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.
