Op-ed: When Food Security Becomes Transcontinental Weapon

The traditional geopolitical maps have changed, and the destiny of the world, which disregarded the old standards of precision of traditional classical geopolitics and geostrategic approaches, becomes more variable and complex.

The majority of people with old fashioned thinking failed to understand the destiny of the world and current geopolitical changes like the way they realize before. Indeed, the new world cannot be built on the nostalgia of the old world and its classical conflicts.

It is likely that Russia is on the way to winning this war against Ukraine and exerting more pressure on the EU and NATO's agenda as well.

Consequently, this may help China easily conquer Taiwan and exert pressure in Asia as well and allow Beijing to dominate this vital part of the world. So, it may seem ordinary to see Russia and China as new main key players alongside the U.S soon.

At this crucial time, the eyes of the world are on the strategic Black Sea coast, which is a major transport artery for the movement of food goods.

Recently, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said during a symposium at the Davos Forum that the global economy may face a "bleak horizon."

She noted that IMF is forecasting 3.6% growth for 2022, which is "a long way to the global recession."

Meanwhile, WFP warns that 8 to 13 million people are facing severe hunger as a result of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

In the same connection, the head of the African Union, Senegalese President Macky Sall, held a timely visit to Russia and met President Vladimir Putin, who has been isolated on the world stage by the western countries, in a bid to offset Africa's impending food crisis due to the war in Ukraine.

During their meeting, Sall pointed out that African countries which are cited as friendly states by Russia are acutely impacted by the growing crisis, which has sent prices of grains, cooking oils, fuel, and fertilizer soaring.

Meanwhile, Putin, who was probably happy with this visit, took this occasion to talk about the strong bilateral relations between his country and the African nations, noting the crucial role of the Soviet Union in liberating Africa from the western occupation.

Contributed by Ahmed Emam.