The new Great Power Bloc: How China, Russia and Iran are rallying against the West
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 8 November 2023
⏱️ 24 minutes
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Summary
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a whistle stop tour of the Middle East earlier this week, as part of a frantic diplomatic effort to de-escalate the Israel-Gaza crisis. His visit comes as China calls for a ceasefire in a bid to position itself as the neutral arbiter in the region. US politicians have labelled Russia, China and Iran as the ‘axis of evil’ - so should the West be worried? And how have the wars in Ukraine and Gaza deepened those relationships?
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Guest: Ahmed Aboudouh, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House.
Host: Manveen Rana.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkin, has been on a whistle stop tour of the Middle East this week on a frantic mission to alleviate the Israel-Gazza crisis. |
| 0:15.6 | But it hasn't gone to plan. |
| 0:18.6 | The meeting between the U.S. Secretary of State and Arab Foreign Minister produced absolutely nothing new. |
| 0:24.0 | Secretary of State Tony Blinking left the region today after rare public disagreements |
| 0:29.2 | with America's closest Arab allies. And now, a month into the Israel-Hamass War, America and a few of its European allies |
| 0:39.0 | have avoided calling for a ceasefire in stark contrast to others at the United Nations who did just that. |
| 0:47.0 | Both Israel and the US were amongst those voting, no, the UK, Germany and Italy abstaining. The outcome of this vote shows |
| 0:55.3 | that the vast majority of world powers want an end to hostilities. |
| 1:00.1 | Which has created an opportunity for Russia and China to challenge America's role as global |
| 1:06.5 | mediator. |
| 1:07.5 | What I can say is that we are open to all efforts which will help seize the fire will help de-escalate the tension. |
| 1:17.0 | There are fears that new global alliances are being forged and the world order is shifting around us. |
| 1:27.0 | What we have now is an axis of evil, China, Russia and Iran. |
| 1:32.0 | So this is a big crisis that needs to be confronted by the most important democracy in the world. |
| 1:40.0 | So have the wars in Ukraine and Gaza pushed these countries closer together, |
| 1:49.0 | and should the US and the West be worried. |
| 1:55.0 | You're listening to stories of our times from the Times and the Sunday Times. |
| 2:00.0 | I'm Manveen Rana. |
| 2:02.0 | Today, the new great power block, how China, Russia and Iran are taking |
| 2:08.3 | on the West. I'm Ahmed Abidor, Associate Fellow with the Chatham House and Non-resident Fellow with the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. |
| 2:26.0 | My research focus on China and the Middle East and Great Park competition in general all over the world. |
| 2:32.0 | Very relevant now. |
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