aIn the backdrop of deepening global conflicts, this week hosted two major international events – the second in-person quad summit in Tokyo and the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Although the events were held in two different parts of the world, attendees were largely concerned with the same idea: the geopolitical health of the world.
The Quad Summit held on 24 May saw a meeting of four partners: India, the US, Japan and Australia. A photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking down a flight of stairs ahead of other leaders became an example of “leadership from the front”. But in addition to optics, the group also focused on technology, climate action, disaster prevention, counter-terrorism and “illegal fishing”- almost all of which are related to China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific.
Illegal fishing: China is reportedly the source of 80-95 percent of illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific. launch of quad ‘Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness’ It seeks to counter this and other “suspicious operations” of Chinese maritime militias by using advanced satellite imagery and technology.
Saying that the quad partnership is a “force for good”The message from Tokyo was one of solidarity at a time when the world, still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, was shaken by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Similarly, the annual meeting of the WEF held on 22-26 May was more political than ever. Compared to last year’s theme ‘The Great Reset’, which was mainly related to the post-pandemic economic recovery, this year’s theme was ‘History at a turning point’. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined this year’s event via video call and said that the words “turning point” have become “more than a rhetorical figure of speech”.
Certainly, the WEF summit has long had an image problem with billionaires flying in their private planes to discuss climate action at a ski resort. But if we look at this event less as a source of solution and more as a forum, it is clear how geopolitics, especially the Ukraine war, entered almost all discussions – the state of the world economy. , the global food and energy crisis and climate action were discussed in parallel with the war.
That’s why the Quad summit and meeting in Davos are ThePrint’s newsmakers of the week.
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China, Russia’s shadow over the Quad
The Quad Summit in Tokyo was attended by PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and Australia’s newly elected PM Anthony Albanese. But there was one participant that didn’t necessarily need to be present: China.
Without naming Beijing, the Quad leaders said their countries would abide by international law to meet “the challenges of a rules-based order of the sea, including in the East and South China Seas”.
“We strongly oppose any coercive, provocative or unilateral action that seeks to change the status quo and increase tensions in the region, such as the militarization of disputed facilities, the dangerous use of Coast Guard ships and maritime militias, and disruption of other countries. efforts to do. “Offshore Resource Exploitation Activities,” Told joint statement of leaders
The shadow of China and Russia on the Quad Summit was clear. On the day of the summit, the two countries began their first joint military exercise by flying bombers over the Sea of Japan. They almost entered Japanese airspace.
Although the Quad has repeatedly stated that it is not an alliance against a single country, many see it as a grouping to counter increasing maritime aggression and other Chinese activities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Let’s not forget that the summit came weeks after China signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands, a move that upset Canberra, Washington and others as they feared Beijing was building a military base. for the island nation. Not to mention, an upset report good It emerged earlier this week that China is looking to strike a region-wide agreement with nearly a dozen Pacific island nations, which covers policing, security and data communications cooperation.
Is this China trying to build its own squad?
Read also: Davos meetings are full of possibilities but rarely solutions
Russia, NATO in Davos
The WEF meeting has got a bad reputation for being ineffective, irrelevant, and primarily for the global elite. But even an event that seems out of touch with reality cannot shake the shadow of Moscow.
At the annual meeting, German Chancellor Olaf Scholzo reminded That “shutdown” would be wrong and that nations should think of Ukraine every day. He did not mince his words regarding Finland and Sweden, which he said would be welcomed into NATO with “open arms”.
The Ukrainian leadership also had a strong voice in Davos. In addition to President Zelensky, Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba told attendees via video call that Kyiv still has an urgent need for arms supplies.
Even Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had to defend New Delhi’s decision to ban the export of wheat and sugar.
“India was never a traditional player in the international wheat market. Two years ago, we started with a modest export of two million tonnes of wheat. Last year we did about 7 million tonnes. Told Goyal. “Basically it was a little surplus of what we found, what was available and what was sold, but even within that, it was largely in the last two months after the war situation developed between Russia and Ukraine.”
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger sparked controversy in Davos for saying Ukraine should give land to Russia. “Negotiations need to start in the next two months before it creates turmoil and tension which will not be easily resolved. Ideally, the dividing line should be a return to the status quo. Waging war beyond that point will not be about the independence of Ukraine, but a new war against Russia,” the 99-year-old said. Told,
Many Ukrainians were stunned by Kissinger’s words, some of whom referred to him as “Davos Paniker”.
As easily as Mr. #kissinger To stop the war, he would allow Poland or Lithuania to be taken away. It’s good that Ukrainians in the trenches do not have time to hear “Davos Panickers”. They are little busy in defense of freedom and democracy. pic.twitter.com/2zraPDummx
— ихайло одоляк (@Podolyak_M) 24 May 2022
Between the global food and energy crisis, Kissinger’s remarks and the strong presence of the Ukrainian leadership at the event, it is clear that the WEF summit, like the Quad, was concerned with a re-drawing of the world order and how to respond. For this.
Thoughts are personal.
(edited by Prashant)