So, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky was toying with World War Three, at least that was my biggest take from the recent President Donald Trump versus President Zelensky spat at the White House in January DC. Let me start by declaring that I am completely neutral in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine although as a global citizen, I cannot afford to be indifferent to what is going on.
Also, I believe Russia had extremely heavy reasons three years ago when it decided to invade its neighbour and former part of the now defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which it led. The war in Ukraine is now a high-stakes conflict, threatening to drag the rest of the world into a Third World War.
Obviously, as the leader of the world’s most powerful military and economy, Trump knows what he is talking about and nations can only ignore that at their own peril.
The last two world wars were fought over reasons sometimes shortened simply as the MAIN principle, where M stands for Militarism, A for Alliances, I for Imperialism, and N for Nationalism.
If we look at the world scenario today, the MAIN principle is still very much at work although with the fall of the former USSR and its Warsaw Pact Alliance nearly forty years ago, the world had increasingly become unipolar with the US as the de facto world leader by virtue of leading the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
But since the war of words in the White House, it has now become clear that America was ready to ditch NATO and side with Russia, albeit an arch enemy and rival, in order to defend its national economic and business interests. That is ultra-Nationalism at play and work, riding high over the obligation and imperative to respect and defend the terms and conditions of an international treaty, in this case, NATO.
Europe had for nearly 80 years, relied heavily on the United States to defend its sovereignty in the event of external aggression. NATO is a grouping of 32 countries, 30 in Europe and including the United States and Canada in North America.
Trump has made it very plain that Europe should rise to its own defence, a wake-up call made during a most challenging time and rather chaotic moment to pick up the gauntlet thrust at their feet.
However, Europe has no choice. It must come up quickly with both a formula and modality for collective defence and parrying off any aggressor, real or perceived, which under the present circumstances, is what the war in Ukraine presents.
Perhaps, under Trump, NATO could get lost into the Mariana Trench but Europe will need another alliance for mutual defence, most likely led by Britain, France and Germany, the same old European big brothers that led fighting in the last two world wars.
However, how is Africa prepared for a third world war? Africa today in the last two world wars was basically a dredged landmass for causes that weren’t theirs.
Given the continent’s vulnerability, both economically and militarily, there is every likelihood that in the event of a third world war, Africa could again find itself pitched in battles and pawned off in fighting for causes that won’t be theirs.
It is indeed very trying times but Africa should be prepared to rise up to the moment, and like anyone else, be prepared for the ultimate sacrifice to defend its sovereignty, independence, liberty, freedom and dignity in the global comity of nations.
