The world order is on the verge of a new stage, a dangerous phase of deterioration and collapse. And this is more and more obvious. The international organization has failed to settle many international issues that have been on its agenda for decades..
Alongside unresolved questions, the specter of nuclear arms races between the superpowers made a comeback. The United States announced its withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Weapons Treaty banning the production of intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
The US-Russian dispute over nuclear missiles is not new, though. In 2014, former President Barack Obama accused Russia of violating the treaty, following reports that it tested an SSC-8 ground-launched cruise missile, putting NATO countries within instant nuclear reach.
Nuclear powers are staking again on nuclear capabilities as a cheaper alternative to the rapid and expensive development of conventional armament. This highly complex problem constantly threatens to trigger a nuclear arms race that will inevitably involve other countries striving to acquire nukes suck as Iran.
The US move came as an answer not only to Russia, but also to another potential superpower. Not being under IRBM capability restrictions, China strengthened its presence and military capabilities in East Asia.
On the backdrop of President Trump’s exit from the treaty was a desire to have a wide margin of maneuver in the pressure on the competing countries and in wielding military power as a pressure card. He wanted to acquire new military capabilities to strengthen the America’s military arsenal and ability to deter strategic adversaries. Another point is to re-negotiate new terms for an agreement that includes China, not just Russia. Beijing has become more threatening for US national security than Moscow. Another concern behind the withdrawal was Russia’s continued possession of weapons proved to be superior to many of its US counterparts. The S-400 anti-missile system is far more demanded than the MIM-104 Patriot..
Strategists believe that China will not overcome US military hegemony but could do so through economy and technology. China has become an AI and advanced technology powerhouse, a hub for the production of wealth and a leader in entrepreneurship.
The People’s Republic is moving fast. In 2016, there were only 16 Chinese billionaires but today, one of every five billionaires is from China, according to a recent BBC report!
Europe is falling behind as an economic, industrial and military power and may witness unprecedented strategic exposure while the United States continues to cast aside NATO.
These changes will affect global security but the Arab region will see a great deal of impact on it due to its geostrategic relevance. MENA countries have to watch closely how the global power dynamics will play out in the next stage.
