Russia has been keeping relatively quiet on the global stage of late but make no mistake about it, the country's influence across the world is far-reaching.
Russia has been keeping relatively quiet on the global stage of late, particularly as it has issues closer to home to focus on including political reforms and economic revival, but make no mistake about it, the country's influence across the world is far-reaching and important.
"The U.S. and China are competing for economic dominance; meanwhile, Russia is asserting its role on the geopolitical stage, where it wants to compete on a par with the U.S.," Agathe Demarais, global forecasting director at The Economist Intelligence Unit, told CNBC. Nonetheless, Russia's relationship with Venezuela is the most prominent, and antagonizing, for the West. Russia has long supported the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and has been seen as a key power propping up the socialist government, helping to ward off a U.S.-supported coup led by opposition leader Juan Guaido in 2019.
However, she noted that "Russia's economic involvement in Venezuela, unlike China's, has paled against its political investment in securing the survival of the Maduro regime." The foreign minister met Maduro and other top ministers to discuss deeper cooperation on energy, mining, transport, agriculture and defense, as well as discussing steps "to counteract illegal unilateral sanctions."Europe, the U.S. and China's investments in, and aid to, Africa are well established but what's less well known is that Russia had a strong influence in the continent during Soviet times, but this waned following the collapse of the union in 1991.
At the summit, Putin said Russia's trade with Africa in 2018 amounted to over $20 billion, having doubled in the previous five years, but that the aim was to increase this.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, on November 30, 2018.Aside from Russia's relationships with fellow oil producers, which could be expected, its relationship with Syria is perhaps the most infamous one it has in the region.
There have been some concerns in other former Soviet states, like the Baltic nations Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, that a resurgent Russia could provoke a military confrontation or even invade, particularly given the sizable minority of ethnic Russians still living in those countries since the Soviet Union collapsed.
"I just think Russia wants to be respected and seen. Don't forget their history: For much of the nineties, they were really down on their knees and now they're upstanding and doing relatively well. So, I think you need to see it in that light. This is why they fly their planes and invest in new weapons and they just want to show that they are someone."
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turkey reinforces troops in Syria's Idlib, talks with RussiaTurkey sent hundreds of military vehicles on Saturday into Syria's northwes...
Read more »
Jordan Peterson treated in Russia for addiction, daughter says - InsiderMikhaila Peterson said her controversial academic father, Jordan Peterson, went to Russia to be treated for an addiction to anti-anxiety medication
Read more »
Demi Lovato Is Getting Her Very Own Talk ShowHere's everything we know so far about it.
Read more »
@russian.queer.revolution is the LGBTQI+ art platform you need to knowAnastasiia Fedorova’s new Instagram project is a bridge between Russia’s queer underground and the global community.
Read more »
Here Are Your 2020 Academy Award WinnersHere's every winner at the Oscars so far
Read more »