This week observed new events in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, rivalry between The US and China taking new twists and turns, and efforts of international institutions in fulfilling global objectives. Despite the claims of various experts that war is not evitable in today’s times of complex interdependence and multilateralism, not only Russia-Ukraine war started, it completed a year and still going on. With every passing day, it is getting more complex and multi-dimensional.
It has also instigated other conflicts in the world and triggered lobby politics. Intensified rivalry between the US and China is another realm of world politics that is impacting various regional and global developments. Both the nations, instead of paying attention to their national issues, are busy in coming up with tactics to demonise each other. Will this solve their national problems remains the question. Amid the global political labyrinth, the positive news comes from Brazil who will host the upcoming COP30.
China condemns US Move to remove Developing nation status;
calls it interference Just after taking the sigh of relief over the issue of debt ceiling, the foreign relations committee of the US Senate has now approved bipartisan legislation ‘Developing Nation Status Act’ to remove China’s status of a ‘developing nation’. The Senate followed the process of the similar legislation been passed by the House of Representatives in March this year only. This legislation makes the US policy against providing China the status of a ‘developing country’ in future treaties and international organisations. This is to be noted that the status of a ‘developing country’ provides privileges to a country while taking loans and other facilities or support from international institutions. The US has argued that how come a country like China that enjoys the status of world’s second-largest economy, and has a powerful military can be given the status of a ‘developing country’? The experts from the US also argued that China is exploiting this status in various international institutions to get unfair advantages. They argued that China has invested heavily in the ‘actual’ developing nations in the name of providing economic and infrastructural support to these countries, and has debt trapped them. China’s ‘belt and road initiative’ is a clear example. Why should such country enjoy the privileges of being a developing nation, when it is actually not? Is what the US arguing. On the other hand, China has expressed its sharp reactions on this step of the US. China is accusing the US of trying to stop its development journey. The press release from the Foreign Ministry of China states that China’s status of world’s largest developing economy has its roots in international law and facts. Hence China’s status of a ‘developing country’ cannot be easily eradicated by the congressional law of the US. It would be interesting to see how this particular episode unfolds at international level in the future as both the US and China will not give up on this particular issue.
Ukraine makes progress against Russian forces;
Russia’s Missile attacks persist On the warfront, both Russia and Ukraine are not giving up. Every day, both the nations come up with their versions of stories regarding the war and claim their triumphant position. This week, Ukraine kept coming up with the statements on its counter-offensive operations against Russian forces to retake its territory from Russia’s occupying forces in different Ukrainian regions. Ukraine claimed its gains in the eastern Donetsk and south-eastern Zaporizhzhia regions. On the other hand, Russian forces intensified their missile attacks on the cities of Ukraine including Kyiv, Odesa and Kryvyi Rih. Meanwhile, the death toll because of the flooding in the Russian controlled Kherson region increased and both Russia and Ukraine kept accusing each other for this disaster. The humanitarian efforts to help the affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam that caused flood are still going on.
However, the UN stated that Russia is yet to provide the safety guarantees the UN officials need to cross the front line of the Dnipro River. According to the statements given by the UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Ukraine, they are engaging with both Ukrainian and Russian governments to provide their humanitarian assistance. However, humanity seems to be suffering heavily in Ukraine at present.
Brazil selected to Host COP30 in 2025; International climate meeting brings hope
Amid all the challenges posed to the humanity, Brazil has been selected by the US to host the international climate meeting, COP30, in the Amazonian city of Belém do Pará in 2025. Climate change is a prioritised global issue at present and the nations are collectively working to contain climate change. COP provides a ray of hope in this direction and involving developing nations like Brazil and India in to this agenda in leadership positions is a welcoming step. Although there are many political aspects and debates associated with this agenda, particularly when looked from the angle of the division between mighty North and global South. However, there has been a continuous demand that comes from global South to democratize international institutions and the objectives. Providing the opportunity to Brazil to host the upcoming COP30 seems to be positive step in this direction. I hope Brazil would be able to sort its issues related to striking a balance between its national priorities and international efforts in this particular domain.
I always look forward to happy endings. Hope the world engages and collaborates for positive developments to accomplish global objectives.