Latest news with #globalconflict
New York Times
12-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Who Is Winning the World War?
When future historians study the arc of American foreign policy, they will probably fold all the major events since 2020 — our pell-mell withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Israel's conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran — into a unified narrative of global conflict. If we're fortunate, that will yield academic treatises with titles like 'The Empire Tested: America and the World, 2021-2030.' If we're unlucky — meaning, basically, if the United States and China eventually fall into a ruinous war — then the struggles in Ukraine and the Middle East will be retroactively assigned to histories of World War III. We are not, as yet, inside that kind of conflagration. But it's useful for Americans to think about our situation in global terms, with Russia and Iran and China as a revisionist alliance putting our imperial power to the test. And it's also important to recognize that this kind of conflict is an endurance test, a long and winding road, in which it's easy to fall prey to mood swings and judge the outcome prematurely. We've had a lot of these swings in the last few years. In 2001 and early 2002, the rout in Afghanistan and our overpromising to a vulnerable Ukraine made America look ineffectual … right up until Vladimir Putin actually invaded his neighbor, at which point his military setbacks and our success in rallying support for the Ukrainians yielded a lot of chest-thumping about the superiority of liberal democracy and the permanence of American hegemony. That optimistic mood lasted through the failure of Ukraine's last major counteroffensive and the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, against Israel, at which point there was a swing back toward pessimism. American power was stretched too thin; our Israeli allies were taken unawares by their enemies, the Russians were regaining ground, our arsenal was almost certainly inadequate to protect Ukraine and Israel and defend Taiwan, and all of this under a president debilitated by advancing age, a grim symbol of a crumbling imperium. This sense of multi-theater crisis helped to restore Donald Trump to power. Then the initial months of his administration inspired fears that he would end the global conflict by effectively surrendering — abandoning allies and making deals with dictators while retreating to a Fortress North America. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Malay Mail
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘We're not at war, but not at peace either': Singapore defence minister warns of becoming ‘collateral' amid rising global conflicts
SINGAPORE, June 28 – Singapore must heighten vigilance across various fronts due to escalating global conflicts that could see it becoming 'collateral in other people's fight', its Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said this week. Speaking to Singaporean reporters earlier this week, Chan said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is continuously dealing with a wide spectrum of threats across its four service branches, as the country navigates a state that is neither conventional war nor peace. 'Today, we are not at war in the conventional sense, neither are we at peace in the conventional sense,' he was quoted saying by The Straits Times. 'We are always operating somewhere in between, with different gradations. And that's what keeps us on our toes.' The interview was held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters ahead of SAF Day on July 1, amid global security concerns stemming from rising tensions in the Middle East. Chan referenced the Iran-Israel conflict and the United States strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, cautioning that retaliatory actions could have broader implications beyond the key players involved. 'It could be anywhere else,' he said, warning that such developments might inflame regional sentiments and risk fuelling terrorism. He stressed that Singapore's defence posture must adapt to an evolving landscape where threats increasingly emerge from cyberspace and other non-traditional domains. Chan highlighted persistent cyber threats, with the Digital and Intelligence Service and other agencies fending off thousands of intrusion attempts daily, many of which are likely deliberate and malicious. Protecting Singapore's cyber domain is a round-the-clock effort, Chan added, warning that breaches could disrupt the power grid, financial systems and water supply, beyond compromising sensitive information or national reputation. Chan also noted daily attempts to influence public opinion in Singapore through information operations, warning of both direct and indirect efforts to sway national sentiment. 'The type of information operations that people conduct, perhaps directly on us and sometimes indirectly on us, where we are the collateral, is also not something that we will take lightly,' he said. The SAF also faces frequent incursions into its airspace and waters, with the air force responding to hundreds of suspicious cases annually, and the navy conducting extensive vessel checks in the busy Singapore Strait. 'The number of ships that sail through the narrow Singapore Strait, the number of boardings that we have to [do to] check and verify to make sure that the strait remains safe from threat actors, that goes into the hundreds as well and, in fact, sometimes the thousands,' he said.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Church of England preparing for war 'that involves the UK' amid fears over global conflicts
The Church of England is preparing for Britain to be drawn into a war due to the growing threat of global conflict, it revealed today. For what is thought to be the first time, a serving member of the Armed Forces - who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan - will brief the Church's ruling body on the threats facing Britain when it meets next month. While not yet on a 'war footing' and still 'praying for peace', the Bishop to the Armed Forces said the Church is now readying itself to play an important spiritual role during 'conflict that involves the UK'. As part of preparations for this, the CofE's top brass is looking back to the leadership shown by senior religious figures during the Second World War for inspiration. Reverend Hugh Nelson, Bishop to the Armed Forces, said the Church wants to 'take seriously' the potential challenges ahead and avoid being caught out like the nation was by the pandemic. Revd Nelson said he had been hearing from military personnel for the past two years 'rising concern about the threat of very, very serious conflict, including conflict that involves the UK'. During a briefing ahead of next month's General Synod, he referenced the Government's national security strategy, published earlier this week, which warned the UK must actively prepare for a 'wartime scenario' on British soil 'for the first time in many years'. The upcoming meeting of the Church's ruling body will receive an address by Brigadier Jaish Mahan, Deputy Commander (Reserves) 1st UK Division, in what is thought to be the first time a serving member of the Armed Forces who is not a CofE chaplain or Royal has spoken at Synod. Brigadier Jaish - a practising Christian who joined the army in 1994 and served in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan - will brief Synod on the 'global context and the challenges faced by the UK'. A Synod agenda paper states: 'While a conflict directly involving the UK is not an immediate risk, given the very serious impact such a conflict would have on every person in the country, we must be prepared. 'The pandemic showed us the risks of being unprepared for a national crisis, and we must learn the lessons.' Revd Nelson said today: 'As a Church, we want to take seriously those challenges, both to do everything that we can to pray for and work for and advocate for peace, because the kingdom of God is a kingdom of justice and peace, and to face the reality and to put in place, or at least to begin to have conversations towards plans about how the Church might need to respond and to be if there were to be a serious conflict. 'We do not want to be in the situation that we were all in - Church and wider society - pre-pandemic, when those that knew things said there will one day be a pandemic, and none of us had done anything in preparation for that. So we want to take that seriously.' While he declined to go so far as to say the work was putting the Church on a 'war footing', he noted that consideration is being given to how religious leaders acted in previous wartime scenarios. He said: 'We have looked back at some of the ways in which senior Church leadership - archbishops and bishops - led, the things that they said, particularly in the Second World War.'
CNA
23-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - US-Israel-Iran conflict: is this the beginning of a global conflict?
CNA938 Rewind - US-Israel-Iran conflict: is this the beginning of a global conflict? Israel and Iran are trading fire for the eleventh day, as international calls for de-escalation grow. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with our correspondent Trent Murray, and Dr Chong Ja Ian, Associate Professor of Political Science at NUS. 17 mins CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Glow Festival: Restorative yoga From the corporate grind to embracing yoga as a path to healing. Cheryl Gog speaks with Gabrielle Mendoza, yoga therapist and mindfulness educator who shares how restorative practices can regulate the nervous system and support true wellbeing. also preview her upcoming sessions at Glow Festival 2025, where she'll guide participants through rest, release, and reconnection. 18 mins CNA938 Rewind - Eat, Drink, Singapore - Slow down and sip – Pétale Tea In a fast-paced world, one Singapore brand is encouraging us to slow down: one bloom at a time. Cheryl Goh explores the rise of blooming tea, the art of mindful gifting, and how tea is becoming more than a beverage - it's a ritual with Rosemary Kwa, Tea Experience Director & Founder of Pétale Tea 18 mins CNA938 Rewind - Mind Your Money - Journeying from the Navy to a banker From being conscripted in the Yugoslavian Navy to a banking career in Singapore, Cheryl Goh hears about Tibor Pandi, Citi Country Officer (CCO) and Banking Head for Singapore's unlikely career journey. 18 mins
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Trump's shock Iran strikes take us to brink of global conflict and will strengthen Axis of Evil alliance, experts warn
TRUMP'S historic strikes against Iran could push the world to the brink of global conflict, experts have warned. Wounded Iran has vowed to fight on, and at this very moment will be calling upon its allies to gather against the West. 7 7 While Israel has stamped out much of Iran's power in the Middle East, it still has formidable allies with similarly anti-west interests. Experts believe Trump's strikes could force the axis of evil closer together and set in motion a chain of events that embroils more countries in the conflict. Philip Ingram, a global defence expert, told The Sun: 'Iranian ballistic missiles will not reach the United States and therefore to try and respond to the United States attack Iran's going to have to do something different. "It'll bring its axis of evil. That means Iran, Russia, North Korea and China. "We are a couple of feet further up the escalation ladder towards a global conflict." North Korea showed its willingness to get involved with other wars when Kim sent 12,000 troops over to fight on Russia's front line with Ukraine. With Iran increasingly desperate, North Korea could step in and provide military aid such as "missile technology", Ingram said. Russia has been one of Iran's most vocal allies, and has warned all along that regime change would be "unacceptable". The Kremlin said the assassination of Iran's supreme leader would "open the Pandora's box". Ingram said that 'Iran and Russia will join forces to try and cause as much disruption in different countries as possible." Watch Trump hail 'very successful' bombing on Iran's nuke bases Russia is well-versed in the dark arts, and has propagated a campaign of sabotage against the West, so would have plenty to teach Iran. Forcing Iran and Russia closer together is not the only way US strikes could impact on Putin. Ingram said: 'The escalating conflict helps Russia by moving Russia-Ukraine further down the agenda so that people aren't focusing on it. 'It also ties up international geopolitical organisations and politicians in a complex Middle East situation - so again they don't have the capacity to focus on what Russia's doing in Ukraine." Chip Chapman said that the most immediate threat to western allies would be if Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz - which could even see the UK dragged into the conflict. He said: "20 percent of the world's oil runs through the strait. Closing it could have huge implications for the oil price. 'And that's where the Brits may get involved. If the Iranians were to try and close the Strait of Hormuz, there would be a definite ask from the Americans to the Brits." 7 7 Russia would likely back Iran's decision to close the strait, because an increase in oil prices would help fund its activities, Ingram explained. For many years Iran enjoyed considerable power in the Middle East through its proxies across the region. Two of the key players were Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon - but over the past 20 months Israel has seriously crippled them. However, Ingram says the Houthis in Yemen still pose a threat to the world other. He said: "I think we will see a massive uptake in Houthi activity in disrupting international shipping in the Red Sea." Experts have also warned that the strikes could prove a "slippery slope" and commit the US to pursuing more extreme military goals in Iran - such as overthrowing the regime. 7 7 Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East analyst at the Johns Hopkins School, said: "Beware mission creep, aiming for regime change and democratization campaigns. "You'll find the bones of many failed US moral missions buried in Middle East sands." US-driven regime change would likely drive a wedge further between the West and the Islamic world - as was the case with Iraq - the experts suggest. Ingram said: "If there Ayatollah was killed it could change the whole way the government is set up in Iran, like we had with the fall of the Shah. "Then you whatever comes in next could be worse than what's in now and more polarised." 7 The US strikes could also prove a spark to other flash points around the world - such as the China-Taiwan tensions. Ingram said 'China will likely sit back and wait to see what's happening, to begin with. "Xi Jinping might think the international community is so tied up in the Middle East, that he has a window of opportunity, and he might try and take Taiwan. 'The world is not just a more febrile place, but the potentials for a series of events to happen to take us into a global conflict have just become even more complex to try and analyse. 'We haven't moved away from conflict. We have moved away from a despot regime getting towns on nuclear weapons, but it's not made the world immediately safer. 'What happens over the coming days and weeks will let us understand as to whether we have moved back from the brink of a global conflict or move further forward.'
