With global GDP rising from US$11.74 trillion in 1950 to US$166.65 trillion in 2023, the last seventy-five years were probably the best for the entire human race. Politically, by the end of the twentieth century, after long years of subservience, almost all countries in Asia and Africa had been freed from the colonial yoke. Additionally, technological and scientific advances ensured that the standard of living of all humanity went up manifold. Today, an average citizen of an average country works in an air-conditioned office, eats fruits, vegetables and food grains harvested at far-off places, uses gadgets made by the best companies in the world, watches matches being played in different continents, and if he so desires, jets off to exotic locations at a moment’s notice.

His ease of living has increased exponentially; 25 years ago, making an outstation call was difficult, now a smartphone can effortlessly connect him to someone living in a distant country. The same is true for railway and plane reservations, money transfer, and a host of other mundane tasks. Such comfort and choice were not available even to medieval kings and emperors. However, this beautiful dream has begun to unravel. The third decade of the twenty-first century has seen strife breaking out in different parts of the world, causing defence budgets of most countries to rise steeply – at the cost of other budget areas.

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This fact is borne out by a report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) which states that touching US$2718 billion, global military expenditure recorded its steepest increase in 2024 – the 10th consecutive year of rises. The advent of Donald Trump, as President of the United States, in this fraught scenario, has accelerated the global arms race. Just into his presidency, at the 2025 NATO Summit, Trump extracted pledges of massive increases in defence budgets from NATO countries, which would increase arms expenditure further – cutting social security budgets across Europe, as also aid to poorer countries. The concept of a rules-based world order, which reduced wars and strife, and ensured quick restoration of peace, has almost been abandoned in the new millenium. The Israeli invasion of Palestine, with the full backing of the US, and the human-rights violations unleashed by Israel which Trump endorses – despite entreaties by US allies –........

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