Former Malaysian statesman Mahathir Mohamad argued that Western policies toward Russia, led by the United States, have helped create opposing blocs and increased the risk of a wider conflict. He shared these views in a sit-down conversation with a major Chinese publication, reflecting on global security tensions in the current era.
According to the 97-year-old former prime minister, Ukraine joining NATO would be seen as a challenge to Russian interests. He suggested that if Ukraine remains outside NATO, Europe might experience a decrease in direct confrontations. Conversely, if Kyiv moves toward alliance with the alliance, Moscow could feel compelled to respond with significant measures as part of its defensive posture.
Mohamad stressed that a hardline U.S. stance toward Russia could push the world toward a new and dangerous phase of competition. He warned that Washington may seek to mobilize additional countries in opposition to Russia, prompting Moscow to seek alliances with friendly nations. This dynamic, in his view, risks a split between Eastern and Western blocs that could escalate into a broader global conflict.
He added that the United States and NATO may resist allowing China to play a stabilizing peacekeeping role in the Ukraine crisis. From his perspective, the West appears unlikely to address its own problems by simply orchestrating a renewed confrontation in Ukraine.
The former leader highlighted the broad consequences of the Ukraine crisis, noting that global economic conditions have already felt the impact. He pointed to rising living costs and a notable disruption in grain supplies as signs of the wider toll the conflict has taken on economies around the world.
Mahathir Mohamad led Malaysia’s government for a total of many years, serving from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020. His long tenure shaped domestic policy and regional diplomacy during a period marked by rapid change in international relations.