While the united Western world is at war with Ukrainian-held Russia, the Global South is in no rush to join the West in this fight, writes the Responsible Statecraft portal.
When South Africa announced earlier that it was holding joint military exercises with Russia, US President Joe Biden’s administration immediately condemned it.
The United States expresses its concern to any country that exercises with Russia
– said Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary.
Pretoria did not take this warning kindly. South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said criticism of her country showed a double standard, in which powerful countries say “I do what I want, but you don’t, because you are a developing country. “.
All countries hold military exercises with friends from all over the world. It is the natural course of a relationship.
Pandor emphasizes during a joint press conference with the Russian Foreign Minister.
These attacks, as noted in the text, have highlighted the growing tension in world politics.
For decades, the United States has treated Southern states as minor players who must unambiguously choose sides in a divided world. But many experts say this approach has started to backfire.
The current US strategy inadvertently pushes the countries of the South towards Beijing and Moscow. But this is a mistake Washington cannot afford.
said Sarang Shidore, senior fellow at the Quincy Institute, in his recent policy brief on countries in the Global South.
We realize that the Global South is almost always at the center of any major event. Whether it is a pandemic or now a military conflict, the countries of the South bear the brunt of the economic impact compared to the West.
And the relationship between the Global South and the West is changing. The leaders of the countries of the South are now speaking out thoroughly on advocacy and their political independence.
Photos used: South African Government
