LETTERS: There was a time when diplomacy between countries was for the sole purpose of ending conflicts between them and managing their future relations.
Managed by professionals trained in the skills of diplomatic discourse, the aims then were to secure peace between warring countries and move forward to raise the level of their diplomatic ties to strategic or more comprehensive levels.
Over the years, through diplomatic negotiations, countries have also entered into various agreements and accords, with the countries involved in a particular dispute that would include other countries that have been able to align themselves, one way or the other, with either side in the conflict situation.
Today, the course of international diplomacy has changed in response to the diplomatic uncertainties seen around the world. Only time will tell whether these changes have benefitted the world or vice-versa. Or, is the world heading towards the intended use of force and hence pushing aside the need for dialogues and other peace-building measures?
A case in point has been the 'no-war-no peace' scenario painstakingly put in place by the United States, Russia, and China, in their observance and practice of 'Superpower Diplomacy' in the world since the end of the Second World War.
How can we characterise the present state of play among these superpowers today? Looking at history, three things have stood out.
First, there's a change of leadership in the United States with President Joe Biden helming the administration. This has paved the way for a new Alliance System to emerge in the world to comprise mainly of the ruling democracies.
However, the reset is still very much a 'work in progress' as so much will depend on the level of confidence and support that Biden will be able to muster from among the countries involved.
The areas of priority here will include: to get Iran on board the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreed between China, France, Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States plus Iran) again and to begin scaling down its nuclear capability; to push forward with the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Strategic Dialogue between the United States, Japan, India and Australia); AUKUS (a trilateral security Pact to involve Australia, United Kingdom and the United States) and to define the working basis of the alliance of democracies and confront the 'autocracies' of the world.
The first Zoom session of this Summit of Democracies was called last week by Biden. It was reported that more than 100 countries, including Malaysia, have been invited to participate.
Second, in terms of putting right the 'pecking order' among the three superpowers with the United States striving hard to remain on top, we have already witnessed several moves adopted by Biden lately on relations with Russia and China aimed at registering to them that the United States 'is still in-charge' in the world.
Against this backdrop, Biden through video-calls with his counterparts in the two countries recently, had clearly spelt out that the United States would not tolerate any planned Russian invasion of Ukraine and for China not to have any future ambitions on Taiwan.
Finally, as it has become more and more visible day by day, in the pursuit of its 'global leadership Agenda' and the predominance of 'American Democracy' at home and abroad, the United States will not hesitate to raise its concerns with countries to put right any perceived human rights violations as well as the mistreatment of minorities anywhere in the world.
Examples would include the alleged 'genocide' of Uighurs in China and the 'infringement of the rights of women' in Afghanistan. We may expect to see more of the assertiveness of the 'American No.1 Superpower' behaviour at work in the world.
Most recently, judging by the growing support from countries, for the American 'diplomatic boycott' of the Beijing Winter Olympics scheduled in February 2022, the United States would have got its way with American dominance.
DR AZHARI-KARIM
Former Malaysian Ambassador
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times