Consequences of Double Standards

I've been worried that the stance taken by many developed nations toward Israel's and America's recent actions will accelerate global polarization.

The G7 statement issued after Israel's air strike on Iran reads:

"In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for Israel's security. Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon."

It is an open secret that Israel possesses an undeclared nuclear arsenal. Yet major powers rarely criticize this, partly because Israel never signed the NPT and partly because of U.S. backing.

People in the Global South and the Middle East routinely cite this as Western hypocrisy. That chorus is growing louder after Gaza and the gradual ending of Pax Americana. "Whataboutism" is eroding respect for international law.

The current situation also teaches authoritarian rulers that, had they already possessed nuclear weapons, outside powers might have hesitated to strike. Some nuclear-armed states could exploit this moment to spread their arsenals further, worsening global instability.

I think this is only one symptom of the broader power shift from West to Asia. More shocks will follow, and turbulence will mount. Let's hope a new equilibrium emerges soon enough to leave the next generation a world still worth inheriting.

(As of now, there's unconfirmed news that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, and I appreciate the progress if the news is true. That said, the seeds of hatred and anger will not disappear.)