SSP Diaries | Setting the stage for global destruction

IN TODAY’S world, many of us are losing sight of the fact that modern conflicts, whether occurring in our region or not, have negative impacts upon our own well-being and make it even more difficult for small island developing states (SIDS) to achieve their own developmental goals.

The age-old conflicts between Russia and Ukraine negatively impact the world’s grain supply and that of other minerals needed to support science and technology; those on the African continent seriously hinder the development and their potential for global trading opportunities; the Israeli/Palestine saga has eroded the importance of the United Nations as a body of any significance in stopping or reducing conflicts and the US foreign policy over the last 10 years has only served to be a global disservice and one that nations have grown not to trust. Sadly, many initiatives of the US have become rooted in the policies of the UK and the EU.

These are worrying trends. In the Russia/Ukraine conflict, it would appear that all things considered, the US has gained the upper hand. Having backed Ukraine from the start, they now reportedly have deals that give them access to the vast mineral deposits of that country that will adequately fuel their technological and military capacities. It could be argued that they now “own” Ukraine. Russia naturally might have had this goal in their offensive but can claim no such ‘victory’ and as such is forced to save face by continuing their actions until they find themselves in a more favourable position than they are currently. The US gains is cause for rising tensions in Russia. This conflict is likely to continue and escalate for some time.

FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Presently, Russia is tempting and testing the resolve of certain NATO countries by deliberately conducting military operations against Ukraine over their sovereign air space, a flagrant violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions. Such actions are working in their favour because of the indecisiveness of NATO and the reluctance of that organisation to act without the consent of their largest partner, the US. This is a potential flash point that could lead to all-out war.

The US is amid everything and continues to spread its resources very thinly across the globe. They have resources watching China, supporting Taiwan, in the Middle East, overlooking Africa, deployed to support Israel and in more recent times they have sent military resources to tackle the alleged drug shipments coming out of Venezuela, in the Caribbean, to name a few areas. It is noteworthy also that their Central Command, based in Qatar, failed to advise the Qatari government of an Israeli hostile attack on their territory that was aimed at killing the Palestinian delegation hosted by that country to discuss the peace terms originated by the US for the cessation of the conflict in the Gaza. Putting it mildly, it should be clear to Qatar now that some friends are more valuable than others.

In a further analysis of this incident, it is important to realise that in that theatre where so many strategic resources are located and protected by the presence of what is regarded as the world’s largest offensive/defensive capability, it is simply impossible, in my opinion, for such a capability to be unable to detect hostilities violating the host nations sovereignty, and for such an act to have taken place, the originator must have had the approval of the protector. This act alone has severely reduced relations between the Arab world and Israel as well as reduced trust in the USA.

ROGUE NATION

Prior to this unlawful act, the Arab world had been somewhat passive, even with the other security concerns in their region. They, through Qatar, were committed to resolving the conflict in Gaza. The actions of Egypt, Qatar and to an extent Saudi Arabia, speak to this. The strike by Israel on Qatar soil has changed all that. The Arab world has since taken steps to arm themselves against what they now believe to be a rogue nation, namely Israel, supported by the US. Note is taken of the fact that relationships between the Kingdom of Saudi and the US have been weakening over the last decade, especially after the assassination of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. He enjoyed US residency. The importance of the US being able to have stable supplies of oil is what drives their interest in the region and is the reason behind maintaining friendly relations bolstered by the protection offered by their strong military presence.

The peace in the region is now threatened by a US ‘rogue friend’ and there is clearly an inability to control its actions, in Israel or overseas. The tensions in the Middle East are, in my estimation, far worse than reported. There is every likelihood, for example, that the Arab world will suspend their problems with Iran/Syria just to deal conclusively with Israel. This will set the stage for a further rise in tensions leading to conflicts.

Russia also has its global designs and has an approach that has not been far different from that of Israel as far as violating sovereignty is concerned. One is reminded in the context of how that nation has traditionally treated its critics. Over a seven-year period, Russia is alleged to have caused the deaths of four critics/defectors in England. Alexander Litvinenko poisoned in 2006, Alexander Perepilichnyy in 2012, Boris Berezousky found hanged at home in 2013, and Sergei and Yulia Shripal (father and daughter) poisoned in 2018. In the disregard for international law or the laws of a country, these alleged acts by Russia show a total disregard for the country in which they took place and constitute threats for future actions, which in the absence of any substantial deterring action taken by the UK, could result in even more bold steps, when such examples are being shown each day by Israel and condoned by others.

Israel’s playbook is one which seems to have no boundaries. When they have reached their limits, as was the case with Iran’s retaliatory strikes on their homeland, faced with possible destruction, the US literally bailed them out by launching a strike on Iranian facilities. They have not learned from that experience, and they continue to unjustifiable intensify operations in the Gaza, stage operations in Qatar as discussed and are still striking targets in Lebanon. With the support of the US and by extension the UK and EU, Israel has found itself in a position where it calls and delivers unacceptable violence as it pleases without fear for repercussion. The developed Western world has unleashed a monster that beckons global disaster. The world is left to wonder, where which country’s sovereignty will be violated next, by whom and on what pretext?

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