Will 2026 be the year dollar empire meets its demise?

 All indications are pointing in that direction.

Throughout history, empires have fallen when their economies have become dysfunctional and currencies have lost value.

Prime example of this, in recent history, is the British Empire that once boasted that the sun never sets upon Britain. World War II hollowed out Britain, its currency lost value and its empire disintegrated, thereby proving wrong the myth the sun never sets on the empire.

The loss of Britain’s empire and standing in the world, left a void into which US jumped eagerly by creating dollar-based empire and has ruled unchallenged for almost 80 years. Simply by printing dollars and denominating everything into dollars – especially oil, it created dependency on dollar. Everything was priced into dollars. This gave undue advantage to USA over global economy and the sovereignties of world’s nations.

By using dollar as a weapon, it could force any “wayward” nation to its knees, by imposing sanctions, punitive tariffs, asset freeze etc., forcing the recalcitrant nation to amend its behavior and follow USA’s diktats again. The European nations merrily went along as it also suited their interests – keeping western dominance, a neo-colonial aspect alive.

The threats of sanctions and tariffs were enthusiastically supported by European nations.

Prime examples of this are Russia and India.  By imposing sanctions on Russia –following in US’s footsteps the European nations forced others to support those sanctions even if it meant a hit to the economic well-being of other nation and its people.

India’s external affairs minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, once remarked that Europe’s problem are not India’s problems and Europe should abandon that “colonial” mindset. In his recent meeting with Polish Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Sikorski, Dr. Jaishankar made clear his displeasure of such selective, unjust and unjustified tactics.

Still the Nations went with dollar as the reserve currency, but unprecedented and unjust actions of deranged Donald Trump jolted many nations, including European nations, to their senses that they cannot allow sovereignty and well being of their people to be held hostage by Washington.

Trump’s threats of outright invasion and capture of Greenland, a sovereign territory under the Danish Kingdom and threats of imposing tariffs on EU nations if they do not agree to sell Greenland, only jolted EU out of stupor they had fallen into - blindly accepting US national interests as their own.

In response to Trump’s threats, the outraged EU nations have called for retaliatory measures.

France has opened the possibility of deploying “Anti-coercion Instrument” called trade “bazooka” – a mechanism that would extend not only to punitive tariffs amounting to several billion dollars (108 Billion), but also would extend to financial sector, intellectual property rights etc. The range of measures is staggering and capable of crippling US economy.

Danish pension fund has already started the process. 

From CBS.com… Danish pension fund to sell $100 million in U.S. Treasuries due to "poor U.S. government finances" …A Danish pension fund is planning to sell its entire holdings of U.S. Treasuries — about $100 million — over concerns about the U.S. government's financial stability. …"The decision is rooted in the poor U.S. government finances, which make us think that we need to make an effort to find an alternative way of conducting our liquidity and risk management," Anders Schelde, Chief Investment Officer of Akademiker Pension, told CBS News in a statement.

 And, now the floodgates have opened. Latest news is coming from Sweden.

 

From Reuters… Swedish pension fund Alecta cuts US Treasury holdings, citing policy uncertainty  …STOCKHOLM, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Swedish pension fund Alecta has sold most of its holdings in U.S. Treasuries over the last year because of the increased risk and unpredictability of U.S. politics, the fund's chief investment officer said on Wednesday. "Since the beginning of 2025, we have reduced our holdings in U.S. government bonds in several rounds, and together the reductions account for the majority of our holdings," Alecta's Chief Investment Officer Pablo Bernengo said in a statement to Reuters. …..

The US treasury guarantees that all its debt obligations will be fulfilled by the “full faith and credit of the United States government” - means that the U.S. Treasury guarantees the repayment of a debt, using its taxing and borrowing authority if necessary.

Given the exploding budget deficit along with rising interest costs and credit rating agencies knocking US credit rating a notch down from its perfect triple AAA credit, the investors have begun to lose faith in US assets and looking for some other greener pasture like BRICS.

European Union has started to look at other nations and blocs to sign a just and free trade agreement to shore up economic security in today’s chaotic world – handiwork of deranged Donald Trump.

It recently signed agreement with “Mercosur” bloc of Latin America, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

But the mother of all deals – in the words of Ursula Von Der Leyen, President of EU – will be the mega free trade deal with India, a the fastest growing economy with stable and democratic institutions and adherence to international law.

The deal is estimated to represent around 25 to 30% of global GDP.

The cherry on the pie would be that the trade will not be dollar-based; it could be a mix of Indian Rupee and Euro. Germany has already opened a vostro account with Indian banks.

The already shaky US finances and US dollar are going to be severally hit when in July 2026, BRICS grouping will announce launching of CBDC - Central Bank Digital Currency. With 30 to 35% of the global GDP and transactions being settled in national currencies of BRICS member countries, there will not be any need for dollars.

With transactions getting settled bank-to-bank of members’ countries, this will simply bypass the choke point of SWIFT and take the trade out of control of US.

This nightmarish scenario is already dawning on the US that it is about to lose control of not just the currency but control over the global trade as well.

Ballooning deficits, shaky and chaotic political situations, unsound economic policies etc., US is soon going to find out that it is very hard to convince nations to buy its debt. The era of cheap, easy money will be over.

One does not have to be an economist to understand that what follows will be catastrophic for US – it will be an era of rising inflation, higher interest rates, crumbling social infrastructure, and depressed economic activity, leading to societal breakdown just like Iran.

This is going to fuel growing political turmoil, leading to violence.

The world is witnessing the utter lawlessness perpetrated by Trump administration – especially ICE, Trump’s Gestapo; complete disregard of the constitution and rule of law, whimsical nature of policy making etc., in all its glory and deciding to turn away from US.

The inability to finance the debt: The US soon could find itself in the company of countries like Argentina – a country with a long history of sovereign debt defaults.

That is a far-off scenario – whether it materializes or not, no one knows, but the stars are aligning to wreak havoc on the US economy.

The EU-Mercosur trade deal, India’s free trade deal with Australia, New Zealand, Oman, Israel, Britain and now with EU – the mother of all deals, all this will involve payment transactions based not on dollar. but either euro or national currencies.

With 30 to 35% percent of global GDP of BRICS conducted in national currencies and about 30% of India-EU deal conducted in currencies other than dollar, the prognosis of “King Dollar” is very bleak.

It might, finally, get dethroned, but rest of the world will joyfully sing in unison “Hallelujah” as it frees itself from the oppressive shackles of “King Dollar” and its ugly dollar-based empire.

It’s the Epstein files, nothing else!

In 1992, while devising election campaign strategies for Bill Clinton’s successful election campaign, James Carville, Clinton’s political strategist, coined this famous political catch- phrase, which is now applied to almost all core political issues like healthcare, budget deficits etc.

While much ink has been spent on Venezuela debacle and its wider ramifications, the “Why now” question of the Venezuela debacle has begun to get traction – both inside US and internationally.

It has become clear that the Venezuela strike has nothing to do about drugs but is all about oil, regime change, but mostly something else.

        

By attacking Venezuela without any legal authorization and trampling on all international laws and norms, the USA has become a bandit nation, invading sovereign states and grabbing their resources, just like Somali pirates.

The only difference is that Somali pirates are a loose group while the US pirates are a nation, trying to maintain its dying hegemony.

But the Venezuela strike has made few facts clear:

The USA can charge any leader who dares to cross its path, or does not do its bidding, on bogus charges, while at the same time can also pardon real drug traffickers – when it suits them - like ex-president of Honduras, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison for pushing tons of narcotics to US.

The Venezuela strike has also brought into clear focus that the United Nations is 21st century version of “League of Nations” and has become utterly useless. Time to stop asking for reforming this bloated and toothless organization, including expansion of security council.

The gun-boat diplomacy has demonstrated clearly to other nations that in order to protect themselves, they must arm themselves with nuclear weapons. (SIPRI is going to cry rivers of tears about such prospects, thanks to lawless nation, USA.)

Given the impotence of UN, new alliances and grouping are bound to come up, further fracturing the world order.

There will be many more ugly ramifications of this naked aggression impacting world order and the rule of law – both in the US and internationally. Threats, now being directed at Greenland, have prompted European countries to express support for Greenland.

In response to threats directed at Colombia, Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, has mobilized his army. Cuba, with its 50,000 men army has offered Venezuela, in defending itself from the US aggression.

These insane streams of threats of more chaos, bloodshed, trampling of international laws and norms etc, have prompted many to ask the question: “Why now”?

Several theories are being floated:

1. Could it be a desire to re-assert America’s diminishing dominance over world order – a unipolar world order that it has unjustly ascribed to itself and grown used to it? 
2. Could it be because of “genuine concern” for ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ and ‘human lives’? or 
3. Could it be because of the 800-pound Gorilla in the room - “The Epstein Files”?

Theory no. 1 is a fait accompli. Given the impotence of UN, new grouping like BRICS is becoming more attractive to nations around the world as it provides freedom from the shackles of dollar dominance. But that still does not shrike as the compelling reason for the insane threats directed at many countries.

We can safely strike out theory no. 2 as US applies terms like “Freedom” and “democracy” selectively when it suits its interests. So is the case with human rights. A mere tut-tut about the killings of the Hindus in Bangladesh but enthusiastic embrace of dictators like Asim Munir, is prime example.

That leaves us with theory no.3 as the only logical one.

Saturday, January 3rd was the day AG Pam Bondi was required to submit report to congress explaining about the redactions made to the Epstein files.

So far, less that 1% of the files have been released and all sorts of excuses have been made for the delay in releasing the entire files despite the unanimously passed law – “Epstein Files Transparency Act” – by both congress and senate, mandating so. Now, if AG Pam Bondi had submitted the report, the news cycles, surely, would have blasted the details of that report all over the world giving a strong boost to the feeling of a massive cover-up to protect rich pedophiles.

Given the dismal job market, rising health costs, and rising inflation, the report would have driven Trump’s ratings further down.

Many voices – politicians, legal luminaries etc. – have now begun to raise this rationale as the prime reason for the Venezuela strike.

               

Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, has openly voiced Epstein’s files as the reason for the strike on Venezuela.

AG Pam Bondi, who has vociferously shouted from the rooftops about bringing the full force of law against President Nicolas Maduro – indicted on false charges, is herself facing inherent contempt of congress charges which are being considered against her by Rep. Thomas Massie (R) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D). 

Both congress members have also hinted at the legal action against AG Pam Bondi and DoJ for the delay in release of the Epstein files.

Truly a bizarre nation.

As the congressional and public’s clamor for the Epstein files grow louder, so will be the tantrums, threats directed at different nations by the lawless President in whose dictionary the word “Law” does not apply to him, but applies only to his opponents.

• Trump is hurling threats at Colombia, whose president is openly raging at Donald Trump. 
• European Union has strongly sided with Greenland over Trump’s threats. 
• Pentagon’s spy plane, Poseidon P-8, is circling Mexico. 
• Rubio is threatening Cuba and 
• Trump is also hurling insane threats at Iran.

The man, Donald Trump, seems hell-bent on setting the world on fire by creating more crises, just to keep the exploding Epstein files scandal out of new cycles and the desire to protect the rich and powerful pedophiles.

At some point, there is going to come a time when nations are going to say “enough” and retaliate against the lawless nation. It could mean diplomatic and economic breakup, or it could mean armies fighting against the rogue nation, as Colombian president has hinted and actively preparing his armed forces to fight against threats from the out of control Donald Trump.

And that would mean start of World War III.

Whatever happens – given the frenzied pace of threats, the menacing military maneuvers, etc. – it all comes down to one simple reason: “It’s the Epstein Files, nothing else!

Pirate and the Kidnapper-in-Chief

Kidnapper & Victim

USA's Federal Kagaroo Court in New York has charge-sheeted Maduro (along with his wife, son, and others): 

• Narco-terrorism conspiracy 
• Cocaine importation conspiracy 
• Possession of machine guns and destructive devices  
• Conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices

Looking at these charges, let us peep deep into the drugs/narcotics smuggling data of DEA, USA itself.

The basic question is "Which country in the American continent is the largest producer of narcotics and who exports to the USA?".

Colombia is the largest producer of cocaine in the Americas, with record-high cultivation and production estimated at over 3,708 tons globally in 2023, primarily driven by expanded coca bush areas and higher yields in the country. 

Cocaine remains one of the most significant illicit drugs produced in the region by volume. Mexico, however, is the leading producer of synthetic narcotics like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the Americas, with Mexican transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel operating large-scale clandestine labs using precursor chemicals sourced mainly from China. (Source: DEA, USA).

Peru and Bolivia are secondary producers of cocaine, but their output is significantly lower than Colombia's. Mexico is the primary exporter of illegal drugs to the USA, controlling the wholesale trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine across the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Mexican TCOs source cocaine from South American producers like Colombia and handle its transit, while directly producing and exporting synthetics and heroin. Other countries, such as Colombia, Peru, and transit nations like Ecuador and Venezuela, play roles in production or routing, but Mexico dominates direct exports to the U.S. market.

Venezuela is not a significant direct exporter of narcotics to the United States, according to data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. State Department, and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Key Narcotics and Venezuela's Role - 

Fentanyl and synthetic opioids (the primary drivers of U.S. overdose deaths): Venezuela plays no known role in production or trafficking. The DEA's 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment identifies Mexico as the overwhelming source, using precursors from China. No South American country, including Venezuela, is linked to fentanyl flows to the U.S.

Cocaine: Venezuela serves primarily as a transit country for cocaine produced in Colombia (the world's top producer), with some secondary processing. U.S. estimates indicate 200–250 metric tons of cocaine transited Venezuela annually in recent assessments (e.g., 2020–2023 levels persisted per State Department reports). However, most of this is destined for Europe or the Caribbean, not the U.S.

Direct Exports to the USA: 

Direct exports to the USA are minimal: No established maritime routes directly from Venezuela to the U.S. exist- as per UNODC seizure data.

The only documented direct pathway is limited air trafficking (e.g., couriers or private flights).

U.S. bound cocaine predominantly flows through the Eastern Pacific (74–80% via Central America/Mexico) or overland routes from Colombia, with only a small fraction (historically single-digit percentages) via Caribbean corridors that may touch Venezuela.

Experts and reports (e.g., UNODC World Drug Report 2025, WOLA analyses) describe Venezuela's contribution to U.S. cocaine supply as a "sliver" or minor secondary role, far below primary routes from Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Mexico-controlled distribution.

Precise quantities of narcotics successfully exported directly from Venezuela to the U.S. are not publicly quantified in official reports due to the clandestine nature of trafficking and focus on seizures/origins. Available evidence indicates the amount reaching the U.S. market is low relative to total inflows, with Mexican transnational criminal organizations dominating wholesale distribution into the United States.

However, President Trump and the USA Government does not take any action against the major players and makes an arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the charges of narcotics smuggling.

World is not naive as to not to understand the real motive of takeover of the 303 billion oil reserves of Venezuela. Narcotics and Arms smuggling is a frivolous excuse that no one except Donald Trump will believe.

Attack on Venezuela is a crystal International Thuggery committed by the President of the USA. In fact, President Donald Trump has outperformed the Nigerians, Somalian pirates by attacking the oil fields and not the oil tankers on high seas.

The arrest and whisking of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the USA army Commander-in-Chief President Donald Trump is no less than cheap kidnapping like that of an ordinary gangster on the streets of Chicago or Bronx. Both indulge in kidnapping the victim for a ransom. It is only the scale of monetary stake that differentiate these two kidnappers.

A new Kidnapper and Pirate has risen on the horizon.