By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel
Right from the dawn of civilization, powerful nations have been relentlessly working to increase their global influence – be it in the economy or politics. They also have been engaging to push their interest through various strategies like MCC, BRI and the carrot of the stick of neighborhood first policy. They intend to maintain and strengthen their supremacy no matter how it comes. Greater the power and capability, the more hegemonic and assertive they become. This is the phenomenon of international power politics.
The completion among global powers for supremacy is a natural phenomenon. It has been existing in our society since time immemorial. In the race for power projection, some nations rose to prominence with time while others lose their relevance and get thrown into the pit of history and at the same time the new ones ascend to the global stage. This is the process of the rise and fall of great powers. This is evident in recent developments which highlight the rise of China and the gradual decline of America in post-COVID.
With the world divided into two camps, America and China are competing with each other to realize their global ambition. The United States of America has been aggressively offensive in building alliances. It has been chalking out strategies to contain the growth of China. Likewise, it has been reaching out to the countries expressing its willingness to support their overall development. US President Joe Biden’s visit to Ukraine in February 2022 was a part of this strategy.
On the other hand, China is busy building a diplomatic defensive wall. It brokered a diplomatic deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The deal agreed to resume their diplomatic ties and relationship. Following this, major development is taking place in the region.
These diplomatic hustles and bustles of the two powers take us back to post World War II scenario. During the post-World War II, the world had seemingly been caught in the crossfire of international power politics of two big powers. It is an open secret that the end of the War resulted in a change in the balance of global power — the UK was no more a big power while the USA and USSR emerged as superpowers. However, the United States was in better economic condition than any other country in the world.
At present, the US is cementing its alliance in both Europe and Asia. United States politician Nancy Pelosi, while serving as the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan (officially the Republic of China) on August 2, 2022. During the visit, she pointed to a global struggle between autocracy and democracy, a favorite theme of Joe Biden’s. The Tapie – Washington gesture left several repercussions. It had sent a clear and loud message signalling a sort of warning to China. Following the visit, the US-China ties and relationship raptured further.
Meanwhile, Russia which views America as its biggest competitor in realizing its global ambition has fostered its ties and relationship with China. The reason is simple. It aims to push Washington to the brink. Just recently, Xi Ping visited Moscow and met his Russian counterpart. The meeting signed an agreement aimed at solidifying their ties and relationship — both trade and politics. Xi-Putin agreements, and their body language point to the beginning of a new alliance system and world order. This also points to the other fact that the world seeks Beijing to play negotiating role to end the Ukraine war and make peace in Europe, otherwise the US sphere of influence. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s comments make it clear as he says ‘any Ukraine peace talks must focus on creating a new world order’. No doubt, Beijing and Moscow appear closer in the stand-off with the West on some issues. But this bonhomie is a marriage of convenience which may live short.
At a time when the Europeans were no longer trusting America to defend Europe, the Biden administration has been working tirelessly to re-establish the trust of Europeans. President Biden has sought to strengthen the transatlantic alliance between the U.S. and Europe, and he has recommitted the U.S. to the NATO alliance and collective security. Biden has returned the U.S. to the Paris Climate Agreement and has taken other steps to combat climate change. With these developments, some Europeans who were distancing themselves from America have been trying to bridge the gap with America.
Though the US and China in recent times have been working meticulously to realize their global ambition, Russia has not remained a mute spectator. Over a year after it invades Ukraine, Moscow has also signaled that Russia is also a power to reckon with. China-Russian have many things in common as both want to minimize US global influence — economy and politics. But China is very much mindful of the fact that a strong Russia will also pose great for it in the process of becoming a global power.
If we assess the world’s political history, we will find that there are no permanent enemies and friends. The present friends can turn into the fiercest enemies, and vice versa in future. Now, Beijing and Moscow appear closer in the stand-off with the West on some issues but who knows they will be each other’s throat in the days ahead.
Which country will be able to influence its global ambition in future, this is a critical question. I will leave it to the par excellence to explain.
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