Revival of the Non Aligned Movement on the Agenda

The shift away from the West’s dying “unipolar world” was confirmed once again at the Conference on International Security that took place in Moscow Aug. 16-17. While belittled in many western media as a gathering of “autocratic states” against “democracies”, it brought together the Defense Ministers of some 35 countries, including BRICS members China, India, South Africa, as well as many African and Asian nations.

The conference demonstrated that the “rules based order” is not supported by the vast majority of countries in the world, that refuse to “take sides” or join any geopolitical bloc, despite the threats and various forms of pressure from the West. Hence, the re-emergence of a “non aligned movement” in the tradition of that re-launched in the 1970s, with significant input from international allies of the LaRouche movement.

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, who took part in the conference by video, underscored Beijing’s preparedness to defend Chinese sovereignty against Western efforts to promote separatist forces in Taiwan. He further affirmed that China would again participate in the “Vostok-2022” maneuvers in Russia (Aug. 30-Sept. 5), together with India, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Mongolia.

China’s position was fully supported by Vladimir Putin, who denounced Washington’s attempts to “stir up trouble in the Asia-Pacific”. In opening the event, the Russian President noted that “the outlines of a multipolar world are taking shape”, with peoples choosing a path of free and sovereign development”.

The participation in person of South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise was particularly noteworthy, coming just days after the visit to Pretoria of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who strongly pressured the government to support Washington’s crusade against Russia and China, but in vain (cf. SAS 33/22). Mrs. Modise pointed out during her visit that “Russia has never colonized any South African or African countries”.

Relations between the two most populous countries of the world, India and China, have been beset with long-standing conflicts, but they are key to ensuring peace and development, in particular in Asia. This was addressed by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar who noted, during a visit to Thailand on Aug. 18, that “the Asian Century” will happen when China and India “come together”, but it will be difficult for this to happen if they cannot join hands. His remarks were most welcomed in Beijing. Not surprisingly, Russian relations with both these countries have grown much stronger recently, both politically and economically, in reaction to the West’s unabashed push to pressure and/or crush all of them.

Is it not obvious to conclude that if the United States and Europe want to avoid isolating and decoupling themselves entirely from the rest of the world, they need to recognize that the rotten financial system of Wall Street and London on which their power depends can no longer be saved, and support the legitimate demands for a new world economic order based on a “win win” concept for all?

These issues will be taken up during the Sept-10-11 online conference organized by the Schiller Institute, which we encourage our readers to follow (cf. below for more information).