Russia is working to strengthen its ties with North African countries and spread its narrative on regional issues, such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as the popularity of the United States and other Western powers declines across the Arab world.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is on a tour of North Africa, visiting Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia this week. He has met with top officials and signed several agreements on cooperation in various fields, including security, energy, and agriculture.
Lavrov’s visit comes at a time when many North Africans are frustrated with the perceived lack of support from the West for the Palestinian cause, especially during the recent war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. According to a survey by Arab Barometer, a non-partisan research firm, the US popularity fell 30 percentage points in the weeks after the war began, while France’s image also suffered.
Russia, on the other hand, has tried to position itself as a partner and mediator for the Arab countries, offering diplomatic and humanitarian assistance, as well as military and economic support. Lavrov has also used his trip to criticize the West for its policies and actions in the Middle East and beyond.
“We have the impression that our Western colleagues are not very willing to try to create a Palestinian state,” he said in Tunis on Thursday, adding that some external forces were using the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to ignite a regional war.
Lavrov also defended Russia’s involvement in Syria and Libya, where it has backed the regimes of Bashar al-Assad and Khalifa Haftar, respectively, against the opposition forces supported by the West and some Arab states. He said Russia was committed to preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of these countries and finding political solutions to the crises.
In addition, Lavrov expressed Russia’s support for the Sahel countries in their fight against terrorism and extremism and reiterated Russia’s position on the conflict in Ukraine, where it has annexed Crimea and supported separatist rebels in the east. He accused the West of imposing sanctions and pressure on Russia and other countries that do not share its views.
Russia’s outreach to North Africa is part of its broader strategy to expand its influence and presence in Africa, where it faces competition from other global powers, such as China, the US, and France. Russia has increased its trade, investment, and military cooperation with several African countries in recent years, especially in the fields of energy, mining, and arms.
In 2019, Russia hosted the first Russia-Africa summit in Sochi, where President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had written off $20 billion of debt owed by African countries. He also pledged to double trade with the continent in the next four to five years.
Some analysts say that Russia’s main goal in Africa is to gain diplomatic support that it can use in international forums, such as the United Nations, where it often clashes with the West over various issues. Others argue that Russia is also seeking to secure its economic and security interests, as well as to project its image as a global power.
The North African countries, for their part, have welcomed Russia’s engagement, as they seek to diversify their partnerships and balance their relations with different actors. They have also expressed appreciation for Russia’s respect for their sovereignty and non-interference in their internal affairs.
However, some experts warn that Russia’s involvement in Africa could also pose challenges and risks, such as fueling conflicts, undermining human rights and democracy, and increasing corruption and debt. They urge the African countries to be cautious and vigilant in dealing with Russia and to ensure that their cooperation is based on mutual benefit and respect.
Source: ABC News
