The world has moved closer to a wider war, which is currently raging between Russia and Ukraine. The pitch was queered by the daring visit of the U.S. president, Joe Biden, to the Ukraine amid shelling and the deadly Iranian drones hovering in the skies of Ukraine, used by Russia. Biden promised Ukraine an additional $500 million in the form of arms.
Putin was angry and pulled his country out of the START nuclear treaty it had signed with the U.S. in 2010. This was a threat to “nuke” if pushed. The treaty limited the deployable number of nuclear warheads to 1550 for each of the two superpowers. NATO will yet again be imposing the next set of sanctions against Russia, their 12th, in retaliation to the Russian threat.
While the U.S. president was on his visit to Poland, promising all support to the front-line states against Russia, he said, “Democracies are under threat in the world.” Putin was with 200,000 patriotic Russians who were waving flags and saying, “There is a battle going on on our historical borders for our people.” He has already drafted more than 300,000 troops into a war that seems to drag on, contrary to the earlier forecasts of a few weeks.
The high-profile visit of the top Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, to the Kremlin and the proposed visit of Chinese President Xi to Moscow are the boldest moves to underscore their strong bond. China has categorically rejected requests for it to name Putin and Russia as the war’s aggressors in Ukraine. China may soon lose trade partners in the West and the United States, but it appears unafraid to praise Putin and align with Russia. The Chinese may have secret plans to grab Taiwan and Arunachal Pradesh in the din and noise of the Ukrainian war. India needs to be on high alert for any plans China might have to do something bad in the North East and in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, the latter being important for their OBOR, or international road.
It will not be in India’s interest, save for buying the cheap Russian oil, if Russia gets too close to China. China will pressurise Russia to distance itself from India, which Putin may not be able to ward off. China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea may not provide Joe Biden with a peaceful, smooth, and balanced tenure. The U.S. must unhesitatingly impose trade sanctions against China for their slightest, characteristic, and deceitful provocations in the Russian war.
Putin may not just be playing with words when he says he is pulling out of the N-Treaty. He seems to be very strategic and aggressive. Sanctions may have little impact on Russia, as similar moves against North Korea have not resulted in regime change or weakened their ruler, Kim Jong-Un. Short-term Gulf deals, where the “sharks” are ready to pounce and pluck their pound of flesh, cannot satisfy the West’s reliance on Russian oil and gas, nor can they fulfil the needs.
As the war enters a crucial phase of the second year, it seems to become deadlier and more lethal than ever before.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide voix
