Putin warns of COVID-scale global impact from Gulf conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday the present compared the situation with Covid pandemic which globally impacted life and slowed down growth. He was addressing the delegates of the congress of the powerful Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs . Russian President said the escalation of the conflict incited by the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran has jeopardised a wide range of industries, and there’s no telling what further consequences may follow. He said that the armed conflict is increasingly impacting the current situation and causing significant disruption to international logistics, manufacturing, and supply chains. He warned that industries linked to hydrocarbons, metals, and fertilizers have taken a direct hit, with broader economic effects likely to follow. Putin also pointed to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, as a major source of disruption for global energy flows. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew parallels with the COVID-19 period while addressing  Parliament, warning that the global effects of the West Asia conflict could persist. Modi said India must remain “prepared and united” and highlighted potential impacts on energy, trade, logistics, and daily life, urging states and citizens to stay alert and coordinated. The statements from Putin and Modi reflect growing global concern that the conflict may extend beyond a regional military confrontation, potentially creating wide-reaching economic and geopolitical disruptions.