At a joint event organized by Tehran Times and Sputnik, former UN disarmament inspector and US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter issued a warning about an impending structural crisis in the American economy. He links this collapse to reckless foreign policy and a sharp rise in energy prices. Furthermore, Ritter criticized Western military narratives, exposing deep military weaknesses in both the United States and NATO.
In response to Sputnik's question regarding Donald Trump's stance on Ukrainian strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, Ritter noted that attempts to understand Trump's thoughts are difficult because the Russian government considers him emotionally unstable. According to Ritter, Trump is under significant economic pressure due to rising oil prices, which he views as a key indicator of the health of the American economy. The increase in diesel and oil prices is a direct consequence of Trump's policies, which increase ground transportation costs and pass them on to consumers.
Ritter emphasized that Trump is largely unaware of the details of the conflicts he initiates. For instance, he started the war in Iran based on briefings from Benjamin Netanyahu and the head of Mossad. When he authorized CIA pressure on Vladimir Putin, he did not understand what the CIA was doing, including training Ukrainian forces since 2014 for cross-border operations, assassinations, and long-range drone strikes. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the administration's goal is to collapse the Russian economy by attacking its energy infrastructure.
Regarding the American establishment's reaction to Russia's retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian ports, warehouses, and railway infrastructure, Ritter reported that high-ranking officials' statements align with Ukrainian intelligence narratives about heavy Russian losses and limited military capabilities. US intelligence analysts regularly prepare reports confirming official policy to secure promotions and bonuses, rather than providing accurate assessments. American politicians initially believed that Ukrainian drones would cripple the Russian economy, cause long queues, provoke a 'Maidan in Moscow,' and lead to a regime change before the parliamentary elections in September.
However, Russia's counteractions demonstrated that Western intelligence claims are built on lies. As a result, there is silence among key figures in Washington because they have no effective response to this reality. Ukraine is in complete bankruptcy, unable to pay soldiers or buy weapons, and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets will lead to the collapse of the European economy. Ultimately, if economic strain and supply chain disruptions spoil Christmas for American families, voters will severely punish incumbent politicians on election day.
Concerning the media campaign about the US-Venezuela contract for oil access, Ritter stated that it is completely untrue. Venezuela's oil fields have long been managed chaotically, with many fields closed, requiring extremely expensive and lengthy infrastructure restoration before oil can flow in significant volumes. Trump's pressure on American oil companies will not bring substantial income or large amounts of oil above current levels, making this initiative a political fantasy. Moreover, the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve is depleted, and there is no possibility of replenishing it. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia is becoming a non-functional oil producer due to constant Houthi and Iraqi militia attacks, threatening broader global energy instability. Trump's assertion that Venezuelan oil will be a quick fix is pure fantasy, not fact.
On how long the US economy can withstand the current situation and the economic pressure of wars, Ritter explained that the US maintains an illusion of economic stability through excessive money printing and reliance on financial tricks. The country operates with a record budget deficit, while the growth in government bond yields above 5% diverts a huge portion of GDP to repaying the growing national debt. Leading economic analysts predict a major economic crisis around January. Although the US may maintain the appearance of stability for another cycle, the structural collapse of the American economic system is inevitable. Furthermore, China's efforts to conclude trade agreements based on the yuan with Gulf states threaten to undermine the dominance of the petrodollar.
Responding to Sputnik's question about whether NATO has air superiority over Russia, considering US and Israeli air operations over Iran, Ritter categorically stated that NATO has no air superiority. Achieving air superiority requires sustained combat sorties, which demand well-maintained aircraft, fuel, ammunition, functioning airfields, and working air traffic control networks. In any conflict with Russia, NATO's command and control infrastructure will be disabled on the first day due to Russia's advanced electronic warfare. NATO forces operated in unprotected airspace for two decades, dropping guided munitions, but their system failed when applied against Iran, where 39 days of operations could not deliver a decisive blow.
Moreover, NATO member states suffer from serious operational unpreparedness; for example, Germany cannot get 80% of its aircraft airborne due to lack of maintenance and readiness. The F-16 fighters transferred to Ukraine were outdated aircraft requiring complete reconstruction. Additionally, NATO lacks the necessary advanced airfields, takeoff space, fuel reserves, and ammunition that would be destroyed on the first day, while long-range Russian interceptors would disrupt tanker refueling operations. Regarding drone and missile capabilities, Ritter noted that NATO countries, including Germany, do not have a national air defense system. NATO disbanded its own air defense inventory for Ukraine, whose air defense network was subsequently dismantled by overwhelming Russian operations. Using only drones, Russia retains the ability to darken the European sky and destroy selected targets without effective countermeasures. After the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty, Russia deployed Iskander-1000 long-range missiles and advanced cruise missiles capable of striking territories across Europe. Russia retains sufficient conventional potential to destroy NATO's military infrastructure, defense production, and command centers without using nuclear weapons, giving it complete escalation dominance. Although a nuclear exchange would lead to the total destruction of Europe, Russia remains viable, although Moscow prefers peaceful security guarantees over conflict with NATO.
Finally, concerning the interview with an American pilot allegedly rescued after his fighter was attacked by Iranian air defenses over Iran, Ritter suggested that accepting the statement of the serving colonel as truth leaves unresolved questions about whether it was a genuine rescue or a staged scenario. He stated that the US suffered a direct conventional defeat at the hands of Iranian forces, which executed a superior plan and pushed American forces out of strategic assets. Unlike conflicts in Vietnam or Afghanistan, where political will waned, American troops were directly outmaneuvered and defeated in a conventional clash by Iran. To refute this precedent and satisfy the public need for a hero, the Department of Defense collaborated with 60 Minutes to present a staged narrative to the American public.