"Russia Growing More Confident in Countering the West by Partnering with Emerging Countries"

by Kang Nahum

Published 28 Jan.2024 19:17(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 27th, the Washington Post (WP) diagnosed that Russia is challenging the US-centered international financial system by strengthening economic and diplomatic relations with China, Iran, and major emerging countries. It is analyzed that Russia is gaining confidence in weakening Western influence.

WP cited Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas as grounds for this analysis, noting that these developments are unfolding in a direction favorable to Russia. In fact, while Russia is blocking Ukraine's counterattack supported by the West, additional support from the United States and the European Union (EU) for Ukraine has reached a stalemate.

Russia believes that the US has damaged its standing on the international stage by supporting Israel's invasion of the Palestinian Gaza Strip, which caused massive casualties.

Russian officials point to increased trade with China, military cooperation with Iran, diplomatic support for the Arab world, and the expansion of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and other emerging economies) member countries as examples of Russia strengthening its position.

Russian President Vladimir Putin invited delegations from Hamas and Iran, which supports Hamas, to Russia in October last year. In December of the same year, President Putin visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.

As many elections are held in Europe this year, there are warnings that Russia will conduct 'information operations' to further reduce Western support for Ukraine.