Vladimir Putin is on the point of winding up a visit to China where his warm relationship with President Xi Jinping has turned into lucrative trade and stepped up defence coordination. It is all so different from American attempt backed by Group of Seven countries to isolate the Russian president that began over two years ago in February 2022.
They instituted all-encompassing sanctions, locked up Russia’s overseas assets, and barred major Russian banks from using SWIFT – a financial messaging system.A year after that, International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin for war crimes. Moscow appeared trapped.
That embrace by China is matched by others who prevent Russia from being treated as pariah. Some support Moscow in G20 summits for mutual interests or compete with Western powers through clubs like BRICS. Energy, trade or economic considerations drive others’ pragmatic self-interests; while entente itself depends upon military cooperation or weapons.Russian partners usually look at this issue differently but do share some common features which allow them to challenge the post-Cold War US-led global order.
China
- What Russia gets: Moscow has found China to be an ally both in diplomacy and economics. For example, Russia buys electronics, industrial equipment and cars from its Asian neighbor while it sells oil and gas (especially gas) at a discount compared to Europe. In 2023, bilateral trade reached $240 billion mark, the highest ever. However, what Moscow could value most is having a powerful partner who shares Kremlin’s objectives of competing with the US-led order and isolates Washington-led alliances from what they see as their sphere of interest.
- What China gets: Like Beijing, Moscow enjoys having another powerful authoritarian state as it works to reshape the international order. Both countries have started aligning themselves with each other regarding positions taken at the United Nations Security Council where they are permanent members with veto powers on resolutions being considered. Not only does military cooperation continue to strengthen but also Russia has supplied some of her most advanced weaponries to China. For instance, if Russia were to win in Ukraine, this would leave America weaker while China determines whether or not Taiwan should be absorbed into its territory owing to the fact that it claims sovereignty over it.
Saudi Arabia
- What Russia gets: Primarily, this is because through OPEC+ alliance for crude-producing nations regions which is dominated by the two countries; Russia helps shape global oil market and optimizes critical earnings for Kremlin. After the war commenced Saudi Arabia was very careful not to denounce Russia openly during that period. Moreover Putin visited Kingdom in December implying that he still had a place elsewhere apart from his home country.
- What Saudi Arabia gets: Apart from OPEC+ partnership Saudi Arabia has been helped by Russian assistance not be seen internationally as a pariah state. This occurred despite agents associated with his country killing Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi two months earlier when Putin was one of only a few Presidents who smiled and high-fived Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at 2018 G-20 summit held amid G-20 summit. Thus far President Joe Biden reversed his position concerning Khashoggi’s killers and instead has been trying to strengthen the US bilateral relations with Riyadh. Still, as Saudi foreign policy becomes increasingly transactional and driven by economic interests, its relationship with Moscow is most likely to grow deeper.
Turkey
- What Russia gets: Putin, however, walks a tight rope balancing geopolitical rivalry with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Syria, Libya, and Caucasus regions along with enhancing trade at its third largest exports destination last year. Moreover Turkey serves as an important route for indirect imports of goods under sanction that Russia needs and hence he finds it easier to manage cross-border affairs.
- What Turkey gets: On one hand, Erdogan has supported Ukraine in the conflict but on the other hand he refused to be part of sanctions against its major gas supplier – Russia which is building the country’s first nuclear power plant. Russian market is critical for Turkish tourism industry and agriculture. Erdogan has also tried positioning himself as a defender between Ukraine and Russia by facilitating grain deals and prisoner swaps.
Iran
- What Russia gets: For its war in Ukraine, Russia looked to Iran for drones and is now constructing a trade route to Tehran that could connect India; this might help soften the blow of international sanctions. Russian officials have held talks with their Iranian counterparts on stepping up financial and banking cooperation as a means of reducing pressure stemming from economic and military sanctions against them.
- What Iran gets: Iran wants Russia’s help in obtaining weapons like fighter jets and air-defense systems that would replace aged ones. Moscow also aided in the construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant by Tehran. By helping to back Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, Russia joined forces with Iran against US presence in the Middle East.
India
- What Russia gets: India has been one of the largest buyers of heavily discounted Russian oil since Ukraine was invaded, but lately stricter enforcement of US-led sanctions meant to dry up petrodollars flowing into Kremlin coffers is creating problems with delivery. Engaging India grants recognition to Russia as it woos what is commonly referred to as Global South.
- What India gets: Russia has over time become not only a source of cut-price petroleum but also trustworthy arms supplier. In addition to that, Moscow has been willing to support India by utilizing its veto power in favoring Indian interests at the United Nations Security Council. Furthermore, close relations with Russia lend New Delhi some protection vis-à-vis other key global players thereby allowing her sustain strategic autonomy.
Brazil
- What Russia gets: In diplomatic terms, having links with Latin America’s biggest economy helps enhance Moscow’s standing within the region. Brazil is an original signatory together with Russia of BRICS group members. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has tried so far positioning his country as neutral state between both countries (Russia and Ukraine) thus rejecting any calls made for delivering weapons to Kyiv arguing that such a move would undermine any potential negotiations endorsed by European Union and United States towards peace settlement.
- What Brazil gets: Brazil imports Russian fertilizer along with diesel fuel products or oil itself under trade agreements between two states. Besides, Brazil gains a partner in reshaping the global order led by US – Lula has been continuously advocating reforming the international financial institutions, such as IMF, to make it more democratic and representative of Global South. Nevertheless, regardless of Lula himself, Brazilian top politicians have always found in Russia a safe and undemanding partner.
Hungary
- What Russia gets: Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has stayed close to Putin, with Orban meeting his Russian counterpart in Beijing last October. This provided Putin with an ally within the EU who has variously held up financial aid for Ukraine, threatened to scuttle Kyiv’s membership talks with the bloc and even delayed by more than a year NATO accession for Sweden.
- What Hungary gets: As for energy supplies, Hungary is one of the few countries in the European Union that still receives gas from Russia while Rosatom nuclear corporation continues to be its major atomic power plant builder. At the same time, this means that Orban’s declared “illiberal democracy” obtains credibility as an ideological alternative to American-centered world order.
South Africa
- What Russia gets: Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, has not blamed the Russian President for the war and did not support any United Nations resolutions condemning Moscow after Ukraine. Both states belong to BRICS, which has afforded opportunities for their leaders to meet frequently. However, during last year’s BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Cyril Ramaphosa persuaded Putin to take part virtually so that Pretoria could avoid making a decision about arresting him under an ICC warrant.
- What South Africa gets:
Although the trade volumes between Russia and South Africa are miniscule, these two countries have deep historical roots connected with Former Soviet Union pro-active stand against minority white rule. Quite a number of ANC senior members sought refuge and were trained militarily in Russia during apartheid regime. From Zuma’s time as president until now when Cyril Ramaphosa took office in 2018 no contract was issued as there were plans of awarding one to build new nuclear power stations by Russian companies but all that is now history due to fund constraints.
Russia has also attempted to foster goodwill in Africa through security assistance, weapons and grain – food supplies that were partially blocked after its war in Ukraine threatened Black Sea shipping. In return, Russia wants market access and new allies that could cushion the effect of sanctions, as well as spread its military influence at the expense of Western states.
Besides, Russia has been enjoying a growing relationship with Kim Jong Un. According to the US, South Korea and others, North Korea is sending large numbers of artillery shells and short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. The alleged claim is that Moscow is providing Pyongyang with foodstuffs, raw materials and weapon manufacturing components. Likewise, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution extending a panel of experts reporting on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal mobilizations.
Egypt and other countries such as Venezuela or Cuba have retained diplomatic relations with it too; this is besides United Arab Emirates where tens of thousands Russians settled after the commencement of the war.
Currently though it may not seem so given all efforts by US government alongside other member countries to isolate her but she remains far from being isolated entirely.
