HIBAPRESS-RABAT
Concern is growing with each passing day in the war between Russia and Ukraine. And for good reason: the growing threat of nuclear escalation that could result. With this in mind, at a conference held at Paris Business School on October 30, 2024, leading experts and politicians gathered to discuss the growing threat of nuclear escalation in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict. and Russia.
Faced with growing concerns over worsening geopolitical tensions, participants warned of the risk of nuclear war between NATO and Russia, while almost all nuclear deterrence agreements between the United States and Russia are currently suspended. It is right, moreover, that it was Professor Frédéric Encel, president of the event, who introduced the debate at the opening of the conference.
For his part, Mgr Vittorio Formenti, an influential Vatican representative, spoke out strongly against the dangers of nuclear war, recalling the horrors of Hiroshima. In this sense, he highlighted Pope Francis’ call for peace, warning of the devastating consequences of war, while insisting that dialogue is the only path to a lasting solution.
For his part, the American economist, Jeffrey Sachs Jeffrey Sachs, did not fail to indicate that the crisis in Ukraine is fueled by the expansion of NATO. According to him, its expansion towards the East played an important role in this conflict. Sachs insisted that direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow are essential to prevent further escalation.
In this sense, he warned that the economic impact of the conflict in Ukraine is already severely affecting Europe, with a projection of 10,000 billion dollars expected to be spent on defense within the EU over the next decade .
The impact of war on women and children
Bluntly, Ms. Manel Msalmi, president of the European Association for the Defense of Minorities, highlighted the effects of the war on women and children, who constitute the vast majority of refugees fleeing Ukraine. She called for the protection of their rights and warned that further escalation could have devastating consequences for future generations.
Additionally, Msalmi noted that recent statements by Ukrainian President Zelensky, showing concern over his country’s difficult situation, could be misinterpreted as incitement to escalation, and she called for diplomatic solutions.
In his intervention, the French political scientist, Gérard Chaliand, winner of the PUFF 2024 Prize for his geopolitical work, strongly criticized the European leaders whom he considers to blindly follow the American strategy, in particular that of the Biden administration. He affirmed, in this sense, that a peace solution is not only inevitable but also urgent.
Following suit, Gaidz Minassian of the newspaper “Le Monde” offered a different view on the origins of the conflict, emphasizing that Russia is the aggressor and that the EU must support Ukraine, while joining the call for diplomatic solutions to avoid further escalation.
At the end of their debate, the participants in the Paris conference highlighted the growing danger of a nuclear conflict resulting from the war in Ukraine. They also stressed that diplomacy and dialogue are the only solutions. Finally, the influential speakers at this meeting emphasized the need and importance of international cooperation to prevent further escalation and guarantee a secure future for a better world.
