There was never the "Great Game". Look into Russian archives, they never played something like that. There was no great plan to capture India. It was all self inflicted paranoia and projection of UK colonial elites!
But that’s not the point either way. As I’m reading gp, the point is that if the leaders of the international order want to prevent nuclear proliferation (a worthy goal), they’ll have to do better to protect Russia and China’s neighbors from their territorial aggression. Else, the border states won’t have a better choice than deterrence if they want to survive.
How many Ukraines and Taiwans will it take before a dozen new hands hold their own red buttons?
Controlling country like Afghanistan is not zerosum game. It is a blackhole that burns money, resources and men! There was never great plan to conquer India (as British believed).
> leaders of the international order want to prevent nuclear proliferation
"Leaders" are happy if they find their way from podium.
Current situation is more similar to Cuban missile crisis, not some great chess game. Sadly we do not have anyone like Kennedy!