Putin's wolfpack: The dictators, despots and his 'friends' refusing to condemn Ukraine war

Certain nations are heading towards a “fallout” with the US-led West if they do not more actively oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine, experts have warned. In the latest United Nations vote on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, concerning the condemnation of Vladimir Putin’s annexation of four regions in eastern Ukraine last September/October, 35 counties abstained from the ballot.

While the likes of Belarus, Iran and North Korea are already pariah states explicitly supporting Putin in his “special military operation” in Ukraine, and China is busy navigating its own growing isolation from the West in its fight to replace the US as the global superpower, dozens of other nations are attempting to carefully position themselves to play both sides of the geopolitical divide.

Africa

Russia’s influence on the African continent is historic and shows no signs of abating. In Mali, on the continent’s western side, Wagner Group forces have for years been working alongside the nation’s military forces to repel Islamic jihadist insurgencies affiliated with Al-Qaeda.

Last month, the interim president of neighbouring Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, described Russia as “a key strategic and military ally” in its own fight against extremists, though he denied rumours that Wagner forces are coming to their aid.

Their reasons for abstaining from condemning the invasion of Ukraine are clear; the value of Russian military presence, private or public, is seen as integral to their own safety.

In the sub-Sahara, South Africa has also become an outspoken friend of Vladimir Putin, though it has been careful not to alienate the West.

Earlier this week, their government announced that it would not heed the calls of the International Criminal Court to arrest Vladimir Putin once he touched down in their territory in August this year for the BRICS summit.

Former US ambassador to Zimbabwe, Charles Ray, said the move had rendered South Africa’s position as a nation playing both sides “untenable”, adding that there will “be fallout for them doing this”.

Nonetheless, there is an affinity between the country’s ruling party, the African National Congress, the South African military and the Russian people, Mr Ray added.

Many of them were trained in the Soviet Union, they learnt their military trade alongside the Russians, and they continue to host joint naval exercises with them.

In addition, China’s huge financial investments into South Africa, and more widely sub-Saharan Africa, to help build critical infrastructure, renders many of the nations reluctant to side against Russia, who are major allies with Beijing.

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Middle East

Outside of Iran, Syria is the only country not to have voted in favour of Ukraine in the latest UN vote last October. Akin to Iran, however, they not only abstained from the vote but actively opposed it.

For over a decade, Vladimir Putin has supported the Bashar Al-Assad Syrian regime against many western-backed rebel movements in the region.

While the war-torn country is incapable of offering any substantial support back to Russia, and it is being slowly reaccepted back into the Middle Eastern community, its alliance with Vladimir Putin has been demonstratively bought.

Central Asia

Known colloquially as the “Stans”, Central Asia includes Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, all of whom hold economic and social relations with Russia.

Cross-migration between these countries and Russia has increased since Putin invaded Ukraine and they have all abstained from voting against Russia at the United Nations.

However, all are adhering to Western sanctions against Russia. The region’s banks do not accept Russian MIR payment cards, for example, and only Kazakhstan allows their use by private individuals—and only after getting US approval to do so.

Their relationship with Russia, as well as with the West, is one that prioritises “economic prosperity” above all else. What’s more, analysts believe the longer Russia remains in Ukraine, its military and domestic economy suffering heavily, the less likely the “Stans” will feel the need to play both sides.

source: express.co.uk