When Israel launched its counterattack against Hamas in October last year, United States President Joe Biden understood what was at stake. “We’re facing an inflection point in history — one of those moments where the decisions we make today are going to determine the future for decades to come,” he said.
Earlier, in March 2023, Chinese leader Xi Jinping used the term “centennial changes” during a visit to Moscow to convey to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the global order faces a historic turning point, adding that “we are the ones driving these changes together.”
The U.S.-led international order is being challenged by forces seeking a change in the status quo, spearheaded by China and Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is the most acute manifestation of this process and, with no end in sight to the conflict, it is difficult to imagine what kind of future system will emerge.
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