World peace in the shadow of nuclear weapons
The recent developments pertaining to world peace really make us wonder if the whole world is peaceful because of nuclear weapons. Would America, which launched an attack on Iraq on the pretext of that country possessing weapons of mass destruction, stay mum if Iraq actually had possessed those deadly weapons? This question remains unanswered even till date.
A nuclear war is just waiting for a tipping point to be unleashed across the globe is a fact well known to all. However, it should be irony of times that if peace prevails in the world today, it is also because of the nuclear weapons that are sitting duck somewhere. Their presence is threatening enough. Powerful nations are declaring war upon each other in their talks. Small countries that do not have nuclear weapons are being taken under the wings of stronger nations.
On one hand, nations talk about nuclear disarmament, and on the other they are demonstrating to smaller nations the inevitability of possessing nuclear weapons. Big countries do not want smaller nations to have nuclear weapons. If they do, the big ones force small nations to give up the nuclear weapons. Today, the situation is such that small nations would be consumed with fear for their security if they do not have those weapons. This is the contradictory situation that exists in the world. Big nations that preach peace are also equally responsible for wars across the world.
Let’s consider North Korea and United States of America. Both nations would speak in most threatening terms with each other that they’d press the button to unleashing nuclear warfare with each other’s nation as target. A war was almost predicted to be certain.
The world could heave a sigh of relief after talks transpired between America and North Korean leaders Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un respectively at the meeting in Singapore on June 12, 2018. Trump has reiterated his commitment to offer security assurances and Kim has offered an assurance to get rid of nuclear weapons in North Korea. Kim and Trump held a press conference together and declared that America would put a stop to joint military marches with South Korea. These marches had kept North Korea under a war threat since long. Not only this, America declared that it would withdraw 32,000 soldiers from the region. But the other nations seldom believe that North Korea will completely disarm itself of nuclear weapons. So long as America sets the rules of the game, other countries will seldom pay heed to it.
History is testimony that America is solely responsible for the competition over stocking up on nuclear warfare since long. America dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The bombs wreaked hellish havoc in the history of mankind. After this destruction, American President Harry Truman had said the country was ready to drop nuclear bomb on North Korea in 1950, just five years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki destruction.
From then on, America as continued its threatening stance on the world regarding an assault on other countries, especially North Korea, using nuclear weapons. America added nuclear weapons in Korean region. As a response to this, North Korea had to make and stock up nuclear weapons in order to ensure its own safety should things go bad around its borders. North Korea tested nuclear weapons in 2006, 2009, and 2013 only to send across a strong message. The President of America George Bush had categorized North Korea along with Iran when America went to war with Iraq in 2002. Hence North Korea often feared an America attack anytime. Even then, North Korea had said it was ready for a nuclear disarmament to peace talks and economic growth, should America engage in peace talks with them.
If America thinks a country can be attacked or brought under control by imposing sanctions, this method has been a grand failure even by its own experience with North Korea. At some point North Korea threatened to launch a nuclear attack on America sooner or later.
North Korea depends on global trade for its food supply since the country has hilly terrain that is not suited for cultivation and growing food. The country which gave 60% exchange to its import was being hounded with sanctions. North Korea was projected as an evil country, using all forms of mass media. This forced North Korea to secure its nuclear weapon stock with even more care.
A situation was created where North Korea suspected the country to be vulnerable to an attack from external forces, especially America anytime, and this forced the country to clam up. Because North Korea entered the game as an equal player, America stepped back for a bit and both met as equals in this game. With things having reached this stage, it seems like a miracle that both countries have come together on conducive and responsible terms. One can never forget the role of South Korea President Moon. Now the onus lies on America to stay committed to its words and ensure peace prevails between both countries after ages, minus the nuclear weapons.
This changed situation has a very significant message for India as well. The immature politicians in India keep speaking irrelevant things against Pakistan and declare verbal war against the neighbouring country every now and then. This has given rise to insecurity among both nations. Whenever India tested nuclear weapons Pakistan has done the same too. Both countries are suffering a diplomatic breakdown in the recent times like never before. That Pakistan is ruled by its army is an open secret.Saffron terrorists or Hindutva terrorists dictate peace talks in India. Only diplomatic efforts can save the bridge between both countries.
In its recent report, a Swedish agency had said Pakistan has more nuclear weapons as against India. What are the reasons for impoverished Pakistan to stock up on costly nuclear weapons? Indian diplomacy and politics plays a major role in this response mechanism. If a war breaks out between both countries the pain and loss will be endless. Everything would stand destroyed at the end of it. Hence, America is hesitating to launch an assault on Iran. United Nations is watching the whole situation with the eye of an eagle. Those politicians who wish India goes to war with Pakistan need to understand this loss.
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Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first general audience
Vatican City (AP): Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and for an end to the “heartbreaking” toll on its people, as he presided over his first general audience in St. Peter's Square.
The Vatican said that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for history's first American pope.
Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy.
“I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly, and sick people,” he said.
The general audience on Wednesdays is a weekly appointment that popes have kept for decades to allow ordinary faithful to have a face-to-face encounter with the pontiff. It features the pope delivering a brief reflection on a theme or Scripture passage, with summaries provided by others in different languages and the pope directing specific messages to particular faith groups.
The encounter, which lasts more than an hour, usually ends with a brief topical appeal by the pope about a current issue or upcoming event. Leo began it with his now-frequent mantra “Peace be with you.”
To that end, Leo on Tuesday reaffirmed the Vatican's willingness to host the next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine during a phone call with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, the Italian leader's office said.
Meloni made the call after speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders, who asked her to verify the Holy See's offer.
“Finding in the Holy Father the confirmation of the willingness to welcome the next talks between the parties, the premier expressed profound gratitude for Pope Leo XIV's willingness and his incessant commitment in favor of peace,” Meloni's office said in a statement late Tuesday.
Trump had referred to the Vatican's longstanding offer to host talks in reporting on his phone call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While low-level talks could take place in Rome, Italy would be hard-pressed to allow Putin to fly into Rome for any higher-level negotiation. Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, of which Italy is a founding member and therefore obliged to execute its warrants.
