The world on a heap of gunpowder. Image: AP/Republic
The storm in the Middle East has not only thrown Israel and Iran into the fire of war, but has also put the entire world on the threshold of a major conflict. In recent days, after the massive air and military attack on Iran by America and Israel, the situation of tension has not eased, rather it has spread much more.
Some experts fear that this situation could lead to a terrible event like the Third World War, especially if China and Russia step forward openly.
How are the war conditions?
When the US and Israel attacked Iranian targets, reactions from leaders around the world varied. Many Western countries supported the action, while China, Russia and a large number of countries in the Global South called it a violation of international law.
China has particularly stressed that the airstrikes should be stopped immediately and any problems should be resolved not through war but through dialogue and diplomatic efforts. The Chinese Foreign Ministry clarified that it is necessary to respect Iran’s sovereignty and that military action will not bring stability.
Meanwhile, Russia has also strongly condemned this situation. Russia believes the attack is “unprovoked and unacceptable military aggression” and could escalate a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Russia warned that this path of war would go against the common public interest and could further increase tension in the countries of the region.
Will China and Russia get directly involved in the war?
The biggest question is whether China and Russia will take direct military participation in this war and will it lead to the Third World War? Let us tell you that China’s reaction has been very thoughtful. Beijing has made concrete announcements of its support for Iran, but has not called for direct military intervention. China’s primary response is diplomatic, calling for an immediate halt to the war and advocating dialogue. The biggest objective for China is to avoid getting trapped in major conflicts once again in history. It wants to show itself as a supporter of peace agreements on the world stage and especially wants to protect its energy-economic interests because of its deep economic ties with the Middle East. Therefore, China’s strategic stance is that it will not jump into the war from the front, but will continue to provide political and diplomatic assistance to Iran.
On the other hand, Russia has given a strongly critical speech on the matter. He has described the actions of America and Israel as unacceptable and has called for stopping the war in the United Nations Security Council. Although Russia is also not forming any comprehensive military alliance with Iran, its reaction indicates that it is challenging America’s policy. Some pro-Russian media channels have even said that nuclear weapons are the most effective means for self-defense. These types of speeches are further worrying the world. Russia’s real objective seems to be that it is trying to see this conflict as a strategic advantage. Russia may benefit to some extent by engaging the energy and resources of America and its allies.
Possibility of Third World War?
Whenever conflict increases between big countries, predictions like Third World War go viral on most of the media and social media. Some people also ask that if Russia and China openly support Iran, will it immediately become a global war? The answer is simply that it is not that easy.
So far, China and Russia have not made any agreement for direct military alliance or war. Both countries have condemned the war, and both are emphasizing mediation and diplomacy. This makes it clear that they are not choosing the path of direct war right now. A major conflict such as World War III would require two-way direct military combat or explicit alliances, as was seen in World War II. At present, no such step has been taken yet, neither China nor Russia has confirmed sending military forces.
However, the global situation of war is extremely serious. Some experts believe that today this conflict may move from a regional war to global political polarization, where the policies of many countries may get divided into different blocks.
Also read: ‘Iran wants to talk, I said it’s too late’, Trump’s statement