Schiller Institute warns of nuclear war, calls for new global security architecture

At a conference organized by the Schiller Institute in Berlin, a warning was issued that the world is facing the threat of a total nuclear war. Speakers pointed to the collapse of the unipolar order and the rise of a multipolar world led by BRICS, emphasizing that the only way out is a new global architecture that considers the security and development interests of all nations. The conference called for cooperation between BRICS and Europe on projects for Africa’s development, such as the “Oasis Plan” and “Agenda 2063.”

During the international conference held by the Schiller Institute in Berlin, it was warned that the world is on the brink of a total nuclear war and that history is approaching an irreversible point.

The event, titled “Cooperation Between BRICS and Europe to Implement the Oasis Plan and Agenda 2063 for Africa,” addressed the collapse of the unipolar world order and the rise of a multipolar world led by the BRICS nations.

Politicians, academics, and former intelligence officials who spoke at the conference stressed that the only way out of the current geopolitical tensions is to build a new global architecture that respects the security and development interests of all countries.

In her opening speech, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder and president of the Schiller Institute, stated that the world has never been closer to a “punctum saliens,” or “turning point,” where a global nuclear war catastrophe could become inevitable.

Zepp-LaRouche argued that the roots of the current crisis date back to 1971, when US President Nixon dismantled the Bretton Woods system, transitioning to unregulated monetary policies. She said that predictions that this process would lead to a new depression, fascism, and world war are being realized today.

“It is possible to intervene in history by having a good plan and mobilizing enough power to implement it,” said Zepp-LaRouche, calling for action against pessimism.

‘Russian-German reconciliation is shattered’

In one of the conference’s most striking speeches, analyst Dmitriy Trenin from the Institute of World Military Economy and Strategy at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics stated that Europe has become the “main adversary” for Russia in the proxy war in Ukraine.

Trenin argued that this situation emerged as Russia began to gain the upper hand in Ukraine and the US, under a potential Trump administration, shifted its focus to Asia. “Europe is trying to consolidate itself as a power center by casting Russia in the role of the enemy at the gate,” he said.

Calling the assumption that Russia would attack Europe “absurd,” Trenin emphasized that the current situation is far more dangerous than the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

“The Russian-German reconciliation no longer exists; it is shattered, and this is a tragedy. This crisis occurred due to preventable steps, such as NATO’s expansion towards Ukraine, the disregard for the Minsk Agreement, and the sabotage of the peace draft in Istanbul. If we do not make a joint effort at the 11th hour, this crisis will not stop until it is staring into the abyss,” he stated.

The rise of China and the new world order

Chinese academic Professor Zhang Weiwei noted that the world is already multipolar and that the GDP of the BRICS countries, based on purchasing power parity, has surpassed that of the G7.

Criticizing Europe for its dependence on the US and its “deep mistrust” of China, Zhang said, “Europe talks, China does.”

Highlighting China’s successes in areas such as poverty alleviation, infrastructure projects in Africa, and the greening of the Taklamakan Desert, Zhang said that Chinese philosophy is based on the principle of “unite and prosper,” contrary to the West’s “divide and rule” approach.

“Western philosophy says ‘friend or foe,’ while Chinese philosophy says ‘friend or potential friend.’ That is what makes all the difference,” Zhang remarked.

‘A new scramble for Africa is underway’

African speakers, who joined the conference via video message, expressed both hopes and concerns about the continent’s future.

Dr. Naledi Pandor, President of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said that this conference brought the voice of freedom, justice, and peace to Berlin, in contrast to the historic “Berlin Conference” that endorsed colonialism.

Stating that Africa believes in a multipolar world and a reformed United Nations, Pandor emphasized that the continent’s development plan, “Agenda 2063,” and the Schiller Institute’s “Oasis Plan” complement each other. She stressed that the global community must shift from a conflict-oriented agenda to a development-oriented one.

Kenyan academic Patrick Lumumba took a more critical stance, stating that a “new scramble” is taking place in Africa involving many actors such as the US, China, Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

“This situation is reminiscent of the Berlin Conference of 1884. The only difference is that the language is sweeter. Africa is open to manipulation due to its internal divisions and weak institutions,” Lumumba assessed.

Questioning whether multipolarity would mean replacing old hegemons with new ones, Lumumba asked, “Who will be the hegemon within BRICS? China? India? Will African countries be pawns again?”

The war lobby and a call to action

Meanwhile, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern described the structures fueling war in the US as the “Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think Tank Complex (MICIMATT).”

McGovern stated that the cornerstone of this structure is the media, noting that corporations profiting from war control the media, which is why alternative media networks are of vital importance.

“We must remember the Noah principle: No more prizes for predicting rain. The prizes go to those who build arks,” McGovern said, emphasizing that being informed is not enough; action is required.

Throughout the conference, the prevailing message was that hope should not be lost despite the current dangers and that active efforts must be made for peace.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche concluded her speech with quotes from German poet Friedrich Schiller’s piece Deutsche Größe, stating, “The true victory is not to conquer with the sword, but to liberate minds with the lightning of truth,” and called for a struggle for justice and freedom of reason for all peoples.