AfroVerdict

Experts' Take: Belt & Road Initiative, Putin's Visit to China, Gaza Hospital Attack

In the wake of Putin's visit to the Belt and Road Forum in China and his speech covering a wide range of topics, including the recent deadly strike on the hospital in Gaza, AfroVerdict hosts a discussion with two international relations experts to tackle the hot topics head on.
Sputnik
China hosted its third Belt & Road Forum as it celebrated a decade of the Belt and Road Initaitve aimed at improving cooperation between Africa, Asia, Europe and other parts of the world. Although 130 countries were represented at the event, the only country from the EU was Hungary.
European nations are "under the vassalization of the United States", according to Koffi Kouakou, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg.
"The fear of disengaging from the United States is very difficult for them because they will probably suffer from some consequences. So many of them are afraid. They're speaking in private about the fact that they're suffering from their partnership with the United States. Europe is right now very, very fragmented," he explains.
This, "by contrast" differs from the values of the Belt & Road Initative of "bringing a diverse world together", thus becoming the "declared enemyto the west" for "bringing an alternative world".

"The reason is simple. The US-led unipolar world hasn't really built a world of peace. War everywhere, conflicts wherever the United States goes. By contrast, the BRI really gives a sense that we can live together in peace. But most importantly, we can have a win-win approach to this multipolar world," Mr. Kouakou says.

On the night of October, 17, a hospital in the Gaza Strip was attacked by a missile. The source of the missile is still unconfirmed, as we hear accusation from the Israeli side that the destruction of the hospital might have even been caused by a failed missile fired by the jihad militants.
Dr. Isaac Nunoo, lecturer at the Centre for African and International Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana believes that the situation "is becoming more complex" and that "you may have many actors also coming on board".
"I think the best that has to be done for now is to relocate, if it's possible. We should have a temporary hospital with all the necessary facilities at a safer place to kind of accommodate such people, not to keep the same hospital in the heart of the entire war," Dr. Nunoo explains.
While "Russia, together with China and other BRICS members" have a "strong voice to make meaningful suggestions", "both parties are not ready to listen to practical pieces of advice" that will see to the end of the war.
"As for the war itself, it's difficult to tell when it's going to end, given that both parties have taken entrenched positions," the expert states.
To hear what else the experts had to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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