Troubled Times

Myriad concurrent wars have destabilised the entire world economy — not only those of the combatants. The beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war saw most countries go into recession; food-grain supplies from Ukraine and Russia are still disrupted, leading to food shortages in many countries, with the Horn of Africa facing famine. In this fraught scenario, European countries have hiked their defence budget, by cutting down on welfare expenses — greatly affecting the old, the poor, and the needy

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The 2020s are proving to be the most troubled decade in recent history, with conflicts breaking out at the drop of a hat — not in far corners of the world, but in our immediate neighbourhood. Sadly, the genesis of most conflicts is great power rivalry — a desire for supremacy. The US and Russia pick on weaker countries, to show that they are still top dogs, and the 'new kid on the block' China, is testing waters by browbeating neighbours. In addition to perpetually strife-torn Africa, the present decade started with China occupying our territory in Ladakh, followed by a Russian attack on Ukraine, Israel flattened the Gaza strip, and killed or expelled most of its inhabitants, and thereafter, for good measure, attacked Iran also. Last month, we had a limited war with Pakistan.

While the India-China conflict has petered out, with India accepting the status quo, the Russia-Ukraine war has entered its forty-first month, with the entire Western bloc supporting Ukraine with arms and money, stopping just short of sending soldiers. Israeli misadventures in Gaza and Iran are a totally different story. After Israeli retribution, against Palestinians exceeded all acceptable limits, Israel's European allies distanced themselves from the carnage, but not the US, which wants the Gaza strip cleared of Palestinians — for US corporates to monetise.

Western powers are actively supporting the Israeli invasion of Iran; the US started nuclear talks with Iran, lulling it into complacency — while Israel prepared to attack. The statement of US officials claiming that they prevailed upon Israel not to target Iranian President Khamenei, proves this assumption. Later on, USA entered the fray by bombing Iran; Britain and France moved their military assets to the Middle-East — probably, to deliver the coup-de-grace. A US-imposed cease-fire holds, but Iran and Israel still breathe fire.