One year after the start of the war in Ukraine, the global impacts of the conflict are far-reaching and diverse.
From a reinvigoration of NATO to a new cold war and threats to food security, the war has highlighted the importance of conventional warfare and its impact on the global economy.
The conflict has also caused a massive refugee crisis, with millions of people fleeing their homes, and it has led to a new arms race that has alarmed some analysts. In this article, we explore the six global impacts of the war in Ukraine.
1. Old School Warfare Is Back
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has caused a new arms race that reminds some analysts of the build-up to World War II.
The fighting in eastern Ukraine is reminiscent of World War I, with trenches, mud, and infantry assaults. Despite the role of new technology, the most important weapons in the conflict are guns and ammunition.
The conflict has caused countries like the UK, the US, France, and Germany to increase their military spending and send weapons to Ukraine.
Before the war, it was thought that military forces would become less reliant on tanks and artillery and focus more on advanced technology and cyber warfare, but this conflict has shown that conventional warfare is still essential.
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2. Food Security Is Threatened
Ukraine and Russia are important countries that export crops like wheat, barley, corn, and cooking oil to many African and Middle Eastern nations. Russia is also a significant producer of fertilizer and petroleum.
Disruptions to the flow of these goods are adding to other problems like climate change, which is causing food and gas prices to go up and shortages to occur in countries across the world.
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3. Yet Another Refugee Crisis
Over 8 million people have left Ukraine because of the conflict happening there, which is the biggest movement of people in Europe since World War II, according to the World Health Organization.
Thousands of Russians have also reportedly left the country to avoid conscription.
4. Reinvigoration of NATO
NATO has found a new purpose in Europe.
Finland and Sweden, previously neutral and not part of NATO, have applied to be members due to the conflict in Ukraine. NATO is providing military aid to Ukraine and arming its NATO member neighbors like Poland.
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5. Fuel Prices Spiked
Russia produces a lot of oil and fuel, but when they invaded Ukraine, some European countries decided to stop buying oil and gas from Russia.
This caused the price of oil and gas to go up, but as European countries found other places to buy energy from, the prices normalized back down to what they were before the invasion.
For many people across the world, this normalization is yet to be seen at the pumps.
6. A New Cold War
There is growing concern among political analysts and world leaders that a new cold war is emerging between the United States and its allies on one side, and Russia and China on the other.
Due to the war in Ukraine, Western countries have cut ties with Russia, resulting in the country being isolated from the West. Many international companies, such as McDonald’s and Ikea, have left Russia, and its oligarchs and businesses have been punished with sanctions and blacklists.
Despite this, Russia has formed a closer relationship with China, Turkey, North Korea, and Iran. Considering the number of nuclear-armed opponents in each camp, the world is at the precipice of a nuclear war once again.
In Summary
The war in Ukraine has had significant global impacts, affecting the economy, international relations, and security. The conflict has shown that conventional warfare is still relevant and has led to a new arms race that has increased military spending and the use of traditional weapons.
It has also caused a massive refugee crisis and threatened food security. The war has led to a reinvigoration of NATO and a new cold war between the West and Russia, raising the specter of a nuclear war.
As the conflict continues, it is essential to consider its far-reaching impacts and find ways to mitigate them.
Featured Image Credit: pav2@ukr.net /Depositphotos.com.