EDITOR, The Tribune.

Dear Prime Minister Davis and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The last four days has shattered normalcy for many, as the Russian military made the decision to invade Ukraine in an attempt to "demilitarize" the country and remove the "Neo-Nazi regime". The chaos created a new migrant crisis, gas and oil soaring to new heights in prices and an economic crisis has only begun to take place in Russia.

Once again, Europe is now faced with a new war that could have been easily prevented. Russia, however, doesn't take the blame alone.

For months President Putin wanted a simple demand that Ukraine would be forbidden from joining NATO, mainly because of an earlier agreement with Russia and the EU, stating that NATO would not extend membership to former Soviet Satellite States to set up military bases that would compromise Russian security and sovereignty. Despite the aggressive nature of Vladimir Putin, he's not wrong.

Historically, the US was faced with the same issue during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the Cold War era, where the Soviets were setting up missile launch sites across Cuba and almost started another world war. Fortunately, level heads prevailed and the Soviet Union was forced to abandon the project.

The Russo-Ukrainian war is just another repeat of the Cuban Crisis of the 1960s, only now that the US and NATO have pushed the Kremlin into a corner by refusing to heed Putin's advice and the threats of sanctions has followed. Because of the lack of wisdom found in both Russia and the West, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and Europe and Russia will face historical economic hardship that will rival the disaster that was the Second World War.

Despite the initial sanctions to cripple Putin and the Russian Oligarchy, even those sanctions and blacklists would still fail because the highly wealthy upper class can still access money elsewhere through banking loopholes and other means of bypassing economic embargoes. Only the middle class Russians will suffer, and the poverty line and wealth divide will grow nationally as more people are added to the local food aid programmes and soup kitchens.

With the ruthless nature of the Russian government and the abhorrent lack of respect of boundaries found in the EU and the West when it comes to foreign nations. The only logical solution is for the Bahamas, the Caribbean and all nations outside of the European Union and the Western sphere of influence is to denounce both Russia and NATO.

When the EU or Moscow asks The Bahamas to put your vote in favour of supporting Ukraine or Russia while attending a UN summit, the government should refrain and put shame on both sides by simply calling out those responsible for the Ukrainians killed in the crossfire and the Russians who never wanted to be financially crippled and isolated from the world because of NATO's shortsighted behaviour.

If Joseph Biden, Boris Johnson, Vladimir Putin or any European leader tries to offer an enticing trade deal to Bahamians, do not be eager to accept it. Instead, you should question everything they say to you and their intentions. Find the strength and resources to put yourselves into a position of power and ensure that you won't be betrayed when they try to undermine this country.

Any efforts by NATO or the Russian-led CSTO attempts to offer The Bahamas membership into one of these defense pacts against another nation's sovereignty should be unanimously rejected and rebuked by politicians and the public.

When they attempt to antagonize this country by threatening sanctions, rebuke them as well and hire the best legal team to combat any baseless claims against The Bahamas. Fortunately, history will remember us as the ones who wanted sanity in the midst of chaos.

These words should be repeated not just for the Bahamas, but to every non-European nation across the planet. This is another major war that could have been prevented if it weren't for the ambitions of Putin and the European Union, who believe that it's okay to bully someone who can cause massive destruction equal to Western military forces.

The Asian countries should have been the Bahamas' strongest allies and trading partners, because the Americans, Europeans and Russians are far too unstable and potentially destructive to developing countries like us. If they rope us into taking sides, we'll get nothing but hardship in return for serving our "Allies."

For the shortsightedness of the EU to set up sanctions? Shame on them, because those sanctions will hurt the average Russian, but not the Oligarchs who benefit from the Russian Military Industrial Complex.

For Vladimir Putin to believe he can do whatever he wants to former Soviet Satellite States? Shame on him, because he violated the inherent right of Sovereignty to other nations.

For NATO to persuade Ukraine and other Baltic nations to turn against Russia in a foolish proxy war instead of allowing them to have a beneficial neutral stance between Europe and Russia? Shame on them, because they now face yet another war in Europe with global economic consequences.

If the Russo-Ukrainian war isn't the peak of madness, then we don't know what is considered madness. What we do know is that the Bahamas and every non-European country must take no sides and condemn the EU, NATO and Russia publicly, give no support to any of them and stand our ground. If we give support to one or the other over this war; then we're tolerating foolishness, genocide and economic hardships.

AMMAKA RUSSELL

Nassau,

March 1, 2022.