After Russian President Vladimir Putin recently concluded his trip to the Middle East, Russia's diplomatic tentacles have reached out to the vast African continent. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov began a five-day trip to four African countries since the 24th. Russian "Izvestia" reported that after the first visit to Egypt, Lavrov arrived in Congo (Brazzaville) on the 25th and planned to meet with the country's political leaders. The next itinerary also includes Uganda and Ethiopia.
The analysis believes that Lavrov's trip has multiple purposes. First, after Russia signed the "Grain Supply Agreement" with the United Nations and Turkey, the Russian Foreign Minister visited several major food buyers in Africa, with the intention of showing a cooperative posture to alleviate the food crisis. Second, at a time when the United States and the West are sanctioning Russia and building an anti-Russian discourse system, we should clarify Russia's position and consolidate relations with Africa through pragmatic cooperation to break the diplomatic isolation of the West. Third, pave the way for the upcoming Russia-Africa summit next year and hedge the influence of the United States and the West in Africa.
Another large-scale trip to Africa
Lavrov's last major trip to Africa was in 2018. He visited Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. In the past four years, the international situation has undergone profound and complex changes, especially after the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and in the context of the sharp increase in pressure on Russia by the United States and the West, the strategic significance of Russian-African cooperation has become more and more prominent.
Writing for the African media before his visit, Lavrov pointed out that developing a comprehensive partnership with African countries is one of the priorities of Russia's foreign policy. "In accordance with the strategic resolution adopted at the first Summit of Russia and African Countries in Sochi at the end of October 2019, we are open to further strengthening the partnership."
The analysis believes that since the end of the Cold War, Russian-African relations have developed in twists and turns: after the "wandering period" from the 1990s to the beginning of the 21st century, and the "gradual recovery period" from the early 21st century to 2017, russian President Putin has entered a "period of intensified cooperation" since the beginning of the fourth term in 2018 - from the traditional allies of North Africa, west African energy powers, and a small number of sub-Saharan countries to the perspective of cooperation. In Putin's words, "Russia-Africa relations are in a new stage of development."
Strive for the advantage of the people's hearts
Public opinion pointed out that although the specific agenda of Lavrov's visit to the four countries has its own focus, several main lines running through it are very distinct.
The first line is to deepen partnership.
In his article, Lavrov praised African countries for taking the "road of independence and self-determination" - not following the sanctions imposed by the United States and the West on Russia, but remaining neutral and hoping to resolve the contradictions between Russia and Ukraine through peace talks. The Associated Press believes that Moscow is actively developing relations with Africa and seeking to break the diplomatic isolation and sanctions dilemma of the West.
Murihi Mutiga, director of the Africa program of the International Crisis Organization, said that Russia has several major advantages in winning the hearts and minds of the people on the African continent: First, the ties concluded during the Soviet period, and many African elites have gone to the Soviet Union for further study. The second is Russia's pragmatic cooperation with Africa, including its supply of weapons to many African countries. The third is the non-aligned tradition of African countries themselves, keeping a distance from the United States. This has led Russia to see Africa as an ideal partner for cooperation.
RIA Novosti pointed out that several of the countries surveyed have established long-term friendly relations with Russia.
Egypt is Russia's largest trading and economic partner in Africa. Egyptian President Abdel Fattahi Sisi, who has personal ties to Putin, just gave a video speech last month at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Congo's friendship with Russia dates back to the Soviet Union, when the Republic of Congo, liberated from French colonial oppression, relied on the Soviet Union for talent and infrastructure. Lavrov's visit was also the first visit to the country by a foreign minister in the history of Soviet Russia.
As for Uganda, it is geostrategically important in East Africa and is one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa. It is of great significance for Russia to develop relations with Uganda.
Ethiopia's relations with Russia are also based on traditional friendship. The country is also home to the AU's headquarters, and the topic of this station may unfold on a broader dimension.
More than just a "food journey"
The second main line is to carry out pragmatic cooperation.
The outside world has noticed that this is a visit after Russia signed a "food supply agreement" with the United Nations and Turkey. Several African countries visited are major Russian food buyers and have been affected to varying degrees in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict exacerbating the food crisis. Therefore, the Russian media also called this visit a "food journey", believing that Lavrov will show a cooperative posture to alleviate the food crisis in African countries.
Among the countries surveyed, Egypt is a major food importer, with 80% of wheat imported last year coming from Russia and Ukraine. Uganda and Congo (Brazzaville) are also major buyers of Russian wheat. About 50 percent of Ethiopia's wheat purchases come from Ukraine, but the authorities are interested in buying "Russian grain."
Before his trip, Lavrov promised African countries that Russia would continue to provide food, fertilizer and energy to Africa despite Western sanctions. At the same time, Lavrov also refuted the so-called "Russian export hunger" propaganda and propaganda in Ukraine and Western countries, arguing that "the West is once again trying to put the blame on others."
In fact, simply positioning Lavrov's visit as food cooperation is too narrow. A few days before Lavrov left for Cairo, the Dabba nuclear power plant, Egypt's first nuclear power plant that Russia participated in building, began pouring concrete, according to the Russian news agency. In Congo, Russian companies are planning to build oil pipelines passing through Oyo, Usso and elsewhere. In Uganda, military and anti-epidemic cooperation will continue. In Ethiopia, a personnel education and training program is also under way... A series of pragmatic cooperation issues will be covered during this visit.
In Lavrov's view, the level of Trade and Investment between Russia and Africa is still relatively low and needs to be strengthened. In addition, in order to avoid the risks posed by Western financial sanctions, Russia and Africa are working to reduce the share of the dollar and the euro in mutual trade settlements. The above two aspects may become important matters for Russia-Africa economic and financial cooperation in the future.
Dealing with "anti-Russian small moves"
The third main line is to hedge the strategy of the United States against Africa.
This is also a visit by Russia to strengthen its influence in Africa and to play a strategic game with the United States and the West against Africa.
Us media revealed that before Lavrov's visit to Egypt, Western diplomats in Cairo lobbied Egypt behind the scenes not to give Lavrov too warm a reception. In addition, the US "Horn of Africa" special envoy Mike Hamer will also visit Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia from the 24th. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo claimed that U.S. President Joe Biden promised $50 million to Egypt to offset the impact of rising food prices caused by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict... Against the backdrop of the incessant small U.S. moves against Russia, Lavrov is expected to respond-for-tat.
RIA Novosti noted that Biden expects a summit between the United States and African countries in Washington in December. The second Russia-Africa Summit will be held next year. This can't help but be associative.
Yevgeny Kolentiasov, principal investigator of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, believes that the United States is hosting the summit in an attempt to persuade African countries to adopt an anti-Russian stance and recognize liberal democratic institutions. Russia, on the other hand, has set no conditions for the summit, respecting the diversity and individuality of African countries. At present, the U.S. line toward Africa and the conditions of cooperation are losing influence.
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Column Editor-in-Chief: Yang Liqun Text Editor: Yang Liqun Title Image Source: Visual China Picture Editor: Zi Xi
Source: Author: Zhang Quan