Pedro Baños: Prophet or Charlatan?

Pedro Baños, the colonel who brings war to prime time

Retired Colonel Pedro Baños has evolved from a standard military analyst into the center of a controversy blending geopolitics, publishing business, and alleged influence networks. His recent claims that the United States could launch an imminent attack on China have been met with disbelief and mockery, yet also staunch defense. What lies behind this figure?

A prophecy no one took seriously

The spark was a television declaration: Baños warned that Washington might strike Beijing. The reaction was immediate. "I nearly died laughing," one viewer summarized on social media. Others went further, speaking of a "psychotic break" or drug use. The colonel, over sixty and retired, became a meme.

But not everyone sees it so clearly. His defenders argue he is not deranged, but merely "somewhat vehement regarding an issue of extreme gravity." They claim the war in Ukraine and escalating tensions with China justify an alarmist tone.

The business of controversy

Meanwhile, some point to a much more prosaic motive: money. Baños has several books on the market and, as one critic noted, "book royalties are around 10%." In other words, selling copies does not make anyone rich, save for rare exceptions. Constant media presence, however, feeds other avenues: YouTube, conferences, and brand image.

The theory of the "provocateur for profit" gains traction when reviewing his schedule. The colonel has appeared on various programs, including those hosted by Iker Jiménez, and has learned that controversy attracts attention. "To increase audiences, they have to lower the standards more and more," commented one analyst. The question remains whether Baños is a symptom or a conscious actor within that ecosystem.

The pro-Russian circle and Iker Jiménez's role

The most serious accusation, however, concerns neither mental health nor financial results, but geopolitics. In recent months, Baños has been identified as part of a public opinion circuit aligned with Russian interests. According to various sources, the pattern is clear: the same names appear repeatedly on the same shows, with Iker Jiménez acting as the supposed "gatekeeper" giving them oxygen during peak viewing hours.

The list includes Rubén Gisbert, Liu Sibaya, Pablo González Yagüe, and Pável Rubtsov, the latter linked to Russian intelligence services according to Ukrainian agency reports. Baños, naturally, does not appear in those reports as an agent, but his discourse aligns with that of other guests who shifted from ignoring Russia to defending Kremlin-friendly positions almost overnight.

Between prophet and merchant

Amid the noise, Baños’s profile grows on social media. His trinc see him as a lucid man warning about what no one wants to hear: World War III is possible. His detractors view him as a puppet of a media business that rewards apocalypse. Reality likely lies somewhere in between, but that doesn't sell.

Meanwhile, the colonel continues publishing, offering opinions, and stirring passions. The question of whether he has lost his mind remains open. But the question of whether his discourse has real consequences, beyond audience figures, still lacks an answer.