Russia has attacked a sovereign country. This is insupportable and highly despicable. I have already outlined the Russo-Ukrainian War complexities. But what about Vladimir Putin’s claim that Russia is actually at war with the West? Yes, it is a proxy war.
What is a proxy war?
The defining characteristic of a proxy war is that major powers or influential entities support different sides in a conflict to advance their own interests without engaging in direct combat against each other. While this typically happens in a third-party country – where external powers influence or fuel an existing conflict – it can also occur within a nation where internal factions are supported by outside powers. The key aspect is the indirect nature of the confrontation. The external powers aim to avoid a direct military clash, yet still pursuing their strategic goals through the conflict.
The Russo-Ukrainian complexities
If you look at history, it is full of Russo-Ukrainian wars. So, using a time series, it is something we should expect and not an aberration.
The West wants Ukraine, and Russia respectively, to contain each other economically and thus politically, and Russia wants the same, and vice versa.
Vladimir Putin is trying to extend territory as a defense mechanism against the West, and NATO wants the same.
If the West hadn’t organized a coup d’état called Euromaidan, no war would basically be taking place. Ukraine would either be enormously pro-Russian or militarily occupied by Russia without any greater violence.
Feeling cornered by the potential Ukrainian entrance to NATO or the EU (which would mean missiles within his borders) and being aware of the limited possibility of removing the pro-Western government, he started a war that he believed would be short-lived.
All the weapons from the West? No proxy war!
If the West didn’t care about Ukraine, no weapons would have been lifted there. The massive influx of weapons signalizes there is party which has an enormous interest for the outcome of this – yes – proxy war.
Yes, they use their weapons. We have no clue where the military decisions are made – in London, Washington, or Paris? Also, a lot has been written about the direct involvement of the Western soldiers on the Ukrainian on Russian soil.
Let’s try what the weapons can do and military-industrial complex
All of the countries prepare for a war all the time. New technologies are emerging, but can we know how exactly they work well? No. So it is a great place for weapons examination.
The finest example is the Spanish Civil War, where all the sides had been testing their weaponry.
The huge military-industrial complex lobby is thrilled that business is going well. This conflict has led to a substantial increase in defense spending and the demand for military equipment, benefiting defense contractors and arms manufacturers worldwide. Countries supporting Ukraine, such as the United States and NATO allies, have ramped up production and supply of weapons, ammunition, and advanced military systems like anti-tank missiles, drones, and air defense systems. This has resulted in lucrative contracts for companies within the military-industrial complex, reinforcing their role in global geopolitics.
The war has also spurred innovation in military technology, as the ongoing conflict creates a testing ground for new weapons systems and strategies. The increased focus on defense has led to calls for rearmament in several countries, further boosting the military-industrial complex. In turn, the influence of this complex on policy and decision-making can perpetuate the cycle of conflict, as continued warfare sustains demand for military products. This dynamic highlights the complex relationship between global conflicts, such as the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the interests of the military-industrial sector.
The superpower, major powers, and checkerboard
Someone may think it is just a military issue with economic interests (the super-rich families in the West or Russian oligarchs, respectively), but this is completely wrong.
The global patron-client system checkerboard is as fluid as ever, with many pulls and pushes.
Some of the chess moves may enable Ukraine to attack Russians on their territory, while another could ignite a world war.
They are fighting our war
General Sir Patrick Sanders, the Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, emphasized the critical importance of supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia. He stated that Ukraine is essentially “fighting our war”.
Graham E. Fuller proclaimed: “Indeed, this is not a Ukrainian-Russian war but an American-Russian war fought by proxy to the last Ukrainian.”
Conclusion
If we omit the moral aspect of the war, the Russo-Ukrainian War is a proxy war par excellence.
The global power interests could not be more visible, and the military machine is running at full speed.
As I wrote, you are basically choosing sides based on whether you prefer at least some democracy or authoritarian rule in Putin’s style.
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