Every empire in history did the same thing before it collapsed.
https://x.com/ThePenguinBTC/status/2040051039068410115
Translated from Turkish
Every empire in history did the same thing before it collapsed.
The US is planning to increase its military budget.
Everyone reads this as "strong America."
I opened the history books.
I looked at Rome. I looked at Spain. I looked at England.
All three did the same thing. And all three ended the same way.
First, look at the numbers.
The US debt is 39 trillion dollars.
Of every 4 dollars collected in taxes, 1 goes just to interest. Not to health. Not to education. Not to infrastructure. To interest.
Now the military budget is being increased.
History has told us this story before.
Not once. Many times.
The Roman Empire.
Rome was the most powerful state in the world. It controlled the entire Mediterranean. Its army was unmatched.
But as its borders expanded, military spending increased. More soldiers. More borders. More money.
What did they do?
They raised taxes. It wasn't enough. They reduced the silver content in the money. In today's terms, they printed money.
Meanwhile, what happened? Domestic infrastructure decayed. Roads deteriorated. Trade slowed. The people grew poorer. But military spending continued to rise.
Result: The economy collapsed. The army could no longer defend.
The world's most powerful empire tried to preserve its military strength by sacrificing domestic welfare. And that's exactly why it collapsed.
The Spanish Empire.
In the 16th century, Spain was the richest in the world. Gold and silver flowed from the American continent. Its navy was unmatched. No one could measure up to Spain.
But it was constantly at war. With the Netherlands. With England. With France. On every front at once.
Gold and silver income went straight to military spending. No investment in the domestic economy. Production didn't develop. Agriculture declined.
When the gold ran out, what was left? Debt.
A ruined economy. And an army that could no longer be financed.
The British Empire.
For 200 years, the world's superpower. The pound was the world currency. Its navy controlled the oceans.
Its economy was depleted by wars. Debts piled up. Domestic infrastructure decayed. To finance the wars, it had to withdraw from the colonies.
In 1956, it couldn't take back the Suez Canal.
The world saw: "This country is no longer strong."
Within 20 years, the pound ceased to be the world currency. Allies drifted away. Capital fled.
Do you see the pattern?
- Rome.
- Spain.
- England.
All followed the same path. All made the same mistake.
As their economic foundation weakened, they increased military spending. They tried to preserve external power by sacrificing domestic welfare. And all collapsed.
Historian Paul Kennedy calls this "imperial overstretch." Excessive military expansion.
Empires collapse when they extend their military capacity beyond their economic capacity.
Ray Dalio: "Declining empires try to preserve their military power as their financial strength weakens. This accelerates the collapse rather than slowing it."
Now look at the US.
39 trillion dollars in debt. One out of every 4 dollars goes to interest. Military budget is being increased.
Amid current tensions, questions are growing among some allies.
Rome was also unmatched. It collapsed.
Spain was also the richest. It collapsed.
England was also strong. It collapsed.
What they all had in common: Instead of strengthening their economic foundations, they increased military spending.
Meanwhile, what is China doing?
Growing quietly.
- Invested 1.4 trillion dollars in the Belt and Road.
- Built infrastructure in 49 African countries.
- CIPS payment system active in 180 countries.
- Trade in yuan is spreading.
- Investing in education and technology.
Without firing a single bullet. Without bombing a single country. Without entering a single war.
The US is increasing military spending. China is building infrastructure and trade networks.
The US is borrowing to buy weapons. China is investing in the future.
The Economist says exactly this on its cover this week.
"Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake…"
History always asks the same question.
What happens to an empire that increases its military power without strengthening its economic foundation?
Rome answered. Spain answered. England answered.
Is it America's turn?
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posted by Satish Sharma at
12:49 PM
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