The profound geopolitical ramifications of the escalating war between Israel and Hamas can be glimpsed in the contrasting responses of the world’s duelling global powers.
United States President Joe Biden will travel to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, in a major show of solidarity. His trip was announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has bounced around the region with the stated aim of containing the conflict.
“He’s coming here at a critical moment for Israel, for the region and for the world,” Blinken said after more than seven hours of meetings with Netanyahu and his war cabinet in Tel Aviv.
Also on Wednesday, in a summit of no less significance, Vladimir Putin is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum. It’s the Russian leader’s first trip abroad — aside from a quick jaunt to former Soviet state Kyrgyzstan last week — since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him in March over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. The last time he visited China, Xi declared a “no limits” partnership between the two countries. Russia invaded Ukraine less than a month later.
