Monitoring Desk: “As the US is shifting focus from Europe to China, challenges are increasing for Pakistan and the burden would increase on the Pakistan Army that is net provider of security to Chinese projects in Pakistan including the CPEC.”
These views were shared by experts in a television show “ZOOM IN” of Aik News hosted by Zunaira Azhar with guests such as Ambassador Dr. Naghmana Hashmi who had served in European countries for long before her retirement and Prague-based geopolitical expert Shazia Anwar Cheema.
The discussion covered a range of global new settings touching upon the evolving dynamics of global alliances, including the formation of a new coalition among Global South nations aimed at establishing a new world order. Participants were of the view that the unipolar world has been challenged by China and European nations are puzzled because they had been completely dependent on the US since NATO was formed. Since the US’s target is China and its rising economic power, therefore, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the other developmental programs related to it will be targeted by the United States.
Recently, US President Trump openly humiliated Ukrainian President at the Oval Office, raising eyebrows in international diplomacy and causing unease in Europe. The rude treatment of the Ukrainian President by President Trump highlights a significant diplomatic faux pas, which is stirring controversy. The disrespect shown towards the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signifies a troubling trend in Trump’s diplomatic approach because such behavior undermines established protocols and could lead to long-lasting rifts not only between the U.S. and Ukraine but also within European alliances. The way US President Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance treated Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in front of the media does not seem without something serious behind the scene. The entire Europe is standing with President Zelenskyy and on the other side is President Trump, who is carrying out an isolated agenda on the war on Ukraine.
Trump’s conduct is not merely a personal opinion but a reflection of a broader strategy that could redefine U.S. foreign policy. This alignment raises significant concerns about U.S. commitments to NATO and its allies, thereby increasing tensions in Eastern Europe. There is a notable shift in international attention from Europe towards China, indicating changes in geopolitical dynamics.
The gradual pivot from European focus to China in international relations signifies a tectonic shift in global power dynamics. As Europe grapples with its crises, China is likely to capitalize on these distractions to expand its influence, consequently reshaping alliances and economic relationships. The Global South’s initiative to ally with a defined agenda indicates a growing discontent with the existing world order dominated by Western powers. This coalition aims to address security, economic frameworks, and connectivity, proposing a more multipolar world that prioritizes the needs and perspectives of developing nations and Pakistan has a pivotal role in this emerging scenario.
Donald Trump is standing openly with Russia on the Ukraine issue and wants that Ukraine should not only surrender but also surrender unconditionally and also sign a minerals deal and sign on their terms.
Participants in the show discussed what message was sent to Europe through this rough treatment of Ukrainian President and they believed that since two performers were sitting together there is a possibility whether it was a stage because Donald Trump had also done 14 seasons of reality show and President Zelensky had also been a comedian and an actor, so whether it was a stage or not is also a question.
Shazia Anwer Cheema was of the view that Ukraine and Europe are not willing to stop the war, but the US is not ready to pay economic and diplomatic cost of the war and President Trump has already told the Europeans that they should not take their security for granted. President Trump’s focus is more on China while the European focus is as always Russia.
Shazia Anwer Cheema was of the view that the US’s shifting pivot towards China would impact Pakistan as the US would more strongly attack BRI and CPEC, being the flagship, so Pakistan would come under more pressure from the US.
Participants were of the view that the US shift towards China in the form of tariffs and tech war is not in Pakistan’s interest because the burden would increase on Pakistan to navigate safely between the US and China.
