Europe
The European Union wants to get real in its response to United States President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland. On January 11, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called for the creation of a “powerful, standing ‘European military force’ of 100,000 troops” to replace U.S. troops on the Continent. He also wants a new European security council “composed of key permanent members, along with several rotational members; in total, around 10 to 12 members, with the task of discussing the most important issues in defense.”
The EU took a step toward this type of “core Europe” structure on January 28 with a virtual meeting between Europe’s major E6 economies—France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. Defense News wrote that the six countries aim to “bypass the bloc’s traditional consensus-based decision-making to accelerate defense cooperation and industrial competitiveness amid mounting geopolitical pressures.”
Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, called for a smaller group to “go forward with a special sovereignty treaty” to make the EU smaller and stronger. He is also pushing to merge the presidency of the European Commission with the presidency of the European Council to create what Politico called an “all-powerful president.”
Revelation 17 prophesies that “ten kings” will emerge in Europe, temporarily unifying into a powerful, decisive, aggressive empire, submitting to one all-powerful leader. Europe is openly discussing the formation of this kind of empire.
The EU is also fighting for control of the Internet. French government agents raided the Paris offices of X on February 3 as part of a criminal investigation of the U.S.-based social media platform. The Paris public prosecutor’s office also asked X’s owner, Elon Musk, to attend a voluntary interview. On the same day, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee issued the European Censorship Files on X documenting the ways in which the EU blocks free speech for Americans on social media. EuroIntelligence argued that this war over online content is actually a “far more important breaking point than Greenland” for the EU and U.S., with “no foreseeable solution.”
“Germany’s ambitions for the Internet should concern everyone, even those who don’t have a computer,” wrote Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry in 2019. “The EU’s behavior on this issue exposes the dictatorial nature of this German-dominated entity. Really, we are witnessing the manifestation of the spirit of the Holy Roman Empire in the tech world. The biblically prophesied seventh and final resurrection of this empire wants to control the Internet!”
Meanwhile, Germany is holding “highly confidential” negotiations to share France’s nuclear weapons, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius confirmed on January 30. Handelsblatt wrote, “In the future, Germany could participate in French nuclear maneuvers and provide fighter jets or even submarines equipped with French nuclear missiles” (February 1). Germany has fighter jets capable of carrying American nuclear weapons. It also produces submarines that have been exported to Israel and are capable of carrying nuclear-armed cruise missiles. Germany could help hold up France’s nuclear umbrella, even without creating nuclear bombs itself. France’s nuclear arsenal lacks smaller tactical nuclear weapons, which Germany could help make.
Isaiah 6:11 prophesies that cities will “be wasted without inhabitant,” referring to an end-time nuclear disaster. Other prophecies clearly describe the effects of an all-out war in which weapons of mass destruction are launched on cities.
Middle East
Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa and other religious leaders in a January 17 open letter attacked “Christian Zionism” as an example of “damaging ideologies” that “mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.” The “Christian Zionism” label is applied to Christians who believe the Bible teaches them to support Jewish sovereignty and nationhood in the Holy Land. Pizzaballa’s statement suggests this “ideology” is contrary to the Vatican’s position.
The New Testament states that even after the ending of the Old Covenant, the people of Israel are still God’s people (see Romans 11). Yet Pizzaballa and many Christian leaders claim that God fully rejected Israel and replaced it with Christianity generally and the Catholic Church specifically. This assumes the Catholic Church is the descendant of the Church Jesus Christ founded. But as Herbert W. Armstrong wrote in The United States and Britain in Prophecy, the Catholic Church actually has its origins with “one Simon, the sorcerer of Samaria in the time of the original apostles … started what is today called ‘Christianity.’ How astonished the world will be to discover that it is not, and never was, the outgrowth of the Church of God, founded by Jesus Christ and His apostles!”
The government of Syria, led by former terrorist Ahmed al-Sharaa, reached a deal with the Syrian Democratic Forces (sdf), Syria’s main Kurdish militia, on January 18. This followed devastating Kurdish losses to a lightning offensive by Sharaa’s forces and amounts to a surrender in which the Kurds will come under Sharaa’s government.
The United States, which backed the Kurds for years and pressured Sharaa not to destroy them, reacted to the offensive and the deal by saying it no longer intends to protect the Kurds and may pull out its troops. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack posted on social media, “The U.S. has no interest in [a] long-term military presence …. [T]he original purpose of the sdf as the primary anti-[Islamic State] force has largely expired.” U.S. officials meanwhile told the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. is considering withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000 troops in Syria. On February 12, the U.S. confirmed its withdrawal from the al-Tanf military base, handing it over to Syrian forces. This leaves the Kurds at the mercy of Sharaa’s army of legitimized terrorists.
In 1991, when America betrayed its Iraqi Kurdish allies by not backing them against Saddam Hussein, Gerald Flurry said this was symptomatic of a curse in Leviticus 26:19, of God breaking the pride of America’s power because of the nation’s sins. America betraying its Syrian Kurdish allies when it could have pressured Syria to stand down reflects the same curse.
The EU branded Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization on January 28. Responding to Iran’s massacre of tens of thousands of its own citizens (article, page 14), EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas stated: “[I]f you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as a terrorist.” Iran responded by classifying all EU militaries as terror groups.
Daniel 11:40 prophesies that Europe, “the king of the north,” and Iran, “the king of the south,” will clash, so watch for the tension between these two powers to increase and ignite a major war. Europe and Iran designating each other’s forces as terrorist groups is a step in that direction.
Asia
North Korea’s alliance with Russia has transformed it into East Asia’s most “combat-ready” force, Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, told reporters on January 12. North Korea has given significant support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, including millions of artillery rounds and thousands of troops. In return, Russia has given North Korea advanced weapons technology and training, as well as battlefield experience. The alliance has brought North Korea’s military power to a “no limits” level, Brunson said.
The Bible prophesies of a colossal multinational Asian force, led by Russia, that will include China, India and several smaller Asian countries such as North Korea. Learn more in Russia and China in Prophecy.
Although Russian ally Nicolás Maduro was ousted from Venezuela, Russian influence in the nation remains robust, according to a January 14 Radio Free Europe report. For two decades, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime cultivated relationships with Venezuelan military, political, energy and business leaders, connections “unlikely to disappear overnight,” the report states. The United States’ capture of Maduro on January 3 left Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, in power. She has warm relations with the Kremlin and received Russia’s prestigious “Order of Friendship” from Putin himself in 2024. Though the U.S. operation was a blow to Russian power in Venezuela, deep Russian roots remain. Expect Russia to deepen those roots and to continue projecting power into the Western Hemisphere in any way it can. It is one of the powers “Preparing to Storm America’s Castle.”
Chinese Communist Party officials held a forum with members of Taiwan’s Kuomintang party in Beijing on February 3, the first formal talks between the two sides in nine years. The dialogue focused on improving China-Taiwan relations through industrial cooperation, tourism and joint environmental efforts. A meeting later this year is planned between Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping and Kuomintang party chief Cheng Li-wun. Though the relatively pro-China Kuomintang has not ruled Taiwan for a decade, it remains a potent political force and staunchly opposes military conflict with China. Doubts are growing among the Taiwanese about whether the U.S. would back them in the event of a Chinese invasion. The Trumpet maintains that America’s lack of resolve will enable the Chinese Communist Party, whether by negotiation or war, to bring Taiwan under its control.
Anglo-America
The controversial issue of enforcing immigration law in America became a crisis in January after citizens and agitators disrupted operations and attacked federal agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota—agents who shot and killed two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in two separate incidents. The killings sparked nationwide protests.
President Donald Trump had threatened to use the Insurrection Act to forcibly stop rioters from attacking federal agents. After Pretti was killed on January 24, however, the president called Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and retreated by signaling that he might reduce the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota, reassigning the officials in charge, and sending in White House border czar Tom Homan.
Surrendering to left-wing agitators, politicians and the surprisingly organized resistance they put up in Minneapolis is sure to have consequences, including future protests and riots. Dale Wilcox, who heads an immigration policy group, told Fox News, “If the Trump administration accedes to Minnesota’s unreasonable, unlawful demands, it will have surrendered the rule of law to thugs and brigands.”
Isaiah 1:7 prophesies, “Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners” (English Standard Version). We see this being fulfilled in Minneapolis. The rioting will intensify unless the nation changes its attitude toward the rule of law and, more importantly, toward God.
The dollar’s exchange rate against a basket of major currencies dropped to its lowest value in four years. President Trump said on January 27 that he was unconcerned, and the value dropped even further. The president has long argued that a weaker dollar has advantages in manufacturing, energy and exports. Yet Bible prophecy indicates that the U.S.’s downfall will be triggered by a financial crisis. Deuteronomy 28:44 says debt problems will plague America if its people disobey God.
As trade relations between the U.S. and Britain deteriorate, Keir Starmer became the first British prime minister to visit Communist China since the onset of the covid pandemic in 2019. Accompanied by 50 business leaders, he encouraged British companies to seize opportunities in China. “It doesn’t make sense to stick our head in the ground and bury it in the sand when it comes to China: It’s in our interests to engage,” he said. Britain has considered the ruling Chinese party an adversary due to its oppression of Hong Kong, support of Russia’s war in Ukraine, spying on British political and business leaders, and other actions. But Starmer’s visit is helping to change Britain’s relations with China.