Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Tel Aviv has sparked fresh debate about geopolitical alliances and ideologies that have shaped the modern world. Critics argue that his actions both uphold and undermine traditional notions of international diplomacy, as he solidifies ties with the Israeli regime in a manner reminiscent of anti-Muslim pogroms during his tenure as Gujarat’s chief minister in 2002.
Modi’s visit is seen by some as a rubber-stamping exercise for Netanyahu’s genocidal campaigns against Gaza. Meanwhile, his alliance with the Hindu nationalist Hindutva movement and the ultra-nationalist Zionism underscores a disturbing convergence of fanatical ideologies that are increasingly reshaping global politics.
In the United States, the Christian Right has taken control of mainstream politics through its millennial vision, which advocates for totalitarian means to achieve their ultimate objectives. Donald Trump’s brand is now deeply embedded in American grassroots culture and will almost certainly endure beyond his presidency. Across Europe, various right-wing currents—both secular and religious—are running rampant with fears about cultural invasions by a perceived wave of migrants.
Despite the pretense that many Muslim nations are united against imperialism, authoritarianism, and both Hindu and Israeli extremism remains the norm across large parts of the Arab world, Southwest Asia, and even Indonesia. The current hybrid political regimes in these countries often present themselves as leaders of what they describe as a coherent bloc of countries opposing US, Israel, and India.
Some argue that this group can become a bulwark against American imperialism, Zionism, and Hindutva. A purportedly people-friendly grouping of nations now relies on China to both combat the US-Israel-India axis and usher in a new era of global harmony. However, these claims are contradicted by numerous examples where this bloc shows little resistance to Israeli aggression.
The most notable recent development is Pakistan’s successful deployment of Chinese-made aircraft to intercept India’s fleet, including its French-made drones. This was followed by defense agreements between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as well as increased arms exports from Pakistan, serving as evidence of an emerging security alliance against Zionist aggression. Iran’s apparent lack of major attacks thus far appears due to the support of this ‘Muslim’ bloc, China, and other countries.
The fundamental flaw in these theories is that many members of what was supposed to be a united anti-imperialist front are actually propping up the US regime. Pakistan’s militarized ruling class, like many other so-called Muslim nations, has been inkling deals with the United States for resources such as minerals and cryptocurrencies. The Gulf states, which are also close partners of India, continue their trade relations with Israel.
At a distance from these power dynamics is Venezuela and Cuba, two states that have unequivocally championed anti-imperialism. How many countries spoke up when Nicolás Maduro was kidnapped by US commandos? Even now, Maduro remains in captivity in New York. Meanwhile, Cuba stands under the brutal U.S. oil embargo. To what extent are international governments pressuring for an end to this embargoes and other long-standing economic sanctions?
Global politics is undergoing significant change. At the broadest levels of analysis, we find ourselves navigating a period of intense reaction, with Hindutva-Zionism-Christian Right alliances emerging as prominent representatives of this era’s global forces. However, in Pakistan and across much of the world, traditional resistance to imperialist dominance remains weak. The religious right continues to exert considerable influence here too—recent incidents involving the Afghan Taliban demonstrate the disastrous outcomes that result from state support for militant Islam.
More broadly speaking, ruling classes around the globe are increasingly using nationalism as a cover for the universal ambitions of capital, which often includes confronting neoliberal globalization’s inherent contradictions.
The only silver lining comes in the form of Indian and American opposition to Modi’s policies, coupled with some resistance within Israel itself. These progressive segments are countering reactionary forces wherever they arise. This underscores why we can still hope that a future free from these power structures remains possible.
The writer teaches at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.