Correspondent in VS (1999-2006) en in Turkije (2006-2020). Boek 'Exotisch Amerika'. Zeeuwse Vlaming. Straatloper. Verslingerd aan havensteden & aan de Schelde.
For people who say it couldn't be predicted that the Iran war would be this consequential for the global economy, watch this 2012 video of former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski 👇
He predicts what did in fact happen: "[Iran] can hurt us a lot... Can you imagine what the consequences would be for us if [...] Iraq was massively destabilized, if Bahrain was set on fire, if the North-Eastern oil fields in Saudi Arabia were attacked... The consequences, the costs would be cumulative... The global economy would be affected so we're playing with fire here."
All of this happened.
Which goes to show that the US government has been acutely aware for decades of how globally destructive a war on Iran would be for all of us (including on America itself and on its Gulf allies): when Trump says that “nobody” expected Iran to retaliate by targeting US allies in the region (https://t.co/HJ25IRJLZm), it's a bold-faced lie.
So the real question is rather: if you know something will set the world on fire, and you do it anyway, and the consequences unfold exactly as predicted - at what point does the rest of the world stop looking at Washington as a fireman and start reckoning with the fact that they're dealing with an arsonist?
Source video: https://t.co/GwGJeqlpFb
So this is where we are now, a grim and sobering assessment of where NATO finds itself thanks to—of all allies—the U.S. The upcoming Ankara #NATO Summit is going to a nail biter!
In de Top 25 van de best verkochte reisgidsen eindigde mijn stadsgids ‘Wandelen in Istanbul’ op de eervolle 10e plaats in 2025. Ook toeristen die al vaker in de culturele en economische hoofdstad van Turkije zijn geweest ontdekken nog talloze verborgen pareltjes. #Istanbul
My latest in @FT
The danger is that both Washington and Israel think they can achieve a grand Middle East peace by putting together all the small pieces — except the central Palestinian one — and silencing the rejectionists with more war. https://t.co/EIyPEcoCTL
#FountainFriday Walking from Arnavutköy to Örtaköy yesterday happy to see that Kadin Efendi Çeşmesi, commissioned for Mehmed V's wife Dürriaden Kadin Efendi in 1909, had been restored. For first time also noticed tiled panels set in wall nearby. Shame it's such a busy main road.
FDI inflows to Turkey increased by 5.6% compared to 2023.
Top 3 foreign investors by country:
1. The Netherlands (23.6%)
2. Germany (11.5%)
3. U.S. (10.3%).
https://t.co/xhYcZBk5fq
Istanbul is een paradijs voor katten. Dat is een traditie die is geworteld in de Islam. Waarom? Dat lees je op mijn Facebookpagina en in mijn reisgids ‘Wandelen in Istanbul’. #stedentrip#Istanbul#vakantie#reisgids#Turkije
Turkey attracted $11.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, maintaining its appeal to international investors.
Top 3 foreign investors:
1. The Netherlands (23.6%)
2. Germany (11.5%)
3. US (10.3%)
https://t.co/DhOWt8WbLF
Gezien in Hulst. Bijzonder ooggetuigenverslag over de bevrijding van Axel, Hulst en Terneuzen. Door Franciszek Skibinski, de commandant vd 1ste Poolse Pantserdivisie. Onlangs verzorgden we een Nederlandse vertaling van het Poolse boek. #boek#Axel#Hulst#Terneuzen#Polen
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to launch its operations in Turkey.
Public & private sectors will have access to ADB’s financing opportunities in infrastructure, environment, education, finance, and energy.
https://t.co/fcxxzj0z7k
#Turkey#ADB#financing
The U.S. was the country in which Turkish exports increased the most in terms of value last year.
Exports to the U.S. rose by $1.26 billion in 2024 compared to the previous year, exceeding $13 billion in 2024.
#Turkey#export#trade#economy#USA