As the UN General Assembly convenes in New York, global tensions are escalating with major powers challenging the established world order. The article discusses the diminishing role of the UN, the aggressive actions of Russia in Ukraine, and Israel's military strategies in Gaza. It also highlights the shifting dynamics with China's growing influence and the U.S.'s recent military actions in the Caribbean. Amidst this, China positions itself as a proponent of stability and free trade.
Global Tensions Rise as International Order Faces Challenges
We Are Living in a World Without Barriers
The UN General Assembly is set to open its annual session in New York next week. The world outside is anything but calm. On the contrary, it feels as if all barriers are about to be lifted.
There have only been limited periods since the UN's inception in 1945 when the world organization could truly play the role of upholding international law and order.
One such moment came after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, when Saddam Hussein broke the most sacred of rules. An attempt to redraw the map by force, to swallow and annex neighboring Kuwait.
The UN Security Council condemned and gave Iraq an ultimatum to evacuate Kuwait. Resolution 678.
The U.S. then led the liberation of Kuwait along with several other countries in the Gulf War of 1991, with the UN's approval. Such things no longer happen.
There is often talk of the rules-based world order. But it is a world order that has practically been maintained by the U.S., which has been the dominant power in the world since the end of the Cold War.
It is also a world order that does not suit an increasingly powerful China. Russia's Vladimir Putin also wants to tear it down.
And it was Russia that, through its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, seriously took the sledgehammer to demolish the structure.
No UN could intervene and condemn this time. Russia controls 20 percent of Ukraine's territory and is on its way to achieving what should not be possible, redrawing borders by force.
Last week's drone intrusion over Poland was also the most extensive Russian military violation of a NATO country ever. As mentioned, the barriers have been lifted.
But it is not just about Russia and Ukraine. It also feels as if Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has discarded almost all restrictions in his war in Gaza.
China is undeniably right that the world order we have had in recent decades has been led by the superpower USA. It has also meant that when Washington has spoken out, things have generally been respected.
But Washington under President Donald Trump is not speaking out against Israel this time. There is some muttering, but practically nothing is done. This also applies to Trump's actions against Putin.
Israel's new ground invasion of Gaza City is far from supported by all of Israel. Nor was the attack on Hamas's political leadership in Qatar. Many of the country's leading politicians, military, and intelligence experts are against it.
But Benjamin Netanyahu is a strong leader who has been the country's prime minister for 18 years. He wants to eradicate Hamas once and for all and is now practically doing what he wants.
Israel is also acting more offensively in the West Bank, including with new extensive settlements. No one is holding them back anymore.
The U.S. itself has also pushed the boundaries of its military actions closer to home, in the Caribbean, in the past week. The U.S. Navy has blown up and sunk two boats allegedly belonging to drug-smuggling Venezuelan gangs.
This is probably true. But drug gangs are not foreign powers, they are not soldiers.
And the military makes mistakes. Few want a world where the military opens fire on criminals and acts as police, judge, and executioner alone.
At the same time, so much is happening in U.S. domestic politics that raises concern. This includes everything from the politicization of organizations like the FBI to Trump's threats and warnings to seriously crack down on the political left after the murder of Charlie Kirk.
In all this turbulence and chaos, it is suddenly the communist dictatorship China that tries to portray itself as stable, a country that advocates free trade, rules, and predictability.
China's Defense Minister Dong Jun warned in a speech at a security conference in Beijing this week against authoritarianism and bullying tactics.
He did not utter the word USA, but that was what he meant. At the same time, he warned the world against trying to interfere in Taiwan. Read USA.
China's Xi Jinping – and all his predecessors as the country's communist leader – have spoken of reuniting Taiwan with China.
"Ready if the order comes"
No one has attempted it. But Xi Jinping is building up his military and has given it until 2027 to be ready if the order comes.
A military invasion of Taiwan has been China's barrier. Is that also about to be lifted?