Malians protest against France and in support of Russia in 2020. AP.
Countries representing approximately a third of the world's population lean toward Russia diplomatically, according to a report from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Moscow has boosted its diplomacy and propaganda in the developing world since it invaded Ukraine last year.
- EIU published a report this month that analyzes countries based on factors including U.N. voting patterns, economic relationships, and military ties.
- The report found that the number of countries that lean toward Russia increased from 29 in 2022 to 35 this year.
- “China
remains the most significant country in this category," said the
report, which noted that the grouping now includes South Africa, Mali,
and Burkina Faso.
- The report said that 5.6% of the world's
population resides in countries that are "supportive of Russia," 27.5%
in countries that are "Russia leaning," and nearly 31% in "neutral"
countries, a category that includes countries that were previously
aligned with the West.
- EIU Global Forecasting Director Agathe
Demarais told CNBC that many countries perceive the West's condemnation
of Russia's invasion of Ukraine as hypocritical considering the West's
history of military interventions.
- “Russian propaganda in
developing countries is working extremely well, stoking up resentment
against former colonial powers," said Demarais.
