By: Dr. Adnan Bouzan 

Amid the profound transformations shaping the world today, the dynamics of power that have long governed international relations are becoming increasingly evident. International law, ethical principles, and the treaties championed by major powers have been reduced to rhetorical tools—invoked when convenient and discarded when they conflict with strategic interests. The current political landscape leaves no doubt that the logic of power remains the primary force shaping global policies. Weak states, regardless of the support or promises they receive, ultimately fall prey to the interests of great powers, which do not hesitate to use any means necessary to achieve their objectives.

The ongoing crises in different parts of the world—whether in Ukraine, the Middle East, or the Pacific—are nothing more than manifestations of this historical reality: great powers do not approach issues based on principles but rather on calculations of interest. Weak nations are abandoned when priorities shift and are only supported when their existence aligns with the strategic agendas of influential actors. The war in Ukraine is one of the clearest examples of this truth. The West abandoned its political and security commitments to Kyiv despite prior assurances, offering aid that did not alter the balance of power on the ground. Meanwhile, major powers continue to use conflicts as bargaining chips in their quest to secure their interests.

The same holds true in other parts of the world, particularly concerning the Kurdish people, where strategic interests dictate the policies of great powers. They support regimes in one place while seeking to dismantle others elsewhere, with no genuine regard for sovereignty or human rights—principles they claim to uphold. In the Middle East, for example, foreign interventions have turned the region into an open arena for geopolitical rivalries. Internal crises are manipulated, conflicts are fueled, and alliances are reconfigured to serve the vision of global powers, while the people of the region bear the cost of these policies alone.

The United Nations, which was supposed to be the true guarantor of international security, has proven completely ineffective over the past decades when it comes to conflicts involving major power interests. The Security Council, dominated by its five permanent members, serves as nothing more than an instrument for protecting their influence. Any of these powers can block any resolution that does not align with its interests by wielding its veto. This reality has rendered the international organization a powerless spectator in the face of numerous violations—ranging from direct occupations and civil wars to military interventions carried out by major powers under various pretexts, from combating terrorism to promoting democracy.

In this international climate of double standards, states that are not part of major alliances must reassess their security and defense strategies. Betting on external protection has proven futile, and relying on treaties and international guarantees offers no real security. Only nations with independent strength—military, economic, and political—can safeguard their sovereignty and assert their position in regional and global equations. This is well understood by emerging powers striving to build their capabilities independently, avoiding dependence on any single force in an effort to escape the fate of those who found themselves isolated at critical moments.

It is evident that the current global order is undergoing a major transformation. The unipolar dominance established by the United States after the Cold War is waning, and new powers are reshaping the geopolitical landscape. In this context, international alliances are being restructured. Some nations are strengthening ties with rising powers like China and Russia to counter Western and American influence, while others are pursuing more independent policies to avoid falling into the trap of absolute dominance by any one power.

All these changes indicate that the world is moving toward a more complex system, where no single actor can impose its agenda without resistance. However, this does not necessarily mean that the emerging order will be more just. The rising powers, too, operate under the logic of strength and seek to advance their interests by any means necessary. This leaves weaker nations facing an even greater challenge: either they build their own strength to secure their place in the global order, or they remain hostage to a ruthless game of interests—where there is no room for the weak in a world ruled by the strong.