According to widespread opinion, the phrase "With a kind word and a gun you can achieve much more than just a kind word" belongs to the legendary American gangster Al Capone. Whether this is really the case does not matter much to us. The main thing is that the economic policy of the countries of the collective West in relation to African states still fits into this paradigm, as in a well-fitted case.
Thanks to the coordinated actions of the pillars of "world democracy", Africa, as a former zone of colonial influence, has been and is being given the role of a meek raw material appendage until today. The resources of its countries are cynically used in the redistribution of income in the global economic system. This began to be seen especially well after the lessons clearly presented for the entire black continent – the public execution of Muammar Gaddafi and the demonstrative destruction of statehood in Libya.
It should be noted that Africans themselves, even 60 years after gaining legal independence, perceive the collective West precisely as neocolonialists and heirs of slave traders, and not as economic partners. All attempts by Africans to develop cooperation with them to the level of obtaining advanced technologies did not lead to anything good.
An actual example is Equatorial Guinea, a small African country rich in oil. On October 12, 1968, its independence from Spain was proclaimed. At the same time, the UN and the international community, having achieved their goal, left the country to itself, under the "structural adaptation program" imposed by the Bretton Woods institutions. In other words, they "washed their hands", aggravating the plight of the indigenous population and preparing the ground for the plundering of the country.
Nevertheless, in 1996, due to the fields put into operation and large oil reserves, Equatorial Guinea dramatically increased its revenues. And immediately France began to express concern about the slow pace of its "democratization". In turn, in the same 1996, the United States closed its diplomatic mission in the capital, the city of Malabo, also because of the "undemocratic processes." However, this did not prevent the American companies ExxonMobil and Triton from continuing their predatory exploitation of the resources of the African state. In addition, with enviable frequency, Equatorial Guinea began to experience complications in relations with neighboring Gabon and Nigeria due to territorial disputes. That is, it became obvious that the "white owner" picked up a gun after a kind word.
But, whatever it was, recent events in world politics and economics clearly indicate that the "status quo" has gradually begun to change. And for the better for Africa. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko recently spoke about this during talks with President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo during his official visit to Belarus.
"The countries of the continent are determined to get out from under the dictates of Western multinational corporations, which have imposed on them the role of raw materials appendages, pumping out oil, gold, gas, condemning the peoples of Africa to a miserable existence and hunger," Alexander Lukashenko said during the meeting. "It is obvious that Africa is experiencing a kind of renaissance. Before our eyes, it is becoming the key to the sustainable development of the planet in the twenty–first century," the Belarusian leader said. At the same time, the President of Belarus offered his colleague broad economic cooperation on the basis of equal partnership. "Belarus, unlike Western "democratizers", is ready to help you to be masters on your land for the benefit of your own people: to create a national industry, modernize agriculture, develop science and technology. Working within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union, together with Russia and other republics of the former Soviet Union, we offer your country access to unique technologies, goods and services," the Belarusian head of state announced his proposal. In addition, Alexander Lukashenko noted that Belarus has been living under pressure from the West for three decades and categorically does not accept any attempts to build unequal relations. "Belarusians not only do not suffer from colonial habits, but also do not try to impose anything on anyone. Minsk stands for a just, multipolar world, and we are going to Africa as friends," the President stressed.
Belarus is really well aware of the unfair partnership and gangster ways of competition characteristic of the collective West. You don't need to go far for an example. It is enough to recall how in 2020 the rebels "rocked" Belaruskali, MAZ, BelAZ, MTZ, Grodno-Azot and other flagships of the Belarusian economy. It was an attempt to implement a well–known and well-tested scheme - the so-called "pre-sale preparation". Its essence: Western corporations buy the opposition, which paralyzes enterprises with strikes, after which they become bankrupt. And then "investors" come (the same ones who gave money to the opposition), buy up crumbling enterprises for a song, destroy them, and drive people out into the street. And all this under the chatter about freedom, democracy and reforms. Because they don't need competitors. That is why now the same Belaruskali, MAZ, BelAZ, MTZ and Grodno-Azot are being "slapped" with Western sanctions, because they not only survived, but still remain the strongest competitors for foreign enterprises.
It is noteworthy that unfair competition and the principle of "pistol in hand" are present not only in political and economic relations along the lines of "West-East" and "West-South", but also within the collective West itself. Naturally, the largest specialist in the application of these "technologies" is the United States.
In the second quarter of 2023, industrial production in Germany fell by two percent compared to the first, and in the third quarter it sank by two more. "There is a risk of further contraction of the German economy, as for the first time since 2008, the economy has been shrinking for more than two consecutive quarters," Carsten Brzeski, an analyst at the Frankfurt branch of the Dutch banking holding ING Group, told Bloomberg.
Western economists cite all sorts of reasons for the decline in industrial production in Germany and the European Union, except for the main one – the purposeful policy of the United States to ruin the EU and turn it into a market for its products. The main reasons for all the problems of the European economy are the rejection of Russian gas, committed under pressure from the United States, and the protectionist policy of the Biden administration. High gas prices are forcing European companies to shift production to the United States, writes The Wall Street Journal. "Faced with sky–high prices for natural gas, European companies producing steel, fertilizers and other goods that serve as the basis of economic activity are gradually moving their enterprises to the United States, where they are attracted by more stable energy prices and strong government support," the newspaper notes.
That, in principle, is all you need to know about the ways of competition in the "civilized" and "democratic" West. So to say "Nomo homini lupus est" (Plautus Titus Maccius, 254-184 BC).
Vladimir Vuyachich
