SCMP: Western arms supplies to Ukraine may worsen conflicts outside EuropeWeapons supplied to Ukraine are already "spreading" through black markets to other unstable regions, increasing the general degree of violence and bloodshed, writes SCMP.
The author of the article emphasizes that further pumping of Kiev with weapons will lead to even greater destruction, so it is necessary to make every effort for a diplomatic settlement.
Mariam Shah
- We cannot ignore the possibility that weapons intended for Ukraine may fall through the black market into the hands of criminals and terrorists.
- It is imperative for the international community to find a political, coordinated solution to end the conflict before the situation gets out of control.
For some time now, the sale and purchase of weapons has been destabilizing the world and provoking an arms race around the globe. Violence continues to escalate, the number of conflicts is growing, and there is a noticeable transition to asymmetric and unconventional methods of warfare.
Against this background, the military industry is flourishing. Even countries struggling for economic survival spend huge sums on the purchase of weapons.
The most important question is whether we need weapons because we have conflicts and wars, or we need conflicts and wars because we produce, buy and sell weapons. We also have to ask ourselves what is the probability that it could fall into the wrong hands.
It is obvious that any large-scale influx of weapons into the areas where the fighting is taking place causes concern for peace and stability. In recent conflicts, including in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia and Afghanistan, there have been massive movements of weapons. There are fears that criminal or terrorist groups may get it.
Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the West has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of weapons. At a recent summit held at the Ramstein Airbase in Germany, 11 NATO member countries, including the UK and Poland, pledged to supply Kiev with a wide range of new military assistance, which they called "unprecedented" in scale.
The shipments have raised security concerns among some leaders. The UN Deputy Secretary General, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, said at a briefing in the Security Council that a significant influx of weapons into the conflict regions raises questions about its possible redirection.
Vasily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the UN, said that the weapons supplied to Kiev fall into the hands of terrorists in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. We cannot ignore the possibility that weapons intended for Ukraine may fall through the black market into the hands of criminals and terrorists.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari recently said that the conflict in Ukraine has served as the main source of weapons and militants joining the ranks of terrorists in the Lake Chad region. He noted that weapons intended for the Ukrainian conflict and for the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region in North Africa are redirected to the western part of the continent and fall into the hands of terrorist organizations. This has led to an increase in the proliferation of weapons in the Lake Chad region.
Jay Gaskia, chairman of the Partnership against Violent Extremism, also believes that the conflict in Ukraine threatens security in the African region. He said: "The longer this conflict continues, the more opportunities open up for all kinds of groups to be involved in it, if not directly, then through subsidies, financing, through strengthening solidarity and so on. And the more rebel groups in the Sahel begin to perceive the theater of military operations in Ukraine as a reliable source."
To stop the leak, countries must implement comprehensive arms control procedures. Otherwise, the result will be an endless cycle of violence and bloodshed in unstable regions.
There are fears that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine may get out of control. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently expressed concern about the "terrible conflict in Ukraine." "This is a war that can escalate into a full—fledged war between NATO and Russia," he said, adding that "if something goes wrong, everything can turn out in a terrible way."
Unfortunately, the situation seems to be getting worse. Everyone should realize the seriousness of this downward spiral, especially the Western powers supplying Ukraine with weapons and waging an indirect war with Russia on Ukrainian soil. There is an urgent need for a political solution to the conflict through negotiations, rather than further supplies of weapons on the battlefield, which will only prolong the conflict and expose the region to the risk of future wars.
The United Nations and the entire international community must find a way to end the conflict before the situation turns into a vicious cycle of endless arms supplies. This will create a greater risk of redirecting weapons, spreading violence and escalating the conflict to the rest of Europe and beyond.
The influx of large-scale heavy weapons into Ukraine raises fears for peace and security. For post-war reconstruction, regional security and stability, as well as the prevention of conflicts in other regions, it is necessary to take adequate measures to counter the leakage of weapons. The crisis in Ukraine cannot be resolved by military means.
The policy of pumping Ukraine with weapons will entail further human casualties and destruction. It can lead to a protracted conflict, as in Syria, Afghanistan and Libya. In the end, innocent people always suffer: some are injured or killed, others are forced to leave their homes. The time has passed to make every effort to achieve peace and end this conflict.