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After Vladimir Putin’s landslide victory in the presidential election on Sunday, Western governments lined up to call the victory unfair and undemocratic.
The elections highlighted the “depth of repression” in Russia, according to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, while the US State Department said the imprisonment and disqualification of opponents meant the process was “incredibly undemocratic.”
The comments from leaders in Europe and the United States, however, contrast sharply with congratulatory messages from countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The contrasting reactions underscore the geopolitical divides that have widened since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, triggering a crisis in relations with the West.
“Certainty” for China
Chinese President Xi Jinping was quick to congratulate Putin on his victory, saying Beijing would continue to promote the “limitless” partnership it forged with Moscow just before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Questions around the democratic process are completely absent from election coverage in Chinese state media, in which Putin’s victory is described as bringing “certainty to a turbulent world.”
Faced with increasingly tense relations with the United States, China has sought to expand its influence internationally. Galvanized by the belief that the era of American hegemony is coming to an end, Beijing has attempted to secure its own sphere of influence that contrasts with that of the West – and Putin’s Russia has proven itself a willing partner in this effort.
After declaring victory on Monday, Putin used a speech to his supporters to once again declare that “Taiwan is an integral part of the People’s Republic of China,” in comments likely directed at the Beijing government which claims Taiwan as a province of China. and who made “reunification” a crucial policy. Putin also accused other countries of creating “provocations” around Taiwan and said they – and their sanctions against China – were “doomed to fail”.
China and Russia are also members of the Brics group of emerging economies, which aims to challenge U.S. dominance of the global economy by uniting emerging economies including Brazil, South Africa and India.
A “privileged relationship” with India
After Russia began its war against Ukraine, 141 countries voted in favor of a UN resolution condemning the invasion. However, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), this figure masks the reality that two-thirds of the world’s population lives in countries that are neutral or friendly to Russia.
The EIU’s analysis reveals that countries like Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa – and especially India – have done everything possible to avoid choosing sides in the conflict.
On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed Xi, saying he looked forward to strengthening the “proven special and privileged strategic partnership” with Moscow.
Since Russia’s war against Ukraine began in February 2022, Modi has walked a diplomatic tightrope that has seen him refuse to take a forceful stance against the invasion.
In recent years, India has sought to position itself as a global power. Recently named the world’s most populous country – as well as its fifth-largest and fastest-growing economy – Western leaders have rolled out the red carpet for Modi, although his government is overseeing a period of democratic backsliding and authoritarianism croissant.
At the same time, Modi has positioned himself as a leader of the South – a collection of developing countries and formerly colonized nations – many of which continue to support Russia.
India has also become the largest buyer of Russian oil. Indian refineries benefited from significantly reduced prices after Europe banned imports of Russian oil. By stepping in to fill the void left by Western buyers, India helped soften the blow of Western sanctions against Moscow.
Our “older brother” triumphed
Putin’s victory was celebrated by Latin American leaders who are historically at odds with the United States. Experts believe that Russia’s isolation from the West has only brought it closer to countries like Cuba and Venezuela, whose foreign minister recently called Moscow a “victim on the international stage.”
The country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, reacted to the results of Sunday’s vote by saying: “Our older brother Vladimir Putin triumphed, which bodes well for the world.”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the result “a credible indication that the Russian population supports (Putin’s) management of the country.”
Putin’s victory was also warmly received in several West and Central African countries ruled by juntas after several coups since 2020, notably in Mali and Niger.
Russia has sought to woo many of these countries in the Sahel region after cutting ties with traditional allies France and the United States following the military uprisings.
Putin also used the failure of a deal that guaranteed Ukraine’s continued food exports to global markets – many of which are in Africa – as a way to shore up his support in the region. In July 2023, he promised free grain deliveries to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea. The first deliveries were made last month, according to the Russian government.
In Burkina Faso, a daily newspaper summarized the evolving global dynamic in an editorial Monday, writing that in Africa the election “might seem like a non-event” but that it takes on particular meaning because “Putin embodies the new geopolitical balance of power on the continent with growing (Russian) presence and influence.