EFSTATHIOS KASSIOS

Even if analysts had other opinions and predictions, Israel’s GDP has significantly contracted in the last quarter of 2023 reaching a 20% decline.

The same negative picture is reflected in the current total import levels for the country as the war has affected supply chains, investments, overall domestic consumption spending for citizens.

Let’s not forget that the massive military mobilization of thousands of workers, heavily affected the labour market, productivity and GDP growth (just compare 2022 to 2023).

2021 was admitedly one of the best years for Israel’s economy when it reached around 9% GDP growth.

2024 will probably bring historic lows for the country’s economy, as a permanent halt or end of the war in the Middle East is not visible in the horizon.

Recently, every journalist, news outlet, TV and social media, comment about the recent interview of Putin at Tucker Carlson. Here’s my personal opinion about it.

If I was about to describe the 2-hour long interview to somebody that is not following the war in Ukraine and is not aware of the hostility of the Russian forces, I would briefly use and choose the following:

During the interview, Vladimir Putin reflects deep ideology meaning ideological reasons and motivations for waging a long war in Ukraine, he’s a history lover albeit through a specific lens not embraced by Western historians. He admires Lenin, Marx, Trotsky and other Soviet intellectuals. Additionally, he’s disappointed with the fall of the Soviet empire in 1989. Putin exerts revisionism because he believes Ukraine was born out of Russia a long time ago, he subjectively and cleverly justifies expansionism on historic reasons and more recent Western geopolitical pressure circling around Russia during his presidency, including NATO expansion. There is a also a lurking obsession with Poland as it could be the next country invaded by Russia and Latvia too, being a NATO member.

Even if all the aforementioned would or will make sense in his own version of Eurasia led by Russia and China, I don’t think any of his arguments or ideas, any of his deep-rooted ideologies and personal translations of the modern world, fit with how the West has evolved after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Europe should listen carefully and plan accordingly…just imagine the repercussions if the next President of the United States, decides to withdraw from NATO.

-Efstathios Kassios

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