By Col Prem Bahadur Thapa (Retd)
The US President seems hell bent on restoring world order and his trumpets can be heard not only across battle-weary countries but trading nations whom he thinks are hurting his “America First” strategy, both, in and outside USA. It might appear chaotic, but he is not giving up.
The subject is already enjoying enough coverage, but a brief overview might suffice us ‘lay persons’ to understand the enormity of the coming days and the need to prepare ourselves accordingly. Wars now physically threaten entire countries without discriminating between those in the battle fields or far behind in their hometowns. In fact, civilian targets in the hinterlands will receive more punishment and collateral damages are going to be extensive. It doesn’t need nuclear bombs to do that now … they have found alternate weapons that will serve the same purpose, but without inviting outright denouncement.
Trade wars are nothing new, but battlefields are changing dramatically…, even including the short but intense firefight Op Sindoor between India and Pakistan. It will now be done mostly from the air, and ground troops must necessarily be employed selectively; military doctrines dictate immediate changes in battle strategies. But let’s see as to how they are faring so far in the light of Trump’s relentless coaxing their leaders to come to terms, even as his sanctions are adding fuel to fire and creating havoc.
Hamas says it won’t stop fighting till an independent State of Palestine is established. In fact, almost all countries agree to it whether openly or otherwise. But Israel has other plans. It won’t let that happen. So, the battle will go on and, in the bargain, Gaza may look like a vast graveyard waiting for the remaining hungry souls to enter, as Israel is sending in its drones and missiles without let up.
Ukraine, too, won’t stop. Supported by its sympathisers all over Europe, it hopes to carry on as long as it takes but its chances of ever winning or halting on its own terms look unlikely and the charade continues unabated. Even Moscow and Kiev, far from the borders, have not been spared by these aerial wonders. Times are such that its fury seems to be in a global hurry to propel ‘rising powers’ to stardom, while the older order appears determined to continue its hegemony.
That is what perhaps is driving Hurricane Trump in his second innings, right from day one. Friend or foe … all must fall in line before his wishes even if they are Russia or China or India. Yet it is peace that he wants (on his own terms of course) wherever in the world it may be. It’s facing rough weather, but he is already demanding the ‘Nobel Prize’ and nothing less. But give the man his due, he is the only one, whichever way, who is putting his entire effort into it. So that he might get it! Others got it for doing much less.
And how does Trump’s change of heart affect us? Let’s begin with Bangladesh whom we liberated from the deadly clutches of Pakistan. But circa 2024, the country that we thought will remain a friend, is allying back with its former rulers. It’s widely felt that Sheikh Hasina’s ouster was only an alibi to replace her pro-India regime with an ‘ultra’ promoted by USA. But why? And here is a diplomatic challenge and yet another ‘front’ to contend with.
Then, again, when we punished Pakistan in June this year in a blitz like operation (almost entirely from the air), Trump’s stand was most ambiguous. The comedy of errors was (if one is allowed to use that term) when General Munir was felicitated in the White House and later promoted to Field Marshal rank by his country. But regardless of it all, the short and intense firefight was totally dictated from the air and, thus, simultaneous to air-strike capability, multilayered air-defence systems will play a crucial role in the future. This has assumed the most important aspect in future conflicts and any country without its ‘Iron Dome’ is a sitting duck. Are we ready?
However, notwithstanding everything else, we are still the fastest growing economy. And that perhaps has started hurting the hegemony of the ‘stalwarts’ and their supports, trying to downplay our rising power. Trump’s Tariff is only the tip of the iceberg. More resistance is bound to follow. But our rise, both economically and militarily, driven by science /techno driven industrial growth will continue as pronounced by their own leading political and financial experts in the field. Cheering though it may sound, we cannot afford to sit back and be misled.
To sum up, the focus is on the future (which is already here). However much humanity might desire otherwise, wars will happen, filled with hundreds and thousands of deadly drones, flying across the skies and destroying everything in their path. And for us the watch word is Self-Reliance, call it ‘Make in India’. It’s not only quantity but high quality and timely delivery that is needed. We must stand on our own feet. There is no better way.
