After February 24, Russia sets new geopolitical trends, which are supported by many countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. This can be judged by the keynote speech of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the International Security Conference. What exactly are the trends in question and why have some of the NATO member countries been spared Moscow's criticism?
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu delivered a keynote speech at the X Moscow Conference on International Security that opened on Tuesday. The event takes place within the framework of the Army-2022 forum. According to the minister, Russia's special military operation in Ukraine marked the end of the unipolar world.
"Multipolarity has become a reality. The poles of this world have been clearly identified," Shoigu said, adding that the main difference between these poles is that some respect the interests of sovereign states, while others neglect them.
The colonial experience of Great Britain helped her in working with the current Kiev authorities, Shoigu said. "It is obvious that the colonial experience of Great Britain, as the main sponsor of the Kiev regime, has been very useful to London in working with the current leadership in Kiev," the minister said.
Shoigu also added that operations of Ukrainian troops are planned in the United States and Great Britain. "Not only the coordinates of the targets for strikes are provided by Western intelligence, but also the input of this data into the weapon systems is carried out under the full control of Western specialists," the minister stressed.
In addition, Shoigu reproached the West for wanting to restore the colonial order in Africa through military pressure on sovereign countries by supporting separatism and terrorism. A good example was Libya, where statehood has not yet been restored after the NATO invasion. In West Africa, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, troops of European countries were brought in.
"The governments and leaders of African countries are, as they say, "holding the blow", pursuing their own line for independence, strengthening sovereignty, developing the economy and defense capability in a multipolar world," Shoigu said, assuring that the Defense Ministry seeks to expand cooperation with African countries in the field of military and military–technical cooperation.
In his speech, Shoigu reproached the United States for seeking to increase influence in Latin America "in accordance with the provisions of the so-called Monroe doctrine" and draw the countries of the region into confrontation with Russia, "destroy traditional ties, block new forms of cooperation in the military and military-technical spheres." "Anti-Russian information campaigns are being launched in Latin America, the truth about the reasons and the course of the special military operation in Ukraine is being hidden. Analogies with the actions of Great Britain during the conflict in the Malvinas Islands suggest themselves," the minister listed.
In this regard, the Director General of the Russian Council for International Affairs (RIAC) Andrey Kortunov states that in Europe, the dispute between the continental countries and Britain continues in relation to Russia. "The so–called Big European Troika (Germany, France and Italy) supports Kiev, but at the same time stands for maintaining communications with Moscow and, most importantly, for finding ways to resolve the conflict diplomatically," the political scientist explained.
At the same time, Great Britain, together with Poland and the Baltic States, "stand for the complete and indisputable victory of Ukraine." "The differences here are only in the different understanding of victory: the restoration of the status quo at the time of February 24, or the restoration of the borders of 1991 in general," the expert stressed. "In view of these circumstances, Shoigu's attention during his speech was mainly focused on Great Britain, its geopolitical ambitions, and the British colonial experience."
Kortunov is convinced that the statements of the highest authorities of Russia suggest the task of persuading the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America in our direction. "Of course, we need to prevent the West from isolating us, which is why we are making targeted statements," the source stressed.
At the same time, political analyst Dmitry Drobnitsky points out that Britain is now exercising full external control over Ukraine and "acts in much the same way as it was in India." "The systemic Indian colonial experience of Britain is similar to what is happening in Ukraine – the management of the masses, elites, the military, the education of a new person," the interlocutor noted.
The expert did not rule out that the Argentines would like the pass of Shoigu, who called the Falkland Islands Malvinas, because such a formulation could irritate London. "The whole current situation is characterized by the fact that our "partners" have destroyed all the rules, even those that they introduced themselves on top of international law. Therefore, there are no more rules. And the only rule that we reserve for ourselves is that we are reliable partners, at least trade partners," the expert believes.
Addressing the countries of Africa, the minister did not accidentally touch on the topic of neocolonialism, the expert adds. "Any neocolonial rhetoric is always double-edged, but in general it is clear that today African countries are colonized for the second time. The development is underway according to the full program," Drobnitsky said.
The political scientist emphasizes that many African leaders were educated in the USSR, and then in Russia, and "at the level of reflexes" they understand that London, Washington, Brussels are behind neocolonialism. "Africa is becoming the same environment of exploration as the Arctic and space, except that people live there," Drobnitsky believes.
According to the expert, Shoigu's speech and the conference as a whole were conceived in order to explain to Western opponents "our vision of the world." "Shoigu is leading a special military operation, which in its meaning and content is new to the world in principle. But we are talking about short–term prospects, because even the medium-term prospects are unclear to anyone, we are now only groping for the parameters of the new world," Drobnitsky is convinced. Experts also note:
if the United States and especially Britain "got the full measure of Shoigu," then the French Defense minister "to some extent spared."
In his speech dedicated to African countries, Shoigu mentioned many countries in the region that were previously under the rule of Paris, but are now friendly to Russia. And this is one of the most important global trends: Russia is well treated by those states that prevent the revival of neocolonialism. "And although there was a hint of Paris in the minister's speech, France was not named among the countries that are pursuing an aggressive colonial policy," Kortunov said.
In turn, Viktor Heifets, professor of the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at the Faculty of International Relations of St. Petersburg State University, adds that Americans do not agree with the loss of their influence in Latin America, where China is becoming the main challenge for them from an economic and political point of view.
According to him, Russia has significant influence in Latin America, but these countries are not always ready to align themselves with Moscow on political issues. However, "Russia can count on some support" from Venezuela, Nicaragua, partly Bolivia and Cuba. In order for Brazil, Argentina and Mexico to align themselves more often with the Russian Federation, it is necessary to strengthen economic cooperation with them, and they are ready for this, regardless of the US position, Heifetz is convinced.
Olesya Otrokova, Andrey Rezchikov
