Rich Countries Should Help Fend Off Mutually Assured Destruction

It's in the interest of wealthy nations to plug gaps left by the US withdrawal from global institutions

- JAYATI GHOSH

Towards the end of the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, Krishna's Yadava clan self-destructs. Many dark omens presage their downfall: nature behaves erratically and pests multiply. Sin, deception and violence proliferate, eroding trust and solidarity. Clan members humiliate and insult elders. When Krishna's extended family goes on a picnic, the men get drunk, argue and attack each other, until eventually all of them are dead.

This cautionary tale has gained new resonance as geopolitical tensions—including in South Asia—escalate and many countries embrace protectionist policies. US President Donald Trump's second administration has contributed significantly to the current fragmentation and disorder. But other wealthy countries have exacerbated the situation by failing to show any real solidarity in response to Trump's hostile policies.

The lack of development cooperation is a prime example of this growing appetite for mutually assured destruction. To be sure, aid from donor countries was already declining. The Covid pandemic exposed the system's injustices and highlighted Western governments' greed, undermining trust in their global leadership. Moreover, these governments have directed most of their dwindling foreign-aid budgets to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, diverting funds away from other war-torn and desperately poor countries, underscoring the largely self-serving approach to such 'charity' flows.