Russia in Global Affairs

Russia should exclude from its interests the ineffective, negligible, vacuous, and unachievable/obsolete. Instead, it should try to satisfy concrete, substantial, viable interests in a maximally effective manner. In the case of Syria, these interests were and are largely limited to supporting Iran and providing Russia with African access and Mediterranean access/bases.

The terms ‘Sahelian Anomaly’ and ‘Red Belt’ appear increasingly often in newspaper headlines and academic studies regarding the Sahel. Stabilization and lasting, or positive peace are needed here more than ever.

Russia’s trajectory towards establishing a BRICS plus Africa Energy Order underlines its strategic pivot towards the development of a new global energy order, mainly by encompassing the fast-developing and developing nations worldwide.

A large part of the global majority sees current events as just another confrontation between white people.

The African effort at negotiating for peace between the parties is not only a laudable one but one that holds significant merit not only for Africa but for the Global South and the globe generally.

Africa sees Russia as primarily a promising trade partner and a guarantor of its food and energy security, and, generally a long-term reliable partner for development. At a new stage, after Russia’s withdrawal from the “Black Sea Grain Initiative”, it is necessary to attach greater importance to the preservation and expansion of humanitarian exports from Russia in the Russia-Africa format and on a bilateral basis.

Attempts to encourage changes in the positions of African states by carrot and stick have limits. The distancing of African countries from both Russia and the United States was not the result of policy reformulation by African countries, but primarily because Russia and the United States themselves had changed and radicalized their approaches.

The 2023 Russia-Africa summit will be an important feature of not only the year but of future relations and development. Cooperation between Russia and South Africa, the rest of Africa and with as much of the world as possible could help fortify humanity against the ever-present danger presented by black swans in the international system.

In this insightful interview conducted by Modern Diplomacy executive Kester Kenn Klomegah with Fyodor Lukyanov, Chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Research Director at the Valdai Discussion Club, and Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs magazine, focused largely on Russia and Africa relations, and a few aspects of the emerging new world order.