AMMAN – HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal
Abu-Ghazaleh Global Digital (TAG.GD), said that the world is at the threshold
of a transformative phase toward a new World Order, especially in the light of
the escalating conflict between the United States and China over the global
dominance. He pointed out that Washington insists on remaining the dominant
power above international organizations, while Beijing believes it has the
right to play a leading role in controlling the global issues.
Speaking
on the ‘Nabd Al-Balad’ program, broadcast on Ro'ya TV and hosted by
journalist Mohammad Alkhalidi, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said that the ongoing conflict
is a struggle between two giants: one dominating the existing World Order,
while the other aspiring to replace it, emphasizing that regional developments,
including those related to Iran and the Gulf states, are associated with this
strategic rivalry.
He indicated that US maneuvers in the region is a strategic repositioning
aimed at establishing centers of power that would serve the US in its upcoming
confrontation with China. He noted that the confrontation between the two superpowers
is already underway; taking economic, cyber, and technological forms, with the
exception of direct military confrontation. He expects the world to witness such
a confrontation by the end of 2027.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated that China has declared its intention to
reclaim the island of Taiwan and integrate it into its motherland. Taiwan
currently enjoys self-administrative governance, acquired as a major center for
communication and semiconductor technologies, which are essential to the
operation of various sectors from aviation and automotive manufacturing to
computing.
He noted that
the US responded to China's position by declaring that it would not allow this course
of action to proceed, even if doing so means going to war. Meanwhile, Taiwan
has continued to strengthen its relations with Western countries and signed a
military agreement with Washington to obtain weapons and military technology.
In response, he
added, China affirmed it would not allow military agreements to be implemented
or weapons to reach Taiwan without its approval, considering this conflict a
key factor behind Beijing's determination to become the world's leading naval
military power.
Dr.
Abu-Ghazaleh believes that the world is moving toward a historic moment that
could witness a direct military confrontation between the two major powers
toward the end of 2027 or in 2028. After such a clash, he predicted, both sides
would realize that a war of this kind would be mutually destructive.
However, Dr.
Abu-Ghazaleh referred to what he described as an “alarming report” recently
issued by an American research center. The report discussed US President Donald
Trump's threat to use what the report called the “Mother of All Bombs” against
Iran at an appropriate moment, with the aim of neutralizing the country because
of its ties to China, especially following Iran's signing of a comprehensive
military agreement with Beijing.
He added that
this approach comes as part of a phase of “shifting centers of power,” in which
attention is focused on identifying strategic positions and securing the most
advantageous footholds for each side in the international conflict. Regarding
this, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed concern over the possibility of using the
“Mother of All Bombs” against Iran's nuclear research facilities, referring to studies
suggesting that such a strike could cause around 15 million fatalities.
Regarding the
Russian-Ukrainian war, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said World War III had started in
Europe with this conflict. He cited a statement by the Ukrainian President
expressing shock at what he described as the US betrayal of Ukraine. The Arab
thinker interpreted this as “a new indication of the end of the European-American
relationship”, saying he had previously predicted the collapse of the European
Union within five years.
He went on to
say that, the world is changing at an unprecedented rapid pace, while countries
in the region remain unaware of the extent to which these accelerating
international developments will directly affect them.
He recalled
attending a scientific conference in Moscow, where Russian President Vladimir
Putin stated in his address that he had completed the consolidation of the
foundations of the Russian Federation and that the next phase would focus on
neighboring countries. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh added that he asked Putin after the
meeting what he meant by “the neighborhood.” According to Abu-Ghazaleh, Putin
replied that “all the European countries that were annexed to the Soviet Union,
whose sovereignty should be restored to Russia.”
Moreover, Dr.
Abu-Ghazaleh believes that Russian and China have reached a common
understanding concerning the return of European countries formerly aligned with
the Soviet Union under Russia’s political and strategic influence, emphasizing
that the US understands that Russia will not abandon Ukraine or the other
former Soviet states.
He pointed out that Russia is the world’s largest country by land
area, and that re-annexing the states belonging to the former Soviet Union will
make its area larger than any other continent. He noted that China’s size and
influence, combined with those of Russia, put the two countries in a position
to account for approximately half of the world’s land area.
In response to a question about which power will control the world,
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh stated that the coming phase will lead to a bipolar world with
shared leadership, where the American and Chinese giants sit at the same table
to jointly manage global affairs.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh reiterated the state of fragility the United
Nations is suffering during a phase where the United States acts unilaterally
and as it pleases. He noted that he was recently surprised by a decision from
US President Trump regarding AI, even though this file does not fall under the
US President's jurisdiction.
Recalling his work in UN councils and committees, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said
he was constantly met with objections from the US delegate against subjecting
the internet and digital space to the jurisdiction or authority of any single
state or entity, under the pretext that they are not subject to a specific
national authority.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh viewed Trump’s recent
statements on artificial intelligence as evidence of US intervention in a field
that the United States had previously opposed placing under the authority of
any particular state. He considered this a sign of inconsistency in the approach
to digital governance and the international order.