From Circuits to Sanctions: Rick Sterling on Engineering, Empire, and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy

An Engineer Turned Anti-Imperialist Rick Sterling might have retired from his career as an electronics engineer, but he hasn’t retired from activism. With articles in publications like LA Progressive, Antiwar.com, and Dissident Voice, he is now focused on international political issues, ranging from the Middle East to U.S. hegemony. Recently returned from trips to China and Russia (including Crimea), Rick aims to bring first-hand insights to his local community in the U.S., challenging dominant media narratives.

Origins of a Political Journey Before engineering came activism. Rick’s political awakening began as a young Canadian traveling through the U.S. and Latin America in the late 1960s. Encounters with poverty, racism, and U.S. foreign interference opened his eyes. By the 1970s, he was an activist for liberation movements in Southern Africa, publishing revolutionary life histories before Mandela was a global icon. Later, family needs led him into engineering and a career at UC Berkeley. But once retired, he returned full-time to political advocacy.

Trump, Pompeo, and Foreign Policy Continuity Rick expressed skepticism about the impact of Trump’s return to office on U.S. foreign policy. Despite Trump’s rhetorical divergence—promising to end wars and reduce military engagement—Sterling sees little deviation from bipartisan imperial norms. The real test, Rick says, will be Trump’s appointments: if figures like Mike Pompeo (former CIA director and Secretary of State) resurface, it signals continuity, not change. “Pompeo plotted to assassinate Julian Assange and was central to aggressive anti-Iran actions,” Rick reminds us.

Ukraine, NATO, and the Illusion of Change Trump’s claim to end the Ukraine war with a mere phone call is met with deep skepticism. According to Rick, Russia is now in a strategically dominant position and unlikely to surrender its gains without significant concessions. Meanwhile, Trump’s prior criticisms of NATO are telling. If he backs off those critiques, Rick believes it would reveal a capitulation to the intelligence and defense establishment.

Final Thoughts: Can Trump Challenge Empire? Sterling sees the U.S. political system as locked into a militarized foreign policy, regardless of who wins elections. “Even if Trump wanted to pull back,” he warns, “the War Machine and Empire march on.” Whether Trump has learned from his first term—and whether he will surround himself with allies or adversaries—remains to be seen. But Rick remains committed to exposing the reality that the United States is not the center of the world.

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Tags: #foreignpolicy, #RickSterling, #Trump2025, #MikePompeo, #NATO, #UkraineWar, #MiddleEastPolitics, #antiimperialism, #politicalactivism