Dominic Waghorn and Professor Michael Clarke discuss the Israel-Hamas war, Putin's moves in Ukraine, Biden vs. Trump in the US election, and positive steps in China-US diplomacy.
The Israel-Hamas war in 2023 exposed vulnerabilities in Israel's security and highlighted the challenge of reconciling with the Palestinian population.
The conflict in Ukraine continues with no clear resolution, posing a challenge to the West's support for Ukraine and potentially shifting the balance of power in favor of Russia.
Deep dives
Israel's Brutal Attack and its Consequences
On October 7th, 2023, a brutal and unprecedented attack occurred in Israel. Hamas managed to breach the high-tech security fence and carried out a massacre, killing a large number of Jews, including young people at a music festival. The attack shook Israel to its core, destroying the notion of safety and exposing vulnerabilities in their deterrence. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas and initiated a brutal and bloody campaign, with the death toll continuing to rise. Israel now faces the challenge of reconciling its own Palestinian population and finding a way to coexist with the Gaza and West Bank Palestinians.
The Stalemate in Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine enters its third year with no clear resolution in sight. The Ukrainian counter-offensive has failed to dislodge the Russians who have dug in and built an impregnable defensive line along the front. The Ukrainians are now advised to hold and build their resources for a potential push back in the future. However, the Russians have greater resources and can draw on an almost limitless supply of men. The balance of power may shift further in favor of Russia, posing a challenge to the West's support for Ukraine.
The US-China Power Dynamics
The next US presidential election could see Donald Trump making a comeback and potentially beating Joe Biden, despite facing legal challenges. Trump's victory could have dire consequences for NATO, as Southern and East European countries may start making deals with Russia, undermining the unity of the alliance. China continues its expansionist ambitions, with Taiwan remaining a key flashpoint. While communication channels between China and the US have been reopened, there is still a growing likelihood of conflict as both sides are moving rhetorically towards the idea of eventual confrontation. The mid-2020s are predicted to be a dangerous decade, with an urgent need for pragmatic resolutions to prevent a potential cold war from turning into a hot war.
Sky News Daily host Niall Paterson looks back at the stories that defined international affairs in 2023 with our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, and defence and security analyst Professor Michael Clarke.
They dive into the Israel-Hamas war and the defining moment that was October 7th on politics in the region, the movements made by Putin in Russia's war in Ukraine, how US President Biden looks against his likely election competition Donald Trump, and positive movement in China-US diplomacy.
Also in this series, Niall will look at British politics, the economy, science and tech, and the Royal Family.
Podcast producer: Soila Apparicio Promotion producers: David Chipakupaku, Sydney Pead, and Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont
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