War nightmare continues as conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East threaten to coalesce - EUROPE SAYS
Recent developments in military actions in both theatres of war increases the risk of a much wider and dangerous conflagration. John Rees assesses the situationAs if the wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine. . .
Recent developments in military actions in both theatres of war increases the risk of a much wider and dangerous conflagration. John Rees assesses the situationAs if the wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine weren’t already bad enough a new nightmare scenario is now emerging. Not only are the conflicts in both war zones intensifying and spreading, they are also beginning to coalesce with each other. Firstly, let look at the way the wars are spreading in their own theatres. In the Middle East the US-Iran war has restarted after a brief and partial ceasefire. But this time the conflict is not limited to a resumption of the US bombing of Iran and the Iranian retaliation attacks on US bases in the region. That is happening, as is the blockade of ships in the Straits of Hormuz. The Houthis in Yemen are now also threatening to blockade the alternative sea route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. This has resulted in Saudi Arabia gathering a 40-plus nation coalition to protect the Red Sea shipping. Saudi is prepared for both air warfare with the Houthis and a possible ground invasion, restarting the warfare between them which raged after the Saudi attack on Yemen in 2015. EscalationA second full-scale war in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis now seems a real possibility, linked to the already existing conflict between the US and Iran. The war in Ukraine is also spreading. For the moment this is largely a question of the Ukraine’s increased ability to make missile strikes deep inside Russia. These have recently targeted fuel and power infrastructure, resulting in queues at petrol stations, including in Moscow. These strikes by Ukraine are only possible because the US and the European governments have supplied the weaponry to Ukraine. Indeed, the firing and targeting of the missiles depend on western troops. So European states are now directly engaged in the war with Russia. In addition, US policy is now tilting towards Ukraine, abandoning Trump’s early second term attempts to broker a peace deal. Secondly, not only are the wars in the Middle East and in Ukraine intensifying, there are attempts by some to interweave the two conflicts. Ukraine’s President Zelensky and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were both recently in Washington to meet President Trump. Trump promised to grant Ukraine licenses to produce its own version of the Patriot missile system although it is unclear if this will procede. Zelensky used the platform to accuse Russia of aiding Iran in targeting its missiles. Then Ukraine’s main domestic intelligence agency said drones had hit a Russian Molnyia class corvette in the Caspian Sea, along with two cargo ships it said ‘were under international sanctions and were used to transport military cargo between Iran and Russia. ’ Ukraine has ‘achieved very strong results with long range strikes in the Caspian Sea, including vessels used in military cargo shipments involving Iran,’ Zelensky said. Military top brass to join Healey’s teamAs the wars in Europe and the Middle East become more dangerous, new prime minster Andy Burnham is allowing his war hawk Chancellor John Healey to militarise the running of the country’s economy. Healey has demanded that senior military figures from the Army, the Navy, and the RAF are drafted into his Treasury team. This has been agreed and gives the military a direct ability to shape UK economic decision making. This in turn will allow the military-industrial-complex to ensure that spending on rearmament is prioritised over social spending on education, health, and housing. Spreading wars and the increasing militarisation of the economy are going hand in hand, as the anti-war movement throughout Europe have been arguing for some time. Before you goThe ongoing genocide in Gaza, Starmer’s austerity and the danger of a resurgent far right demonstrate the urgent need for socialist organisation and ideas. Counterfire has been central to the Palestine revolt and we are committed to building mass, united movements of resistance. Become a member todayand join the fightback. Tags:Conflictsgeopolitics