Emerging new world order

The world, as it existed in the year 2025 and until as recently as February, 2026 has changed completely; it isn’t anymore a unipolar scene.

Since the start of the US-Israel war imposed upon Iran, a new and unimaginable resistance to oppression is being witnessed. The change is profound. The speed of change has surprised most “Capitals”. The unthinkable and the unexpected have happened. All claims of invincibility stand dislodged.

Illusions of unassailability and indomitability have been laid to rest. As a replacement is a growing sense of disillusionment. The decades long relationships based on common interests that existed in the Middle East between countries of the region and ‘global powers’ from outside the region have taken a nosedive. Trust has given way to a yawning deficit of it, now. The reconciliation of interests is now faced with strategic re-evaluation. The powers of the “weak” have now stormed into the bastions of the considered and globally acknowledged “Powerful”, with vengeance.

The perils of economic globalisation have hit the people hard across the board. No nation or society is today insulated against the many happenings in the world; from peace to war.

The patriotic slogans of making one’s own country great (again) found much currency. The world has learnt the hard way that political and economic interdependence does not necessarily produce an environment of global peace. Instead, it has brought to fore full potential of inter-connectedness that can be used as a weapon against each other. The war of words over tariff mellowed down over time, emotions were tempered with conditions of reality. The imperative realisation has dawned that most economies, including those of the global powers are inter-twined so intricately that no country can afford to walk away unscathed from the global environment. Added to this is the common foe of climatic changes, across the globe that requires individual and collective attention. Each country is responding with its own interpretation of what seems or suits their interests.

Following the end of World War-II, the battle between capitalism and communism, or stated differently, between “Free Enterprise” and “Managed Economy” led to the creation of two distinct camps that have remained ideologically repugnant to each other. The then two super powers led this system, and the poor countries and nations had to “decide” which camp they wished to be associated with. The West was obsessed with the possibility that communism will replace free Enterprise. The USSR and its satellite countries along-with the then newly awakened Panda, in East Asia, became the front-runners of a socialist model of economy. This bloc aimed to thwart the political ideals of Western democracy and its consequential economic system of free enterprise; each according to his needs against each according to his ability, being the differentiator slogan. The debate has raged. The Cold War in its muted form continues.

The free world formed alliances to contain the spread of communi sm/socialism ideology of both, politics and economics. This gave birth to CENTO and SEATO; both these organisations found their way to the cemetery of history, carrying the burdens of Korean and Vietnam wars. The European threatened by USSR sought integration with an active participation of the US from across the Atlantic; a new entity was baptised as NATO on 4th April, 1949 at Washington, DC.

Since the advent of the new millennium the global map and political structure have been distorted, or to say it in positivity, it is reorganised beyond recognition to the old order of the several decades, starting from the 1950s till the collapse of the Berlin Wall in November, 1989; and the climax of transition was the ultimate collapse of what the West referred to as ‘Evil Empire of USSR’ into 13 independent Republics. The change was rapid.

Dr. Henry Kissinger in his book “Does America Need a Foreign Policy?” writes: “During the last decade of the twentieth century, America’s preponderant position rendered it the indispensable component of international stability. It mediated disputes in key trouble spots to the point that, in the Middle East, it had become integral part of the peace process”.

The 9/11 tragic incident introduced the interventionist policy of the USA. With scant respect for the United Nations, it attacked all countries suspected of the gruesome attack on the World Towers in New York. Diplomatic channels were rendered impotent by the impunity of actions.

Ukraine joined NATO as a partner in 1994 and its application for full membership is since pending due to a very long and tedious process; but from all that has happened, its quest for full membership is irreversible.

Russia in 2014 conveniently invaded Crimea and annexed it. The invasion created hue and a lot of cry, but with no avail to the victims. Encouraged, Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The theatre is still open and Russia continues to occupy almost 20 percent of Ukrainian territory. Today, the global power is negotiating a peace deal, which continues to remain, illusive. The world has changed; compare Kennedy’ response to the “Bay of Pigs” crisis with the USSR against its reaction to the Russian adventure in Ukraine. A noticeable change.

The outright refusal by NATO-European countries to participate in the war with Iran stems more out of the unwillingness to join a war that is inspired by Israel. The Italian Prime minister rightly said that she cannot join a war where women and children are mercilessly massacred.

Benjamin Netanyahu driven by political lunacy attacked Iran without any provocation in June, 2025. The war lasted twelve days. Iran’s response with a tidal wave of ballistic missiles and drones knocked off the Israeli intransigence; they sought and made peace, brokered by US; albeit it had also joined in bombing Iran on 22nd June. The volatility of unrest and geopolitical outcomes demanded a strategic reset in the region.

The dynamics of change are given impetus and momentum through reasons of economic considerations. The Formation of BRICS is viewed suspiciously by the US; their quest for creating a unified and common currency and pending that event to happen, the desire to have trade settlements in currencies other than the US Dollar unsettles Washington. Firstly, global faith in US Dollar, and secondly, stemming from this belief, comes the demand for US Dollar, globally, that goes to provide stability and float to the US Dollar. Hence any move to upset this cart of balance draws irk from the US. Dollar’s dominance in oil trade settlements is already on the wane; recently, few transactions were settled in Chinese Yuan.

To the woes of US is the growing economic influence of People’s Republic of China. The trade entanglement between the two is so deep that the twains cannot be separated; the interdependence is huge. This has led to a new dimension in the creation of the future new world order. The solo super power stands challenged: politically and economically.

Narendra Modi, a willing dancer to the artful dodger Benjamin Netanyahu’s tunes, played ball by visiting Tel Aviv a few days before the attack on Iran. In the process he chose the conferment of a medal on his chest from Israel than abiding to long years of friendship with Iran, who was generously supplying oil to India at concessional and favourable terms. Modi, back-stabbed Iran, who must have learnt a bitter lesson. The fact that many Indians living in Iran were caught spying for Mossad must be a painful reality for Iran to come to terms with. Iran trusted India, unwisely. The world has changed; a new axis of evil between Tel Aviv and New Delhi has emerged.

A decision unwise was to attack Iran at the behest of Netanyahu by US. He duped Donald Trump and led him up the garden path. The Iranian response was swift despite loss of the spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many other senior members of the leadership team. Iran isn’t a nation without spine. The resilience demonstrated since February is a sore injury for the attackers. US leadership misread what a 5000-year-old civilisation has to offer! Iran wasn’t a cake to devour.

Again drawing upon Dr. Kissinger expert opinion on Iran, he says, “There are few nations in the world with which the United States has less reasons to quarrel or more compatible interests than Iran”. Further he remarks, “There is no American geopolitical motivation for hostility between Iran and United States. Iran is destined to play a vital, in some circumstances decisive, role in the Gulf and in the Islamic world. A prudent American government needs no instruction on the desirability of improving relations with Iran”. Officials at the State Department must refer to the notes of Dr. Kissinger, instead of being carried away by Benjamin Netanyahu. The world has changed.

Russian role alongside People’s Republic of China’s is symbolic. They have resolutely stood behind Iran with moral, diplomatic and material support. Both the countries are well aligned with emerging realities on the international canvas. They are quiet but are playing a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the current flare-up that has already lost millions of US dollars in machines, equipment and the irreplaceable loss of innocent human lives.

Pakistan walking on an extremely tight rope of diplomacy between important Capitals has thus far navigated sensibly in trying to bring the warring parties to the table for a negotiated settlement. The result of a positive outcome is long drawn but isn’t impossible.

The diplomatic triumph of arranging talks in Islamabad, between Iran and the US, has brought laurels to the country. The joint defence strategic alliance with Riyadh was timely executed. This gives Pakistan a chance to take a lead role in the Middle East. The prospect of a nuclear powered Pakistan to emerge as a net security provider in the Middle East can be a reality with the active approval of global powers. A military alliance or a pact of mutual assistance can be a reality, too. A new order in the Middle East.

Invincibility of any sorts or of any country is now in the shredder of history. The region needs leader, and Pakistan is well placed to lead with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Economics and politics are in the mould of transformation, globally. The old order is crumbling. We must seize the moment, with intelligence, prudence, and above all, with wisdom.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026