At the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2022 held on 18-20 February, over 30 heads of state and government gathered, and more than 200 ministerial officials and leaders of important international organisations assembled to express views, reviews, and overviews of current crises in the world and contemplate security challenges in the impending future—so that enduring peace, a positive spirit of fraternity, and long-term stability would safeguard international security against the scourge of unpeace. The 58th MSC was convened when warmongering was underway with the accelerating geopolitical situation of strategic angst and military pressure of Russia in Ukraine, and the responses of the transatlantic community.
The U.S. Vice President attended and delivered statements of collective voice and unity to defend principles and values that are on the verge of attack by authoritarian regimes. Kamala Harris informed the conclave that America has deployed 6000 troops in Romania, Poland, and Germany, with another 8,500 on standby to counter any invasion of Ukraine. She reminded us of Russia in its proxy war in Ukraine in 2014, killing 14,000 people, a million displaced and 3 million in need of assistance. Harris reiterated that America and European partners would do everything to save the peoples of Europe from the danger of aggression and ensure liberty, justice, and freedom from overrule.
The President of the European Council, Mr. Charles Michel, defended the European stance against the Kremlin’s aggressive position to divide the European Continent, its eternal norms and values, and the zeitgeist of the Post-Cold War World Order. Michel cautioned that if Ukraine or any European country bordering Russia is threatened with a military solution, Europe will deter such an irresponsible breach of the rule of international law, principles and values of security, peace and order in the world. He further stated that Europe will collectively retaliate for such a tactical approach and geopolitical measures with massive sanctions, which are already in place against the Russian Federation. Michel outlined Europe’s promises to mobilise € 1.2 billion to assist Ukraine with macro-finance and convene an international donor conference to support its economic reforms that are in dire need. Furthermore, Michel said the European Strategic Compass is alert to maintaining the sanctity of the continental project and its norms and values in the European spirit. Michel confirmed that the European Union in this eventful episode remained intact and strong in its Transatlantic Alliance of NATO and its noble purpose in the Western Hemisphere. So any elements or forces attempting to break up this coalition are impossible, he remarked. This transatlantic alliance of America and Europe is not for military or strategic motives, but it also deters aggression and authoritarian impulses by constraining an open and liberal society according to the European repertoire in its international relations. Thus, maximum restraint has to be put on those countries which disturb the European mandate of peace, prosperity, and security, Michel forewarned.
The Polish Premier reiterated that all states have an equal right to peace and security. In the world of states, Central-East Europe is not a dependent buffer zone of Russia when they are entitled to sovereignty, autonomy, and independence in the world of states. Poland has stated its intention to provide Ukraine with defence assistance. Premier said it is indispensable for its fraternal countries to live in peace, territorial integrity, and secure order. On the other hand, Israel’s Defense Minister, Benny Gantz, spoke about securing the State of Israel and fostering peace in West Asia after the Abraham Accords were hammered out by the Trump Administration. It triggered the peace initiatives of Israel with its neighbours. A quest for an elusive peace in West Asia has seen progress and optimism to understand peaceful co-existence and the right to its raison d’état. Gantz mentioned in his statements Iran’s covert activities in failing states of West Asia, where violence is plaguing Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and other states, and its nuclearization threat, particularly to the State of Israel.
Similarly, Dr. S. Jaishankar underlined that India’s relations with China will be profoundly and steadfastly determined by the state of the frontiers against incursions from China in the Himalayas. Dr. Jaishankar reminded that no military casualties on the border have happened since 1975. But its record of similar violent incidents occurred during COVID 19 in 2020, when the Indian Army braved the Chinese assault on porous and undemarcated frontiers. Wang Yi, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, refuted the “New Cold War” scenario and China’s unacceptable version of global security that endangers one at the expense of other countries. Yi maintained that it sows division and confrontation if military blocs and rivalries are unbridled in the age of politics without frontiers. China supports multilateralism as a policy option to grapple with these challenges and curb high-handedness and overpowering international politics. In the Chinese version, true multilateralism does not trump international law, rules, and regulations, however weak or unequivocal they may be for superpowers. According to Yi’s statements, China stands for a comprehensive strategic partnership with Europe. China supports the European integration process and the strategic independence of Europe. In the Ukraine issue, China said that the Minsk Agreement 2 in 2015 should be upheld in current crises too.
In 2021, geopolitical optimism was underachieved when security and strategic crises recurred and COVID 19 disarray further perpetuated it. There was concern for the rule of international law and the liberal international order in the face of the rise of authoritarian regimes and the threat of illiberal populist politics. Public opinion in Group 7 and BRICS perceived “collective hopelessness” when crisis-ridden events reinforced the insecurity milieu. As a result, they believe effecting positive change does not undercut problems and challenges in the global society that is under its grip. Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of MSC 2022, senses a loss of control or rule in the world security system. Though there was never a universal security blueprint or uniform security template in world affairs when there were plural and diverse settings. Human problems have human solutions. Without a doubt, the human mind is the world’s eighth wonder because of its ability to create, discover, design, and innovate tools, methods, and technology to solve human sciences and human affairs problems.
International interventions ended in Afghanistan in 2021 with the comeback of the Taliban in Kabul. This is a poignant case of the failure of control mechanisms of policy systems adhering to the responsibility to protect societies from the brink of violence, insecurity, and terrorism. The Western design of some surgical development policy approaches faced unacceptable resistance in the form of resistance towards their hegemonic and domineering devices in war-torn countries, even if they were supportive of elements democratising the system. Geopolitical rivalry damages the notion of abstract statehood and the principles of eternal sovereignty vested in the people. The Western ideals of liberalism, democracy, modernity, and capitalism certainly encounter relativistic and particularistic tendencies. If it displaces the ethos of self-esteem, pride, and dignity, principles of ontology, epistemology, and axiology of specific nature and scope are unearthed or unravelled.
American, European, Russian, and Chinese inroads into the African continent and particularly conflict-prone regions have spurred a debate on the limits and risks of enforcing order, peace, and security. Mali and the Sahel region are examples of the series of military coups d’état that have put setbacks to democracy. Destabilization in the Sahel region, where the international community is robustly pursuing efforts to bring peace and security. The Horn of Africa and the Arabian Gulf have stark political instability. European, Asian and African corridors are at the crossroads of insecurity and unpeace, undermining strong partnerships of democracy, development and prosperity. Additionally, Ethiopia’s Tigre region has seen crises of humanitarian emergency level. The Red Sea region, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa and the Indo-Pacific routes are prone and vulnerable to lawlessness and anarchic symptoms. The demand for smooth supply chains and the mitigation of technological gaps tops the economic security agenda in international economics as well in recent times.
Insecurity clouds are hovering in regions where violence is an everyday affair. Poor development indicators, human rights abuses, and corruption, widespread insecurity and its manifestations, are a nightmare for a fledgling democracy. Liberalism and democracy get besieged or betrayed in their natural course of events when the state of affairs becomes intractable. It has severe consequences for the ideals of democracy getting realised in human society when insecurity and violence take the stage. The challenge of overcoming the perils of conflict on democracy must be transformed into delivering promises of prosperity in order to ensure its longevity.The dilemmas of democracy have to cut political corners to reconcile idealism with realism, where pragmatism underpins maintaining human security encased in humane governance.
