Western dominance to be replaced by bi-polar world order: Tony Blair
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Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says that the biggest geopolitical change of this century will come from China, not Russia.
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Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (Credits: Reuters)
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair considered Saturday that Western political and economic dominance is coming to an end and there will be a new bi-polar or multi-polar world order with China playing a major role.
During his annual Ditchley lecture on Saturday, Blair said that "For a large part of the Western population, living standards are stagnating, millions are struggling with basic necessities, and inflation is set to cause real wages to fall."
"If we take Britain, we will soon be taxed more than at any time since the 1940s, spending more than ever and yet our public services are creaking at the joints," he added.
The former Prime Minister said that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on the situation in Western countries, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Blair indicated that "Western politics is in turmoil – more partisan, ugly, unproductive; and fuelled by social media," arguing that "the biggest geopolitical change of this century will come from China, not Russia."
"We are coming to the end of Western political and economic dominance. The world is going to be at least bi-polar and possibly multi-polar," he said.
According to the former Former British Prime Minister, China is already the world’s second superpower and the West needs to develop a new approach to deal with Beijing, as well as to bolster its own development.
"Today, Western democracy needs a new project. Something which gives direction, inspires hope, is a credible explanation of the way the world is changing and how we succeed within it," Blair considered.
"I favour a policy towards China which is what I call ‘strength plus engagement’. We should be strong enough to deal with whatever China’s future disposition brings us, so that we maintain our system and its values. But we should not seek comprehensive ‘decoupling’ or shut down lines of interaction or cooperation. We are clear-eyed but not hostile," he explained.
Blair said that China will have allies, such as Russia and possibly Iran, and Western countries need to strengthen the transatlantic partnership between Europe and America and increase defense spending in order to stand up to Beijing.
It is noteworthy that in an interview with the Financial Times, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said that "the geopolitical situation globally will undergo significant changes after the Ukraine war is over," pointing out that "We are now living in a totally new era."
Blair's statements come amid US President Joe Biden's recent visit to Saudi Arabia, where he took part in the Jeddah Security and Development Summit along with leaders of nine Arab countries, and discussed several files related to the region amid the regression of US regional influence.
In a speech during the Summit, Biden claimed that Iran destabilizes the Middle East, adding that the US will continue its diplomatic efforts to pressure the Iranian nuclear program and that Washington is keen that Tehran will not be able to acquire nuclear weapons.
"We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran," the US President indicated, adding that there will be new members of cooperation between the countries of the region, including "Israel", showcasing the fear Washington has towards losing or reducing its scope influence to the three nations.
