In a certain way, this is the interesting story. The dream of the Biden administration was to park Russia in order to be able to concentrate on China and Taiwan. And now when it started for the United States, but also for Europe, the idea is that this war should end so as to make a point from China: going to Taiwan is not a great idea. It is very clear that everybody who is trying to understand how the end of the war is going to affect international politics all the time is making parallels between Ukraine and Taiwan.
Observed from afar, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might appear to be a replay of the Cold War stand-off between Russia and the West. But according to political scientist Ivan Krastev a closer look complicates the picture. In a recent op-ed in the Financial Times Krastev argued that while America’s allies in Europe came together in support of Ukraine, other states, especially Turkey, India and Saudi Arabia have offered a different response. Turkey’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war is a classic example of middle power activism. President Tayyip Erdoğan has downplayed the country’s identity as a NATO member at the same time as he has positioned his country as a potential mediator between Moscow and Kyiv. India has used the war to capitalise on Western sanctions and import cheap Russian gas. And the Saudis have cosied up to Beijing and Moscow as a reminder to the United States that the US/Saudi security alliance is not unconditional. Middle powers have different goals and agendas but they all share one fundamental feature: they are determined to sit at the table of global politics and have a say in shaping their own regions. On this episode, Krastev, with journalist and academic Philippa Thomas, explores the rising activism of middle powers and how it is reshaping the world.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices