OVER the past two nights, the world has looked on in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine in a war in Eastern Europe long warned against, but now taking place.
The scenes were shocking – from the long lines of traffic as people loaded their families into their cars and fled to the scenes of destruction as the first attacks took place and the first reports of fatalities circulated.
It may seem far away, but this conflict will have effects for us here at home.
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell pointed out one way it will affect us – hitting us in the pocket.
He noted predictions that have been made that the price of gasoline may well hit $8 per gallon by the spring.
That may well have knock-on effects for electricity costs, and so on.
That won’t be all, however. We’ve already seen how problems with the supply chain have left supermarket shelves sometimes short of goods and caused a number of businesses difficulties in obtaining supplies that need to be shipped into the country.
The increase in fuel costs will add to that – but there have also been requests to close some shipping lanes in Europe that could exacerbate matters.
Either way, we can expect higher priced goods – with prices already high – and a shortage of some products.
Is that it? Well, perhaps the bigger question is what this will mean for the political landscape.
If Russia is able to continue with its invasion and isn’t stifled in its ambitions, the question will be what comes next? Not just for Russia, which might eye other former Soviet states, but for other nations.
It might seem unlikely, but thinking back to the closest the world has come to a nuclear conflict, the scene for that dispute was in nearby Cuba in 1961, with the stand-off over missiles in that nation leading to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.
The world may be different in many ways from that time – but the potential for political overflow is there, and who might be encouraged if Russia’s attack is not opposed in strength?
And with Russian President Vladimir Putin hinting at nuclear consequences for those who stand against him, there is nowhere to hide in a world where the ultimate weapon might be unleashed.
So we will feel it in our pocket, but we will also feel it in our politics. We cannot feel isolated from this, or that it is none of our business – and Mr Mitchell is right to add his voice to the chorus around the world calling for an end to the conflict.
We hope such voices prevail – and that Putin’s aggression is not rewarded.
Comments
Proguing 2 years, 1 month ago
This reminds me of the US invasion of Iraq
ColumbusPillow 2 years, 1 month ago
Meanwhile the PM has declared that oil and gas exploration is forbidden in the Bahamas. How will that help economic matters when the national debt exceeds $15 billion?
Proguing 2 years, 1 month ago
Well as the USA is close to a nuclear war with Russia it will affect us. For the first time I wish the Bahamas was a bit further away from the USA. And to think we had four years of peace with Trump, but they said if he would be re-elected that would be the end of the world. Think about the irony. After only one year of Biden we have the worst crisis since WWII with a possible nuclear war. And now the Chinese are ready to invade Taiwan. This is a new version of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. We will all be very lucky if we come out alive of this Biden Presidency.
moncurcool 2 years, 1 month ago
Fake news
Proguing 2 years, 1 month ago
Breaking news we are now very close to a nuclear war:
"In a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces put on high alert Sunday in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.
The order means Putin has ordered Russia’s nuclear weapons prepared for increased readiness to launch, raising the threat that the tensions could boil over into a nuclear war. In giving it, the Russian leader also cited hard-hitting financial sanctions imposed by the West against Russia, including Putin himself."
sheeprunner12 2 years, 1 month ago
This will be an interesting fight. Russia is trying to re-create it's old empire. But those days are over. Ukraine and the other 12 ex-USSR countries do not want to turn back that clock
Russia will find itself isolated and labelled as a bully by the world. Ukraine is not like Iraq. There is no Al Queda, Taliban or Saddam or Bin Ladin for Russia to blame. No one will support Russia openly, even though China may look like an ally.
This will reignite the Western powers & NATO. Watch out for Germany in this conflict
JokeyJack 2 years, 1 month ago
Those days aren't over just because the media says "those days are over." Putin knows what he is doing, and I am grateful to him for curing Covid. I notice there is nothing about Covid in the news the past few days. If this is what it take for that, then it's worth it. The USA has been pushing to expand NATO for years now, going back a while to them wanting to put a missile defense system in Pohland. WHY? Why expand a protection pact against an "enemy" who is not threatening you? Why seek to bring other old Eastern satellite countries into NATO? Russia won't just sit still and let the enemy expand on its border and circle it with a noose. The threat of NATO expansion has caused this war. Russia supplies the USA with 600,000 (six hundred thousand) barrels per day. What's going to happen when they turn that spigot off? No forethought on the part of President Fauci.
Proguing 2 years, 1 month ago
hmmm there was never any Al Queda, Taliban or Bin Ladin in Iraq. That's in Afghanistan. Although the removal of Saddam in Iraq gave birth to ISIS. In Ukraine you have Neo-Nazis called the Azov Battalion. Here is a short definition from Wikipedia: "Azov Special Operations Detachment, often known as Azov Detachment, Azov Regiment, or Azov Battalion, is a right-wing extremist and neo-Nazi Ukrainian National Guard unit, based in Mariupol, in the Azov Sea coastal region. It saw its first combat experience recapturing Mariupol from pro-Russian separatists forces" India and China, the most populous nations on earth just vetoed a resolution against Russia. Can't say that Russia is isolated.
avidreader 2 years, 1 month ago
Push the bear into a corner and be wary of the consequences. As for invading sovereign nations, there is one particular nation that has proven to be a past master at that game. You whistle and I'll point!
Bonefishpete 2 years, 1 month ago
Putin hates Subs so is AUTEC on the list?
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