Key Facts
• November 2021: Research group on liberal international order reconstruction launched.
• February 2022: Russia invades Ukraine, sparking global shock.
• September 2022: Ukraine begins counteroffensive; Russia issues partial mobilization order.
• January 2023: Germany supplies Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, marking a turning point.
• August 2024: Ukraine attacks Kursk in Russia; North Korean troops bolster Russian forces.
• June 2024: Russia and North Korea sign comprehensive strategic partnership treaty.
• October 2023: Israel-Gaza conflict erupts, reigniting focus on the Palestinian issue.
• December 2024: Assad regime in Syria collapses, reshaping Middle Eastern dynamics.
• July 2024: U.S. President Biden withdraws from re-election, intensifying U.S. ‘lame duck’ status.
• Post-2024: Turkey’s influence rises as Iran’s weakens due to Israeli actions.
• 2020-2024: Abraham Accords fail to stabilize Middle East without resolving Palestinian issue.
• 11,000–12,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russia; 3,500 more in training.
• Reports of corruption in Ukraine hinder effective use of military aid.
Summary
The liberal international order faces significant challenges, as highlighted by global events from 2021 to 2024. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shocked the world, with Ukraine’s resilience drawing military support from Western nations. Despite counteroffensives, the conflict remains protracted, with Russia relying on foreign troops, including North Koreans, under a strategic partnership treaty. Meanwhile, the Middle East saw renewed tensions, including the 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict and the 2024 collapse of Syria’s Assad regime. The Abraham Accords failed to stabilize the region without addressing the Palestinian issue, while Turkey’s influence grew as Iran’s waned. In the U.S., President Biden’s withdrawal from re-election in 2024 exacerbated perceptions of a ‘lame duck’ administration, weakening American influence in the Middle East. Corruption in Ukraine further complicates its war efforts, raising questions about the effective use of international aid. These developments underscore the fragility of the current international order and the need for strategic reconstruction.
