MLC Daily Current Affairs – 24 February 2025

Today in History (February 24^th,1582)

24 February 1582 – Pope Gregory XIII announces the New Style (Gregorian) calendar, which remains in use as the internationally accepted civilian calendar to this day.

Summary of Today’s News

Trump’s Attack on USAID and India

Imperialism is when a country extends its power and control over other countries or territories. Imperialism can involve the use of military force, economic power, or cultural influence.
o U.S. President Donald Trump criticized USAID and India for an alleged grant for “voter turnout” during Indian elections.
o The allegation was based on a figure released by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on February 16.
o Trump has referred to the figure five times at various public events.
Details of the Allegation:
o Trump cited an $18 million figure (shifted from the previously mentioned $21 million).
o He questioned why the U.S. would give money to India for elections, calling India one of the highest tariff nations.
o Trump referred to the grant as “helping India with its elections” and criticized India for taking advantage of the U.S.
Contradictions in Trump’s Statements:
o February 19: Trump expressed respect for India but found the $21 million allocation unacceptable, claiming India has “a lot more money.”
o February 20: He implied the money was provided by the previous U.S. administration to “get somebody else elected.”
o February 21: Trump suggested the funds were part of a “kickback scheme” for the previous U.S. government.
o February 22: He stated the money was “going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout.”
o February 23: It was unclear if Trump mistakenly referred to the $18 million figure or if it was a revised number.
Questions on the Allocation:
o Doubts were raised about whether the funds had been transferred as a “disbursal” or were still an “obligation” from USAID.
o The DOGE post on X mentioned that U.S. taxpayer dollars were “going to be spent,” not that they had already been spent, and all planned payments had been canceled.
Investigations and Evidence:
o Indian media and the Washington Post published investigations revealing that USAID officials had no evidence of a “voter turnout” project for India.
o The DOGE has not responded to requests for further details on the alleged allocations.
o The Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the allegations, stating they were “deeply troubling,” but declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
Conclusion:
o Ongoing uncertainty and contradictions surrounding the claims and evidence related to the alleged voter turnout project in India.

A New Age of Imperialism

What is imperialism?

Decline of the Rules-Based International Order:
o In Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, a character is asked how he went bankrupt. “Gradually and then suddenly,” describing the decline of the rules-based international system.
o Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 tested the principles of the UN Charter.
o The U.S. shifted from supporting Ukraine to echoing Russia’s repudiation of the Charter, damaging the UN-based system of global governance.
Birth of the Post-WWII World Order:
o The current world order emerged after World War II, following conferences between 1941-1945 involving the U.S., the U.K., and the Soviet Union.
o The aim was to form an international organization based on collective security to maintain peace and manage state relations as sovereign equals.
o At the Tehran Conference (1943), the “four policemen” (U.S., Britain, Soviet Union, and China) were designated to enforce peace.
o France was included at the Yalta Conference (1945) mainly to manage territories occupied by Nazi Germany.
o Despite flaws, the system allowed for a rules-based order where great power rivalries were managed through collective security and economic integration.
The Shift Towards Spheres of Influence:
o The Yalta Conference implicitly accepted spheres of influence for the Soviet Union, the U.K., and the U.S.
o Over time, the system gave way to self-determination for states, with international relations becoming more predictable and consensual.
o Norms and principles of the UN system and Bretton Woods organizations helped mitigate power imbalances.
Upending the World Order by Donald Trump:
o Trump undermined international agreements, such as pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization.
o He initiated a review of U.S. membership in international organizations and imposed unilateral tariffs, disrupting the global trading system.
o Trump’s actions signaled the behavior of a declining power pursuing nationalist policies, expanding influence in the Western Hemisphere, and prioritizing mercantilist interests.
Trump’s Ties with Russia:
o Trump’s reinstatement of ties with Vladimir Putin and attempts to negotiate a peace in Ukraine without involving Kyiv stunned Europe.
o Trump referred to Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator and supported Russian demands against NATO’s presence in Ukraine.
o Europe must now manage its own security without relying on NATO and the U.S.
A New, Brutish World Order:
o The rhetoric from the U.S. White House under Trump signals a shift towards a world order where might makes right, marked by growing imperialism.
o The U.S. is retreating from the global stage, focusing on its own hemisphere and seeking territorial acquisitions (e.g., Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, Gaza).
o This retreat marks the beginning of a new imperial age, with the world dividing into spheres of influence.
Impact on Global Power Dynamics:
o The U.S. retreat allows Russia to pursue its imperial ambitions in Ukraine and reassert its lost glory.
o China, backed by Russia, may feel emboldened to advance its claims on Taiwan, especially with the U.S. no longer providing security guarantees in East and Southeast Asia.
o India faces growing insecurity, as China has never accepted the McMahon Line, further destabilizing the region.
Conclusion:
o The changing dynamics suggest a new world order that is aggressive and dominated by power struggles, with might taking precedence over diplomacy.