Government must be straight with people on defence

THE world is becoming a more dangerous place.

- David Taylor-Gooby

After the Second World War the victorious nations tried to establish an international order which would be essentially rules based. The United Nations (which was incidentally established in London) is the best example of this. Disputes would be settled between nations, and aggression against countries would be outlawed.

That vision has been in decline for many years now. America's intervention in Iraq, in which the UK was complicit, Putin's invasion of Ukraine, and now the horrific conflicts in Gaza and Iran seem to indicate that the international order has broken down. Instead of trying to resolve problems through international mechanisms, states are acting unilaterally and getting away with it.

Now we have an American president who judges every dispute as to whether America will benefit, not whether it is fair. Solutions even depend on whether Trump likes you or not. The influence of the United Nations has drastically declined, with America ignoring it much of the time.

Putin has shown a ruthless determination to advance the influence of Russia regardless of the cost. The country has sustained enormous casualties with its incursion into Ukraine.