The annual Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) opened in Vladivostok, Russia, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, with the apt title: “Far East 2030. Combining Strengths To Create New Potential.” It is expected that as many as 6,000 participants from 76 countries will be in attendance, and will be discussing themes such as “New Contours of International Cooperation,” “Technologies To Ensure Independence,” and “Financial System of Values.” In his greetings to the conference, Russian President Putin noted that “The influence of the Asia-Pacific region in international affairs is growing fast.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) opens in Beijing, where an estimated 50 heads of state of the 54 African countries will attend. The summit is a major focal point for African countries, which have come to see China not only as an invaluable partner, but also as a potential pathway into their future economic prosperity. It’s not surprising, therefore, that African exports to China have grown fivefold over the past 18 years.
Taken together, these two events illustrate the dramatic shift taking place in the world—the shift to the East and the economic emergence of the Global South. While there is still a handful of zealots in the Western political establishment who insist that either “Russia is isolated” or “China is collapsing,” the majority of the world is not buying it. In fact, news this week of Türkiye’s decision to formally apply to join the BRICS—the first NATO member to do so—further indicates that reality. In a related development from Africa, industrialist Aliko Dangote announced Nigeria’s first-ever domestically-produced gasoline—an accomplishment which will serve to break Nigeria free from the shackles of international-financier control over its resources.
On the other hand, the immature actions by the U.S. and others of Global NATO reveal how depraved the supposed “defenders of democracy” actually are. The U.S. seized a Venezuelan presidential airplane, which was in the Dominican Republic for repairs, on Sept. 2, citing as justification Venezuela’s violations of sanctions. No warning, no diplomacy; just simple theft was the method chosen by the U.S. authorities. Combined with the freezing of Russia’s and Afghanistan’s financial assets, what country will feel safe keeping anything stored in the U.S. ever again?
However, while this turn to the East exemplifies the historical transformation taking place in the world, ending the last 600 years of colonialism, there is no guarantee whatsoever that the world will survive it. As long as the Anglo-American empire decides to meet this change with force, and attempts to forcefully suppress it, the world is on a one-way train to global thermonuclear warfare.
As this publication and the International Peace Coalition have discussed, the U.S. has begun shifting its nuclear doctrine and nuclear missile technology, in what can only be understood to be preparation for a preemptive nuclear strike against Russia. This is madness, and requires the largest possible mobilization against it from American and European citizens in the coming days. Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter made it exceptionally clear in an interview on Sept. 2, in which he pointed out how these threats have now caused Russia to consider changing its nuclear doctrine in response:
“When you give Ukraine deep strike precision guided weapons that can strike Moscow and other places; when you have nuclear arsenals in NATO on alert; when you have aircraft carriers forward deployed … it’s not paranoia for Russia to go ‘1+1+1+1+1=a potential of a preemptive strike.’ Which is why Russia has changed its nuclear doctrine as we speak. The deputy foreign minister [Sergey Ryabkov] has announced this.… The Russians have changed their attitude toward nuclear war and their nuclear posture. Russia is leaning toward preemption of its own—they are not going to wait to be struck. If it looks like NATO, the U.S., whether directly or through proxy, is going to strike Russia in a way that threatens its national command and control capabilities, Russia will not wait to be attacked. Once Russia believes it’s about to be attacked, it will preempt, and it will preempt with nuclear weapons.”
Ritter concluded by calling on his fellow citizens: “We are this close. This close! And if the people don’t wake up and start asking questions and demanding answers from their governments—we are this close.…”
A new global paradigm can be created with cooperation and collaboration—the majority of the world desires it. It’s a choice between that and civilization-ending war.
