasn’t just about saving lives—it was about control. He spots the same pattern elsewhere: South Sudan’s split in 2011, fueled by CIA cash; Libya’s 2011 collapse; Syria’s endless war—all U.S.-backed moves, often tied to Israel’s fight against groups like Hamas.

How It Works: Covert Moves and Big Guns

Sachs lays out the playbook: start with secret regime swaps—like Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan, where he heard from locals about U.S.-funded protests—then go loud with troops or proxies when that fails. He cites a leaked 2014 call between Victoria Nuland and the U.S. ambassador plotting Ukraine’s new government—proof it wasn’t some organic uprising. Proxy wars, like arming Ukraine against Russia, let America hit rivals without losing its own soldiers. Sachs fumes at senators bragging about Ukraine’s million casualties as a cheap win since “no Americans are dying.”

Europe’s Pain: Caught in the Crossfire

Europe’s taken the hit. Iraq’s fallout split allies, Serbia’s bombing shook the Balkans, and Middle East chaos sent refugees flooding in—think 2015’s migrant surge. Ukraine’s war, right next door, hammers Europe’s economy and security, yet Sachs says the EU just cheers America on. A peace deal for Ukraine in 2015, backed by the UN, got trashed by U.S. and Ukrainian stubbornness, with Europe’s leaders too timid to fight for it. The cost? Millions dead or displaced globally, and a Europe stuck picking up the pieces.

Sachs paints a U.S. addicted to war to stay number one—a habit that’s bled into places like Ukraine, as we’ll see next. It’s a messy legacy, and he’s begging Europe to stop playing along.

Section 3: Ukraine – A War Sparked by America’s Ambitions

The Ukraine war, which exploded in February 2022, is no simple Russian power grab, says Jeffrey Sachs. In his 2025 European Parliament speech, he calls it a crisis the U.S. provoked—a direct result of NATO’s push east and America’s obsession with staying on top. With over 30 years advising Ukraine, Russia, and others, plus a front-row seat to the 2014 upheaval and 2021 warnings to the White House, Sachs insists this bloodshed could’ve been avoided. This section unpacks how it started, how it grew, and what it’s cost, framing Ukraine as a pawn in America’s game against Russia, with Europe stuck on the sidelines.

The Fuse: A U.S.-Backed Coup in 2014

Sachs traces the trouble to 2014, when Ukraine’s elected president, Viktor Yanukovich, got ousted. Elected in 2010, Yanukovich wanted Ukraine neutral—friendly with both Russia and the West—extending Russia’s naval base lease in Crimea to 2042. Sachs, who worked in Ukraine then, scoffs at claims Russia was itching to invade; it just wanted its Black Sea foothold. But neutrality didn’t sit with America’s plans. Sachs calls the 2014 Maidan protests a U.S.-run “regime change,” not some people’s uprising. He heard from Kyiv insiders about American cash for buses and media—confirmed by a leaked call where U.S. official Victoria Nuland picked Ukraine’s next leaders, brushing off Europe with a blunt “Fuck the EU.”

This coup lit the spark, but NATO’s long march east fanned the flames. Sachs points to the 2008 NATO summit promising Ukraine membership—despite Putin’s 2007 plea to stop—and U.S. missile systems popping up in Poland and Romania after scrapping a key arms treaty in 2002. Russia saw a threat closing in, and Sachs says America ignored that at its peril.

The Buildup: A War That Could’ve Been Stopped

By late 2021, war loomed. Sachs begged Jake Sullivan, Biden’s security advisor, in a tense December call to promise no NATO expansion into Ukraine. Sullivan brushed it off, saying, “There will be no war”—a call Sachs blames on America’s blind arrogance. That same month, Putin offered peace deals to the U.S. and Europe, asking for NATO to back off and missiles to stay out. The U.S. said no, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken doubling down in January 2022 on America’s right to arm anywhere. Sachs calls it reckless.

When Russia invaded on February 24, 2022, Sachs says it wasn’t about conquest—it was a push to force talks on neutrality. Within a week, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled he’d negotiate. Sachs tracked this through Turkish mediators, noting a draft deal—approved by Putin—emerged fast, offering peace for neutrality. But it fell apart. Sachs blames the U.S. and UK, pointing to Boris Johnson’s April 2022 Kyiv visit urging Zelensky to fight for “Western dominance”—a motive Johnson later owned up to. Sachs, who pitched peace plans with Vatican allies that spring, says this meddling turned a short conflict into a grinder.

The Proxy Fight: Ukraine Pays, America Watches

Sachs dubs it a “pure proxy war”—Ukraine bleeding to weaken Russia. The U.S. poured in weapons—HIMARS rockets, F-16 jets, billions in cash—while senators like Mitt Romney cheered that Ukrainian deaths were a bargain since no Americans died. Sachs pegs Ukraine’s losses at a million by 2025, a horror he ties to U.S. prodding. A 2015 peace deal, Minsk II, could’ve settled things with autonomy for eastern Ukraine—UN-approved and Europe-backed—but America and Ukraine killed it, with France and Germany too weak to push back.

Russia didn’t buckle as hoped. Sanctions and arms didn’t break it; instead, it teamed up with China and Iran. Sachs, who begged Ukraine to go neutral, quotes Henry Kissinger: “To be a friend of the U.S. is fatal.” Ukraine’s ruins prove it.

Europe’s Mess: Watching Its Own Backyard Burn

Europe’s the real loser here, Sachs says. The war’s on its turf, wrecking its economy with energy spikes and refugee waves, yet it’s been a “useless bystander.” The EU parroted NATO’s line, even as peace talks spooked its markets in 2025. Sachs slams Europe’s failure to enforce Minsk II, letting America call the shots. It’s a continent suffering the fallout without steering the ship—a theme we’ll dig into next.

A Bust and a Chance: Trump Steps In

By 2025, Sachs calls America’s Ukraine gamble a flop—Russia’s still standing, not shattered. He predicts Trump, back in power, will cut losses with a Putin deal: neutrality, some land swaps, sanctions lifted. It’s a lifeline for Ukraine and a shot for Europe to wake up and talk to Russia itself, not just tag along with Washington.

Section 4: Europe – From Powerhouse to America’s Shadow

In his European Parliament speech, Jeffrey Sachs lays it bare: Europe—450 million strong with a $20 trillion economy—has let the U.S. run its foreign policy. Once a voice for peace, it’s now a follower in America’s wars, from Iraq to Ukraine, picking up the pieces without calling the shots. Sachs tracks this slide from the Cold War’s end, blaming Europe’s tie to NATO and its failure to stand tall. This section explores how Europe lost its way, what it’s cost, and Sachs’ plea for it to take back control.

A Fading Stand: The Iraq War of 2003

Sachs pinpoints 2003 as Europe’s last big pushback. When the U.S., egged on by Israel’s Netanyahu, invaded Iraq without UN blessing, France and Germany said no—Sachs calls it a “wonderful stand.” He remembers European leaders rallying against a war with no legal backbone. But it didn’t last. America rolled in anyway, and by 2008—when NATO vowed to grab Ukraine and Georgia—Europe’s defiance was gone. Sachs says the U.S. shoved that decision down Europe’s throat, and the continent stopped fighting back.

The problem? Europe hitched itself to NATO, blurring its own identity with America’s military agenda. Sachs says expanding Europe should’ve meant trade and culture, not tanks—a mix-up that’s kept it under U.S. thumb.

Stuck in the Game: Cleaning Up America’s Messes

Europe’s paid for playing along. Sachs points to the 1999 Serbia bombing—NATO’s 78-day run on European soil that broke Yugoslavia apart. It was America’s show, and Europe just watched its neighborhood destabilize. Wars in Iraq, Syria, and Libya—tied to U.S.-Israeli goals—sent refugees flooding in, like the million-plus in 2015, rattling EU unity. Ukraine’s war, right next door, hammers Europe with costs and chaos, yet Sachs says it’s been a “useless cheerleader” for America’s proxy fight.

Take Minsk II in 2015—a solid peace plan for Ukraine Europe helped craft. The U.S. and Ukraine trashed it, and guarantors Germany and France let it die. Sachs watched this collapse, furious at Europe’s spinelessness.

Why It’s Weak: No Unity, No Guts

What’s holding Europe back? Sachs says it’s got no backbone—a missing constitution means 27 countries need to agree on everything, stalling big moves. He told a German MEP it’s a crippling flaw. Plus, Europe’s lost its diplomatic edge. Sachs blasts NATO leaders like Jens Stoltenberg as “disastrous,” turning diplomats into war hawks parroting U.S. lines—Russophobia, NATO expansion—instead of talking to neighbors like Russia.

He tried warning the White House in 2021 about Ukraine—no European backup came. His 2022 Vatican peace push got ignored by EU leaders who, he says, “don’t want to hear from me.” It’s a continent too cozy with America’s agenda to save itself.

The Damage: A Continent on Edge

The price is steep. Sachs hints at Nord Stream’s sabotage—“I can tell you how the U.S. blew it up”—leaving Europe’s energy shaky and reliant on America. Refugees from U.S.-sparked wars feed unrest, from Brexit to far-right surges. NATO’s push has Russia bristling near the Baltics, though Sachs says it’s fear of Russia, not real threats, driving the tension. Economically, Europe should be Russia’s partner, but U.S.-led sanctions cut that off, favoring American gains.

Time to Rise: A New Path Forward

Sachs demands Europe grow a spine—talk to Russia directly, skip Washington and Kyiv, and secure its borders. He wants diplomats, not war pushers, leading the charge—folks who can match Russia’s sharp Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A European security setup, funded at 2-3% of GDP—not Trump’s wild 5%—could ditch U.S. arms deals for homegrown tech. Trump’s Ukraine deal in 2025 is Europe’s shot to step up, Sachs says—negotiate with Putin on its own terms, or stay America’s doormat as new wars loom.

Section 5: Middle East and Beyond – America’s Blind Spot and Israel’s Lead

Jeffrey Sachs doesn’t hold back in his 2025 European Parliament speech: the U.S. has let Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu steer its Middle East policy for 30 years, sparking chaos that Europe ends up mopping up. He argues America’s unipolar drive—paired with missteps on powers like China and Iran—has tangled the globe in wars and bad bets, all while Europe stays quiet. This section dives into how this U.S.-Israeli tie-up fuels conflict, why Sachs sees China as a success not a threat, and what Europe’s got to lose—or gain—if it doesn’t step in.

The Netanyahu Takeover: A Decades-Long Deal

Sachs claims the U.S. handed its Middle East reins to Netanyahu back in the ‘90s, starting with a 1996 plan called “Clean Break.” Co-written with U.S. neocons like Richard Perle, it pushed for toppling regimes—Iraq, Syria, Iran—to lock in Israel’s edge and kill the two-state solution with Palestine. Sachs ties this to the 2003 Iraq War, calling it Netanyahu’s brainchild with U.S. hawks like Paul Wolfowitz running the show—a war for Israel, not 9/11 payback. He points to General Wesley Clark’s 2001 scoop on a Pentagon hit list post-9/11—Iraq, Syria, Libya, and more—as proof Netanyahu’s vision became U.S. policy.

This grip’s still tight, Sachs says. The Israel Lobby—“I could talk hours on it”—keeps America vetoing UN votes for a Palestinian state, a stance only a handful of tiny nations back. Sachs, branding Netanyahu a “war criminal” facing ICC charges, says it’s wild: the world’s superpower has no Middle East plan of its own.

Chaos Unleashed: Wars That Hit Europe

The fallout’s brutal. Sachs links Iraq’s 2003 collapse, Libya’s 2011 ruin, and Syria’s endless fight—all U.S.-backed—to Netanyahu’s goal of smashing threats to Israel. Millions died, and refugees poured out—over a million hit Europe in 2015 alone, shaking its borders and politics. Sachs says Palestine’s the worst off: a two-state deal on 1967 borders, backed by international law, is the only fix, but America’s UN veto blocks it. He warns Gaza could become a U.S.-run zone by 2025 under Trump—a twist Europe can’t ignore.

Iran on the Brink: Netanyahu’s Big Play

Sachs flags Iran as Netanyahu’s next target—a U.S.-Iran war is his “dream,” he says. The 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) reined in Iran’s program, but Trump, egged on by Netanyahu, trashed it in 2018. Tensions spiked, and Sachs faults Europe for not fighting to save it. If Trump greenlights Netanyahu’s push, it’d dwarf past wars—think oil shocks, more refugees, NATO dragged in. Europe’s silence, Sachs warns, could cost it big.

China Misread: A Rival or a Partner?

Beyond the Middle East, Sachs slams America’s take on China. “China’s not an enemy—it’s a success,” he says. Its economy outpacing America’s isn’t a threat, just a challenge to U.S. dominance. Sachs sees room for teamwork—trade, climate stuff—but America’s unipolar lens paints it as a foe. Iran’s the same: pushed into Russia and China’s arms by U.S. hostility, not some anti-West vibe. Netanyahu thrives on this misread, Sachs argues, nudging America toward fights it doesn’t need.

Europe’s Bind: Risks and a Way Out

Europe’s in deep. Middle East wars mean migrants and terror risks; an Iran clash would jack up oil prices; China tensions hit trade. Yet Sachs says the EU’s mute—too tied to U.S.-Israeli moves to push back. He wants Europe to demand the U.S. drop its Palestine veto and restart Iran talks, using its clout to enforce global rules. Trump might shift this—or make it worse—and Sachs says Europe’s got to act either way.

Section 6: Trump’s Turn – A Practical Fix or More Empire?

Donald Trump’s back in charge as of 2025, and Jeffrey Sachs sees him as a wild card in a world battered by U.S. overreach. In his European Parliament speech, Sachs bets Trump’s no-ideology, “don’t back a loser” style could end the Ukraine war fast—but his deeper imperial streak might keep the U.S. chasing dominance. This section weighs Trump’s next moves, from Ukraine to the Middle East and China, and pushes Europe to grab this moment to break free—or risk sinking further under America’s weight.

Ukraine’s Endgame: Trump Cuts the Cord

Sachs predicts Trump will wrap up Ukraine’s war quick. “He won’t carry a loser,” he says, eyeing a Putin deal by late 2025—land swaps (maybe the four oblasts), neutrality for Ukraine, sanctions gone. It’s a redo of the 2022 peace talks the U.S. and UK tanked, Sachs notes from his Turkish contacts. Ukraine saves lives, Europe gets a breather—markets already perk up at the hint. But Sachs warns Europe’s war hawks could miss the boat: “If you keep warmongering, it won’t matter—Trump’s ending it.” He says go straight to Moscow, not Washington, to lock in Europe’s own deal.

Middle East Wild Card: Netanyahu or Bust?

Trump’s Middle East play’s less clear. Sachs hopes he’ll yank policy back from Netanyahu—wars like Iraq burned cash and cred, and Trump hates waste. A two-state push on 1967 borders could calm things, matching global law and sparing Europe more refugees. But Sachs isn’t naive: Trump’s “imperialist at heart,” and Netanyahu’s Iran war pitch might tempt him. If that hits, Europe’s looking at chaos—energy crunches, NATO calls. Sachs says tell the U.S. to ditch the Palestine veto and revive Iran’s nuclear deal—now’s the time.

China Clash: Deal or Duel?

On China, Sachs sees two paths. Trump’s first term mixed tariffs with handshakes—maybe he’ll lean practical again. Sachs calls China a “success story,” not a villain, and wants Europe to link up on trade and climate, dodging America’s rivalry trap. But Trump’s “we do what we want” vibe could spark a fight, especially with war hawks like Marco Rubio whispering in his ear. Europe’s $20 trillion market could steer clear, Sachs says—partner with China, don’t just trail the U.S.

Europe’s Shot: Lead or Follow?

Trump’s shaking things up, and Sachs says it’s Europe’s fork in the road. His 5% NATO spending push—Belgium’s already scrambling—tightens America’s grip, but Sachs calls it “nuts.” He pitches a 2-3% European defense setup, skipping U.S. arms salesmen, to guard its values—climate, fairness—against America’s shrug at both. Trump’s Greenland jab hints at wild moves—U.S. troops in Denmark aren’t off the table. Sachs says negotiate with Russia, Iran, China yourself—don’t beg Trump for a seat.

New Game or Old Rules?

Sachs isn’t calling it peace yet. Trump’s better than a “fading Biden,” cutting Ukraine’s losses, but his “great powers rule” core might just shift the fight—Middle East, China—unless Europe stops it. Sachs sees a slim hope: Trump’s deal-making could cool Netanyahu or China tensions. It’s on Europe to tip the scales.

Conclusion: Europe’s Wake-Up Call for a Balanced World

Jeffrey Sachs’ 2025 European Parliament speech isn’t just a takedown of America’s 30-year power trip—it’s a desperate plea for Europe to stand up. From NATO’s march to wars for U.S. and Israeli gain, from Ukraine’s ruin to Europe’s quiet slump, he shows a planet bent by American ambition—and Europe left with the mess: refugees, unrest, a muted voice. Trump’s return could ax Ukraine’s war and maybe shift the Middle East, but his imperial itch risks new fights unless Europe acts. Sachs wants a bold Europe—talking straight to Russia, Iran, China—for a multipolar peace rooted in real talk, not U.S. shadow. Ukraine’s million dead scream the cost of waiting. With its $20 trillion heft and moral roots, Europe can lead—or fade into America’s echo forever. It’s now or never.

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