From 2023 to 2024, the challenges for the Four Pillars are still present. In fact, the world may be on another precipice. Here, we break them down by region and what can be done:
Asia-Pacific: The China threat still looms for democracy, whether they be in the South China Sea or Taiwan. The US, Japan, and India, three of the Pillars, have continued to reinforce against China, through improving ties with China’s neighbors, or increasing their defense and decoupling.
Europe: The Russian invasion of Ukraine is still raging, and the Pillar of the EU-UK should continue pushing for greater integration of Ukraine. Hopefully, the Pillars could also continue to send more weapons, for if the war were to turn into one of attrition, it may become unfavorable for Ukraine – and if Ukraine falls, it threatens the rest of Europe.
The Middle East: The Israel-Hamas war still continues, and sometimes threaten to turn into a regional conflict, whether it be through the threat of Hezbollah in Lebanon or Houthis in Yemen. It has, in a sense, turn into a regional conflict, as some of the Pillars have begun taking actions against the Houthis for their harassment of shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
