President of the Nigeria Political Scientists Association (NPSA), Professor Hassan Saliu, has warned that the Middle East has become one of the most critical and volatile regions in the world. According to him, the intensity of military activities and the deployment of sophisticated weapons in the region have increased fears that a major global conflict could emerge from the area.

Professor Saliu explained that although the world has not yet experienced a third world war, the continuous conflicts and rising hostilities between powerful states in the region indicate that the global system is becoming increasingly fragile.

He said this at the Foreign Policy Lecture Series themed Israel, Africa and Global Geopolitics Shifts, organized by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos.

He noted that both Israel and Iran possess significant military capabilities and have demonstrated readiness to deploy them when necessary. This, he said, has made the rivalry between the two countries a major concern for global peace and stability.

According to him, the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East cannot be separated from the broader structure of the international system, where powerful global actors continue to influence regional conflicts.

Professor Saliu explained that Israel occupies a strategic position in global politics and maintains strong support from major Western powers. This support, he said, has shaped how conflicts involving Israel are managed within the international system.

He also highlighted the importance of Africa within this geopolitical landscape, noting that relations between Israel and African countries have historically been shaped by political interests, security cooperation and technological partnerships.

Saliu added that Africa’s diplomatic position on the Israel–Palestine issue has often reflected solidarity with Palestine, although some African states maintain strategic cooperation with Israel in areas such as security, agriculture and intelligence.

He stressed that the evolving rivalry between Israel and Iran is not only a regional issue but one with global implications that could affect international alliances, security arrangements and geopolitical stability.

“The Middle East remains a region where events can easily escalate and influence global politics,” he said, warning that continued rivalry and military confrontation could heighten global security risks.

He therefore called for greater diplomatic engagement and dialogue in addressing tensions in the region, emphasizing that peaceful solutions remain essential for maintaining international stability.

He explained that Africa had long been connected to Jewish history and the establishment of Israel, noting that the continent had once been considered as a possible location for Jewish settlement before the state of Israel was created in 1948.

He attributed the complexity of the relationship partly to Africa’s developmental challenges, which have led many countries to seek technological and agricultural assistance from Israel.

“As a result, some states may criticise Israel in international forums but still maintain relations with it for economic and technical cooperation,” he said.

Saliu further outlined three dominant perspectives on Israel in global discourse: one that strongly supports the country due to its historical security concerns, another that sharply criticises its actions, and a third that advocates a balanced approach based on coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

He concluded that lasting stability in the Middle East would likely require both Israel and Arab states to adopt frameworks that allow for peaceful coexistence.

Director-General, NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, called for deeper scholarly engagement on evolving global geopolitical dynamics.

According to the Director-General, the lecture series was conceived as a platform to stimulate debate and intellectual discourse on key international issues affecting Nigeria and the world.

Osaghae noted that the topic of Israel’s engagement in Africa had begun attracting attention late last year and early this year, when analysts observed signs of increasing Israeli activity on the continent. He cited developments such as Israel’s interest in recognising the government of Somaliland as an example that had sparked renewed debates among African scholars and within the African Union.

“At that time, we began asking questions about what Israel was beginning to think about in Africa and how these geopolitical shifts might shape future relations,” he said.

Osaghae added that developments since then have reinforced the importance of examining these issues, describing the current global environment as increasingly turbulent and uncertain.

“We are now in a period of more turbulent geopolitical shifts, the end of which nobody can clearly predict,” he said, urging participants to take advantage of the lecture to explore different perspectives.

Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Femi Otubanjo, described the lecture as timely, noting that Israel’s actions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict in Gaza Strip, had intensified global debate about the country’s role in international politics.

He warned that the international system appeared to be shifting away from a rules-based order toward one dominated by power politics, a trend he said posed risks for countries without significant military strength.

“We are living in a very dangerous period of history,” he said, adding that escalating tensions in the Middle East could have far-reaching implications for global stability.