Global Diplomacy: Putin’s Rise as a World Leader

President Vladimir Putin has been on a diplomatic spree, meeting with numerous world leaders and strengthening Russia’s ties with various countries. This comes as a surprise, given the efforts of the US and its allies to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. In just two months since taking office for his fifth term, Putin has held over 20 meetings with leaders from around the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

One of the notable meetings was between Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Moscow for the first time in five years. This visit sent a clear signal about India’s determination to maintain close ties with Russia, despite the growing Chinese-Russian alliance. India remains a significant buyer of Russian weapons and has become increasingly reliant on discounted oil from Russia since the war in Ukraine began.

Putin also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom he has a strong friendship. Xi’s backing has helped Russia withstand unprecedented Western sanctions, and the two leaders pledged to strengthen their comprehensive strategic coordination. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan, where Putin also met with other leaders, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Orban, who is known for his pro-Russian stance, defied criticism from fellow EU leaders to hold talks with Putin in Moscow. He had earlier visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv and then met with Xi in China. Erdogan, on the other hand, invited Putin to visit Turkey, where they discussed booming Russian tourism and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.

Putin’s diplomatic efforts have also extended to North Korea, where he signed a mutual defense pact with leader Kim Jong Un. This has raised concerns that Russia may provide advanced weapons technology to the isolated Communist state, which has been sending munitions and missiles to aid Russia’s war machine. Putin then traveled to Vietnam, which ignored US complaints about hosting the Russian leader.

In addition to these meetings, Putin has held talks with leaders from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Qatar on the sidelines of the SCO summit. He has also met with counterparts from Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Bahrain in Russia. Furthermore, he traveled to Uzbekistan and Belarus to meet with their leaders.

More top-level diplomacy is expected in the future, as Russia is set to host the summit of the expanded BRICS group of states in Kazan in October. This will give Putin the opportunity to meet with leaders from Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Putin’s diplomatic efforts have been successful in courting the so-called Global South as a counterweight to the US-dominated world order. Many of his interlocutors were from former Soviet nations that feel obliged to maintain good ties with Russia, while others represent countries that have sought to maintain a neutral position on the war. This shows that Putin’s efforts to strengthen Russia’s global ties are paying dividends, despite efforts to isolate him.

Historical Context:

The article highlights President Vladimir Putin’s recent diplomatic efforts, which have been marked by a surge in meetings with world leaders. This comes at a time when the US and its allies have been attempting to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s efforts to strengthen Russia’s ties with various countries can be seen as a response to this isolationist approach. The article also mentions the growing Chinese-Russian alliance, which has been a significant development in recent years. China has been a key player in global affairs, and its partnership with Russia has given Putin a significant boost in terms of diplomatic leverage.

In the context of the Cold War, Putin’s efforts to strengthen Russia’s ties with countries in the Global South can be seen as a continuation of the Soviet Union’s policy of building alliances with developing countries. The Soviet Union had a significant presence in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia, and its influence was felt in many countries. Putin’s efforts to revive this policy can be seen as an attempt to reassert Russia’s influence in these regions.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Putin has held over 20 meetings with world leaders in just two months since taking office for his fifth term. • He has met with leaders from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. • Putin’s meetings with Modi and Xi Jinping have sent a clear signal about India’s and China’s determination to maintain close ties with Russia, despite the growing Chinese-Russian alliance. • Putin has also met with leaders from North Korea, Vietnam, and other countries, including those from the SCO summit. • He has signed a mutual defense pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which has raised concerns about Russia providing advanced weapons technology to the isolated Communist state. • Putin has also met with leaders from the Global South, including those from Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Bahrain. • Russia is set to host the summit of the expanded BRICS group of states in Kazan in October, which will give Putin the opportunity to meet with leaders from Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. • Putin’s diplomatic efforts have been successful in courting the Global South as a counterweight to the US-dominated world order. • Many of Putin’s interlocutors were from former Soviet nations that feel obliged to maintain good ties with Russia, while others represent countries that have sought to maintain a neutral position on the war.