In a lengthy interview, economist and banking expert Richard Werner analyzes the geopolitical power structures behind major wars – from the Lusitania conflict and the First World War to today’s conflicts with Iran, Russia, and China. His central thesis: Major wars do not arise spontaneously but are prepared through propaganda, economic interests, and geopolitical strategies. According to Werner, central banks, imperial power centers, and controlled financial systems play a particularly crucial role in this process.
German subtitles can be activated in the YouTube settings.
“A war with Iran over nuclear weapons? An IQ test”
Right at the beginning, Werner makes a provocative statement:
Anyone who believes that the current war against Iran is primarily related to the Iranian nuclear program is falling for propaganda.
He argues that
historically, wars have almost always been sold under false pretenses —
while the real geopolitical and economic motives remain hidden.
The Lusitania: World War I as a False Flag?
Werner cites the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915 as an example.
The official story is that
a German submarine sank a civilian passenger ship, thereby creating anti-German sentiment in the USA.
Werner, however, claims that
the British leadership deliberately worked to draw the USA into the war.
He points this out:
- The Lusitania was officially registered as a military aid ship.
- Germany has publicly warned against boarding the ship.
- German advertisements in American newspapers explicitly stated that the ship could be attacked.
Particularly explosive:
According to Werner, some newspapers deliberately failed to publish these warnings.
He also claims that
the British were already able to read German radio codes at that time and deliberately steered the captain of the Lusitania onto a route that led directly past a German submarine.
Winston Churchill even personally ordered the ship’s speed to be reduced —
although this increased the risk of attack.
For Werner, the Lusitania is therefore a classic example of
how an event is used to create a public war mood.
“Normal people don’t want war”
Werner argues repeatedly:
The majority of the population never wants war.
That is precisely why:
- Media campaigns,
- Shock events,
- Enemy images
- and emotional narratives
They are created to move the population and politics towards war.
He warns:
The real problem is
that many people simply cannot imagine
that powerful circles would deliberately provoke global conflicts.
World War I as the beginning of total control
Werner describes the First World War as a turning point in modern history.
He calls it:
the beginning of modern total war.
For the first time:
- entire societies
- Industries,
- Women,
- media
- and economic systems
has been completely militarized.
According to Werner, this period saw the emergence
of a new form of centralized control
that was able to spread under the pretext of war.
The role of Great Britain
The British Empire is at the center of his historical analysis.
Werner describes Great Britain as a global hegemonic power at the time,
which maintained its dominance over:
- Colonialism,
- naval power,
- Financial systems
- and trade control
I have secured it.
He speaks in particular detail about:
- the East India Company,
- colonial exploitation,
- Famines in Ireland and India,
- as well as the control of global trade routes.
He claims that
Great Britain increasingly viewed Germany as an existential threat before the First World War.
The true cause of the First World War?
Werner believes that
a key trigger for the First World War was the German infrastructure project of the Berlin–Baghdad–Basra railway.
The idea:
Germany wanted to secure raw materials and energy via land routes —
without being dependent on British-controlled sea routes.
For the British Empire, this was a strategic catastrophe.
Because:
A successful continental connection from Europe to the Middle East would have massively weakened British naval power.
Werner draws direct parallels to the current world situation.
China as “new Germany”
According to Werner, the world is currently in a similar geopolitical phase.
China now occupies the role that Germany did back then.
China is attempting:
- alternative trade routes,
- independent supply chains,
- own financial systems
- and new infrastructure projects
to build.
According to Werner, the modern counterpart to the Berlin-Baghdad railway is
the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (“New Silk Road”).
Iran as a key against China
Iran is particularly important in this regard.
Werner argues that
Iran is not primarily a target of Western attacks because of its nuclear program —
but because of its role as an energy and transport corridor for China.
He points out
that infrastructure projects of the Belt and Road Initiative have also been bombed in attacks on Iran:
- Bridges
- Railway lines,
- Transport corridors.
For Werner, this is proof
that the real geopolitical adversary is China.
“Venezuela and Iran are part of the same strategy.”
Werner also sees Venezuela as part of the same global strategy.
Both countries:
- have large energy resources,
- supply China
- and escape Western control.
He claims
that regime change operations are now increasingly taking place openly —
without the previous “plausible deniability”.
Central banks and the control of states
A large part of the interview revolves around central banks and financial systems.
Werner describes:
- the Asian crisis of 1997,
- the role of the IMF,
- Currency attacks,
- Capital control
- and credit manipulation.
He claims that
financial crises are often artificially exacerbated
to drive states into dependency.
He cites Thailand as an example:
- The baht has been destabilized by central bank policies.
- The IMF then demanded harsh austerity measures.
- As a result, Thai assets were sold cheaply to foreign investors.
Werner describes this model as:
“modern economic colonization”.
The IMF as a modern empire?
Werner is particularly critical of:
- the IMF
- the World Bank
- and the dollar system.
He argues that
these institutions do not primarily serve development —
but control.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative therefore represents, for the first time, a serious alternative to the Western-dominated financial system.
The danger of a new world war
In the end, Werner urgently warns against an escalation towards a Third World War.
He refers to:
- on the massive rearmament of Europe,
- new debates about conscription,
- NATO strategies,
- Conflicts against Russia,
- and the increasing confrontation with China.
What is particularly alarming is
that many people believe
nobody wants a world war —
while at the same time concrete preparations are underway.
His bleak conclusion
Richard Werner paints a picture of a world
in which:
- empires want to secure their dominance,
- Financial systems are used geopolitically.
- Media reinforce war narratives,
- and economic rivals are systematically fought.
For him, these are:
- the war against Iran,
- the confrontation with Russia,
- and the pressure on China
not separate crises —
but parts of a global power struggle for control of the world order.
