In a world where major powers compete for economic and technological influence, the rivalry extends beyond military borders into markets, ports, and even the daily lives of citizens in developing countries. The competition between the United States and China, for instance, creates ripple effects that go far beyond the two superpowers, directly impacting millions who have no role in the contest. n nOne of the most visible aspects of this struggle is economic policy. Trade sanctions, economic blockades, and export restrictions drive up food and energy prices in poorer nations. When sanctions are imposed or markets closed, it is not the leaders of powerful states who bear the cost, but ordinary people watching their savings erode, basic goods become unaffordable, and poverty deepen. Rising fuel, electricity, and food expenses have become everyday realities, while global powers calculate gains in influence. n nInternational financing and economic transfers have also become invisible tools of pressure. Developing nations seeking development loans or humanitarian aid often find themselves forced to align domestic policies with the demands of dominant powers, weakening their economic and political sovereignty and leaving populations hostage to external decisions that do not serve their interests. n nThe U.S.-China rivalry affects not only trade but also food security, energy access, and access to modern technologies. Developing countries frequently face shortages of raw materials or rising import costs, which directly impact education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Every decision made in Washington or Beijing translates into daily hardships—transport disruptions, fuel shortages, and surging prices of essentials—while global leaders view the competition as a battle for dominance. n nUltimately, the cost of great power rivalry is measured in human suffering. Developing nations are silent victims of global competition, enduring price hikes, lost development opportunities, and market volatility. While major powers vie for technological and geopolitical advantage, ordinary citizens in poorer countries pay the price—silently facing global economic indicators, stock market decisions, and international trade agreements. n nThis conflict clearly shows that modern wars are not always fought with weapons or on battlefields, but through markets, banks, and economic policies that determine the possibility of a decent life for developing nations. Despite their small size on the global map, these countries bear the heaviest burden, with their children, students, and workers paying for conflicts they did not create, in a world where economics has become a matter of survival. n— news from اليوم السابع
