PART (2) The Finding - Itihad, An Analysis. THE GEOPOLITICAL BACKGROUND

In?The Finding - Itihad, written in early 2020, I explored rising global tensions that have since mirrored real-world geopolitical developments. What makes this striking is that the novel seems to have anticipated several significant events that would unfold in the years to come. The plot draws attention to escalating hostilities between world powers like the USA, Russia, China, and Iran, aligning closely with developments such as:

1.?Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine (2022)

In the book, I focused on rising hostilities between global powers, particularly Russia’s strategic military maneuvers, which can now be seen as a precursor to its eventual invasion of Ukraine. The novel reflects how regional conflicts—much like those leading up to World War II—have the potential to escalate into larger global conflicts. This foreshadowing was rooted in post-2008 geopolitics, especially Russia's annexation of Crimea, which set the stage for a larger confrontation in Eastern Europe.

2.?Iran and Its Proxies vs. Israel

The novel delves into Iran’s role in proxy wars, particularly in places like Yemen and Syria. This resonates with ongoing and escalating conflicts between Iran and Israel, largely fought through proxy forces like Hezbollah and Hamas. The recent escalations (2023–2024) in Gaza and Israel only reinforce the novel’s prediction that tensions in the Middle East would deepen, with far-reaching global consequences.

3.?China-Taiwan Tensions

Although Taiwan is not explicitly mentioned in the novel, I did discuss increasing tensions in the South China Sea and China’s confrontations with the U.S., especially over technology and military presence. The book highlights sanctions, military exercises, and economic pressures that foreshadow the intensifying rivalry between China and the U.S., with Taiwan now emerging as a major flashpoint for future conflict. This all ties into the broader theme of how regional tensions could flare into larger global crises.

Real-World Events and Their Context:

I also referenced key geopolitical incidents that were occurring around the time I wrote the book, which serve as additional warnings of larger conflict:

Military Exercises Along the Belarus Border (2020): At the time, large-scale NATO military drills were taking place along the Belarus border and in the Baltic states, which hinted at future clashes between NATO and Russia. These exercises were part of the broader geopolitical chess game that has since led to deeper hostilities in Eastern Europe, including the invasion of Ukraine.

Assassination of Qasem Soleimani (January 2020): The U.S. drone strike that killed Soleimani was another key moment that I referenced, as it sharply escalated tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Soleimani’s death added fuel to the proxy wars in the Middle East and signaled that these conflicts could spiral out of control, something that continues to resonate as Iran’s role in regional conflicts grows.

Laser Point Incident in the South China Sea: A less widely known but significant event mentioned in the novel was the alleged targeting of a U.S. aircraft by a Chinese warship with a laser in early 2020. This seemingly minor incident was emblematic of the escalating friction between China and the U.S., particularly in the contested waters of the South China Sea. It also underscored the potential for small provocations to escalate into larger conflicts, particularly around Taiwan.

A World on the Brink

Given that?The Finding - Itihad?was written before these events took place, it highlights the underlying forces shaping global politics at the time. By connecting the dots from earlier geopolitical trends—Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, rising tensions in the Middle East, and the U.S.-China trade war—the novel anticipates scenarios that are now playing out. The subsequent pandemic and economic turmoil only intensified these tensions, contributing to the sense that the world is teetering on the brink of instability.

The novel’s foresight isn’t just speculative fiction—it’s a reflection of how global tensions build over time, and its relevance has only grown in light of ongoing crises. The events I discussed in the book—whether involving Ukraine, Iran, Israel, or China and Taiwan—are no longer just theoretical warnings. They reflect the potential for a new kind of global conflict, one that doesn’t necessarily start with a formal declaration of war, but through economic struggles, technological confrontations, and proxy wars.

The Finding - Itihad?suggests that while the world focused on the immediate crises of the time—such as the COVID-19 pandemic—larger, more dangerous conflicts were brewing beneath the surface, ones that have now come to define the geopolitical landscape in the years following its release.