After World War Two, which brought about the deaths of over 50 million people, world leaders had made promises to usher in a new and long lasting era of peace across the world. The cold war subsequently followed, and while tensions were extremely high and regional conflicts like the American invasion of Vietnam and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan occurred among others, at a larger picture the world did not experience a third global war in the 20th century. Now, as the 21st century enters its third calendar decade, things have been nothing but chaotic on the international scale. The United States, long considered the dominant world power and the leader of the western world, is on a clear decline, and the president, Joe Biden, has appeared weak, incompetent, and absolutely powerless to stand up to aggressive foreign adversaries. In eastern Europe, Russia invaded Ukraine, and in China, the communist government in Beijing continues to threaten Taiwanese sovereignty and challenges the United States in the pacific.
The war in Ukraine has been a bloody affair, and over half a million casualties are estimated to have occurred already in the over year and a half period in which the conflict has raged. In early 2022, Russia launched an all-out invasion of the nation, attacking the country in the north and eastern regions. After making serious territorial gains, Ukrainian forces stabilized and countered with a staunch resistance. Eventually, Russia withdrew entirely from the north of the nation and focused primarily on the eastern front. The conflict has been stalemated in that region since the fall of 2022.
Turkey’s president Recep Erdogan claimed while in New York as part of the U.N. that while he believes the war in Ukraine may carry on for a significant time, Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin would like a speedy end to the conflict. Only time will tell how the war will be decided in eastern Europe.
