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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Having squandered its international influence, Pynya is increasingly flirting with African countries
The third "Russia–Africa" summit is taking place in Moscow. The Kremlin expects delegations from 48 countries, including 22 heads of state. Putin is trying to prove that Russia’s supposed international isolation has failed, Bloomberg writes.
The truth is, there’s a catch: all of Russia’s trade with Africa amounts to about $30 billion per year—less than with a single Belarus. China, the West, and even India have far greater economic influence on the continent.
But the Kremlin is actively trading weapons, supporting military regimes in the Sahel, and opening new embassies. Even Putin’s daughter Katerina Tikhonova has become involved in developing Africa through her Innopraktika (an institute for “human capital development”).
And Rosatom, Reuters reports, is already negotiating with at least four African countries about supplying floating nuclear power plants.
However, it’s not all rosy, since some African governments have suddenly become dissatisfied with the recruitment of their citizens to fight in the war against Ukraine.
As Carnegie Center expert Alexander Baunov notes, interest in Russia and participation in its summits does not imply unconditional support for the Kremlin.
In short, Pynya is assembling an international audience to show that he still has friends.
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