Dhaka, Sept. 18 -- Inter- and intra-state conflicts in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mozambique and Iraq could seriously destabilize Africa, the Middle East and Europe. And the ongoing conflicts in these regions are poised to get much worse.

For this, there are two key reasons. One is the raging Covid-19 pandemic. This has sapped most countries' strategic efforts toward managing conflicts. The other reason is the decline of the US-led, rules-based global order, precipitated chiefly by Donald Trump's disdain for and even hostility toward multilateralism and diplomacy. Trump's preference has been for photo-ops (as with Kim Jong-Un) rather than working toward any long-term sustainable solution. Since taking office, he has removed America from ...