America shocked Europe by holding a meeting with Russia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025, to discuss the fate of Ukraine without both Ukraine and Europe being invited.
It was the first biggest sign of reshaping the New World Order by Big Powers, very much similar to the Berlin Conference 140 years ago that divided Africa amongst European powers without Africa itself being invited or knowing what was going on.
Earlier, at the two-day Munich Security Conference in Germany that ended on February 16, 2025, America had made it clear that Europe had to spend more for its defence as the Trump 2 administration showed little interest to keep shoring up the transatlantic alliance that has defined relations between Europe and America for nearly eight decades.
And, on February 25, 2025, the world’s two closest allies, The United Kingdom and the United States, voted separately on resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council calling to an end on the war in Ukraine.
America sided with Russia, Belarus and North Korea in a show of indifference to Europe’s security concerns and keeping its borders sacrosanct. The rift between Europe and America had never been wider.
At the Munich conference, the President of Germany, Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier had literally begged US Vice President, James D Vance to not pull American soldiers out of German soil.
However, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said Europe was indeed going to up its military spending and thaw its dependence on American boots for its own defence.
That however, comes at a cost. European economies shall have to be made more robust at a time of monumental challenges to Europe’s share of global consumption.
Europe however, is well known for coordinating foreign policy. Besides, it is war, and not peace that has historically propelled forward European economies.
So, could the world be setting the stage for another major global conflict with reshaped alliances, whereby Russia and the United States could bury their mutual isolation and seek to dominate and divide the world just between the two of them?
Nothing is impossible. One thing that the Trump administration has demonstrated is that “our shared values,” the mantra and cornerstone of European and American relations was just a myth under the “America First” Trump’s reorientation of domestic agenda as a reflection of America’s global view and international policy.
So, where does all that leave Africa?
Pitifully, Africa is not known for coordinating foreign policy or prosecuting aggressively its own domestic view as a factor and function of its foreign policy and interests.
I stand to be corrected but Africa rests precariously on the precipice of a second wave of direct colonisation, interest for which Trump has not hidden in the past.
Alternatively, it could be asked. Does Africa matter in the new realignment of the mega global politics and alliances?
Again, my take is yes. Africa does matter in the new global setting of things for its position, land, climate and resources.
The Africans themselves could matter less. And, that is the crisis itself as never thought of events before, unfold in front of our very eyes.
Unfortunately, I for one can never bring my conscience around to support Kyiv in its war against Moscow.
When some African leaders stepped forward to offer a helping hand, President Volodymyr Zelensky bluntly brushed them aside saying, that war was none of their calibre to handle.
On the other hand, Africa has historical ties with Europe even though their record is not that flavoury. But, it is better the devil you know.
Fourteen countries were at the Berlin Conference of 1884/85, including the United States, which was represented by British-American explorer, Henry Morton Stanley.
That America never got a piece of the African cake, doesn’t in any way lessen its culpability or desire to maraud.
Africa would better wake up and meet the new challenges in our world with a united front.
Without unity, we stand no chance, Africa’s noble statesman, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, said.
Mboneko Munyaga
Contact: 0743354006
Email: mmunyaga@gmail.com
