USA War on Iran & Global Alliances | Juan Cole on Saudi-Pakistan Defense, UAE Risks & NATO - EP 118

In this episode of Kianistan, we are joined by Juan Cole — Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan and a world-renowned specialist in the Middle East and South Asia — for an urgent analysis of the shifting tides of war and diplomacy.Professor Cole breaks down the strategic objectives behind a potential U.S. war on Iran and the domestic political backlash that could reshape American elections. We explore the evolving roles of regional power players, specifically the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as they navigate high-stakes risks and strategic reliance in a volatile landscape.The conversation also covers critical and often overlooked developments, including the Saudi-Pakistan defense agreement and the alarming possibility of conflict between Israel and Turkey. Drawing on his decades of expertise, Professor Cole compares the modern flow of information and propaganda with the lead-up to the Iraq War, providing a masterclass in understanding the geopolitical forces currently driving the Middle East toward a crossroads.🎙 Topics Discussed:USA War on Iran: Objectives, strategy, and regional consequences.Domestic Impact: How Middle East conflicts trigger political backlash in U.S. Mid-term elections.Information Warfare: Comparing media narratives between the Iraq War and a potential Iran conflict.Gulf Strategy: The UAE’s stance, Saudi Arabia’s risks, and the reality of strategic reliance.Global Alliances: The Saudi-Pakistan Defense Agreement and the future of the NATO alliance.New Fronts: Analyzing the possibility of war between Israel and Turkey.👤 About Juan Cole:Juan Cole is the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan. A specialist in the Middle East, Islam, and South Asia, he is a prolific author and public intellectual who has published 19 books and over 100 journal articles. His work provides essential historical context to contemporary political and social movements in the Muslim world.🌐 Learn More:https://dawnmena.org/experts/juan-cole/https://lsa.umich.edu/history/people/...📌 Subscribe for historically grounded insights on geopolitics and the Muslim world.🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms — search Kianistan.🌐 Visit: www.kianistan.com💼 Sponsored by: www.worldwidelistings.co.ukHashtags:#JuanCole #Iran #USA #SaudiArabia #Pakistan #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #NATO #Turkey #Israel #USForeignPolicy #KianistanPodcast