British defense chief urges 'restraint' as violence in Middle East escalates: War in 'no one's interest'

 British Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps lamented the fragile state of the international security landscape as more voters than ever head to the polls in a potentially decisive year for the world.

"I just think we need to wake up to the risks that exist," Shapps said. "So, we're kind of living in a post-Cold War era in which we've taken the peace dividend. OK. But you can't continue taking the same peace dividend at the same time that you've got the benefits of peace. At the time Russia is very aggressive. You look at what Iran is doing and how they are increasing tensions in the Middle East.

"You've got a very determined North Korea with nuclear weapons," he said. "What happens when China is watching all this to see how the West responds? So, it seems clear to me that what we need to do is make sure that we don't try to take advantage of the peace that no longer exists." Not there ."

Shapps warned in his first major speech as defense minister that the world could see conflict between the West and rival countries including China, Russia, North Korea and Iran within the next five years, as tensions rise in various regions. , especially and most recently the Middle East.

But Shapps said the world situation remains volatile as more voters than ever turned out in a rare alignment of elections in dozens of major countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, the European Union, India, and the United States. Mexico, Pakistan and many others.

Taiwan kicked off the election year by defeating China's reigning favourite, the Kuomintang Party, with a historic third consecutive term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. The setback this year began with the upset victory of Hollande's Geert Wilders, who would become prime minister if he is able to form a cabinet.

“It's obviously important that we make sure that we have a world order in which billions of people actually get to vote well this year in 2024, 2 billion people will go and vote, in that sense the largest democratic year in history,” Shapps. Said in one. Interview before the US launched retaliatory air strikes in the Middle East.

The ability to reshape the political balance of most major players on the international scene will determine the direction of a number of issues, including Russia's support for Ukraine in its third year of aggression, China's regional aggression and, most importantly, the increase in violence. Middle East.

The US launched airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq after three US service members were killed in an attack in Jordan. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed that 85 targets across six locations were hit in the first wave of attacks.

In his interview with Fox News Digital, Shapps expressed his condolences for the American deaths and stressed that Britain wants to see "restraint" and de-escalation from Iran. He cited ongoing attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea and attacks against US military personnel and assets as unacceptable actions, which Tehran continues to support.

"You cannot violate international waterways, freedom of navigation, and we call on Iran to step up there, but also with these extremist groups," Shapps said. ,

"It's not in anyone's interest to see this escalate into a regional conflict. So, of course, we're calling on everyone to exercise restraint."

"I want to see Lebanese Hezbollah stopped," he said. “I want to see these Iran-backed militant groups stopped, and of course, above all, we also want to see an end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza, for which we need a number of preconditions such as the release of hostages, for example For."

Shapps reiterated the British position calling for a two-state solution that requires recognition of Palestinian statehood, an option the Biden administration has reportedly begun to explore as the president plans for a post-conflict settlement.

“We are going to seek recognition of a Palestinian state, and that also requires Israel to have security guarantees, so it has to be the last state,” Shapps explained.

"I don't think we can reach that conclusion," he cautioned. "We need to see a lot of things happen. First, a large number of agreements will need to be implemented. That's where we want to get to. ... Of course, that being said, it's very hard to do, but a "It's a good start, those hostages will be released and that will be followed by a permanent ceasefire."

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Shapps highlighted 2024 as a crucial year not only for the upcoming elections but also for the delicate situation in conflicts such as the defense of Ukraine against Russia. He suspected that Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to play the "long game" and wait out the West, hoping it would "get bored."

He said, "Will we turn away? Maybe because of what's happening in the Middle East... maybe just because he thinks we won't have the courage to support Ukraine to the end. So, I think 2024 is a really important year.” ,

"We essentially have to make a conscious decision. Are we in favor of Ukraine establishing complete sovereignty over the whole of Ukraine... or are we just going to say that for the sake of having a democratic neighbor we will attack China and other countries. We will look into the right thing to do,” he argued.

"The situation we're seeing right now in North Korea, Iran and the Middle East... China will draw its own conclusions when it thinks about Taiwan and other places," Shapps stressed. “We must be conscious of the real threat that has arisen, which is not just about Russia or Putin, but about the entire world order.”