Strong states inevitably are taking a close interest in the global reaction to Russian aggression. Many post-colonial states have ill-defined borders and disputes with neighbours and fear violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially by rising powers. The invasion threatens the most basic principles of the post-war international system.It is an effort to eradicate Ukrainian sovereignty, leading to.‘state death’ This is more than just a gauntlet thrown against a liberal rules-based international order. It is an effort to eradicate Ukrainian sovereignty, leading to what we could call ‘state death’. The invasion threatens the most basic principles of the post-war international system enshrined in the 1945 UN Charter. As with the far more limited case of the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, Russia’s war against Ukraine – unlike more recent Western interventions – is driven by irredentism and is aimed at territorial aggrandizement. Yet 32 countries abstained, including China, India and South Africa. A resolution on the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s attack calling on Russia immediately and unconditionally to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, was carried by 141 states. In the UN General Assembly, a global majority clearly renounce Russia’s war of choice, but many countries remain non-committal. In contrast, since February 2022 Russia and China have vetoed condemnation of Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukraine in the Security Council. Russia’s invasion has been downplayed by states critical of Western policies, as resembling the interventions in Iraq or Libya, or as just a European war.But a far more appropriate comparison is with Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion and attempted annexation of Kuwait But a far more appropriate comparison is with Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion and attempted annexation of the neighbouring state, Kuwait. At the time, even the Soviet Union, in its dying days, approved a United Nations Security Council resolution to reverse by force the Iraqi aggression. Russia’s invasion has been downplayed by states critical of Western policies, as resembling the interventions in Iraq (2003) or Libya (2011), or as just a European war over territory among northern industrial powers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |