The West has started pointing fingers and pokes again, Putin said Russia will provide free food aid to many African countries | Putin | Second Russia Africa Summit

Russian President Putin stated at the second Russia Africa Summit on the 27th that Russia is prepared to provide 25000 to 50000 tons of food to six African countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Eritrea, for free, while expanding cooperation in multiple fields between Russia and Africa.

Russian public opinion believes that the focus of the Russia Africa summit is on deepening economic integration between Russia and Africa. Putin's food aid plan shows that Russia's aid to Africa is not just verbal, but practical actions to solve Africa's urgent needs. Russian media also noted that the West has some criticisms of Russia's "free shipping and free food" policy and is actively interfering with this summit, but this cannot hinder the deepening of cooperation between Russia and Africa.

Friendly shoulders

On the 27th, the second Russia Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum opened in St. Petersburg. Putin announced in his speech that Russia will provide free food to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea for the next 3 to 4 months, and will also ensure that these products are delivered free of charge to consumers.

Putin said that Russia exported a total of 60 million tons of grain last year, of which 48 million tons were wheat; This year, Russia's grain harvest is expected to reach a new high, and it has the ability to supply food to the least developed countries in Africa with demand.

Russia is opening its food bags to Africa at a time when the Black Sea port agricultural export agreement has broken down and the risk of food crisis in impoverished countries has intensified.

On the 17th of this month, the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports signed by Russia and Ukraine with Türkiye and the United Nations last July expired, and Russia announced that it would not renew it. The reason is that Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports are still hindered by Western sanctions, and less than 3% of exported agricultural products flow to the poorest countries. The Russian side believes that the agreement has become stale and has become a commercial project for Ukraine to export to food rich countries.

After the rupture of the agreement, international food prices have risen, and the hidden concerns of the most vulnerable countries about food security have risen. Michael Dunford, the head of the World Food Programme's East Africa region, previously stated that with the expiration of the agreement, the food shortage situation in East Africa will worsen and it will be difficult to improve in the short term. On the other hand, European countries are burying their heads in negotiating "alternative routes" to help Ukraine export agricultural products, in order to prevent food from "spoiling" in warehouses.

In Putin's speech on the 27th, he criticized Western countries for obstructing Russia's supply of food to African countries, while also hypocritically accusing Russia of the current global food market situation. He also emphasized that Western countries have set obstacles for Russia to provide free fertilizers to the least developed countries.

The Russian newspaper "Viewpoint" quoted analysts as saying that the main purpose of the Russia Africa summit is to deepen economic ties and integration between Russia and Africa, and highlight policy coherence in support of Africa. Putin's food aid plan indicates that Russia's development assistance to poor countries is not limited to words, but focuses on practical actions. TASS believes that Russia, as always, provides a "friendly shoulder" for African countries.

According to the Russian news agency, attendees applauded Putin's food aid proposal. The President of Zimbabwe said he is grateful, even though his country already has enough food to ensure security.

Turning my gaze to the southwest

During the Russia Africa Summit, Russia and Africa also discussed cooperation in multiple fields, including local currency settlement, energy engineering, military cooperation, and cultural projects.

The Russian "Communique" pointed out that against the backdrop of the prolonged crisis in Ukraine and increased Western containment of Russia, Russia's willingness and actions to develop relations with Africa are constantly increasing. As Africa's influence and strategic position gradually increase, the Russian side attaches great importance to this summit.

The Russian Communist Youth League Truth Daily pointed out that in the face of Western sanctions, Russia has not only turned its gaze to the east, but also to the southwest and many other places. Africa accounts for 17% of the world's population, and there will be more in the future. Its economy is also growing strongly. However, Russia's current cooperation with Africa is still lagging behind the situation, so it is necessary to deepen its relations with African countries.

There is also public opinion pointing out that most African countries hold a neutral stance on the Ukraine issue, highlighting their unyielding independent foreign policy to the West. At the same time, multiple African countries have submitted applications to join the BRICS mechanism, willing to jointly promote the world towards a more equitable multipolar system. This is also the reason why Russia values the development of relations with Africa. The summit is expected to elevate the mutually beneficial partnership between the two sides to a new level.

The West is Difficult to Stop Russia Africa Cooperation

Just as Russia is actively holding meetings and promising food aid, the Western diplomatic and public opinion wars against Russia are also intensifying.

According to the Kremlin, before the Russia Africa summit, the West had exerted pressure on African countries to obstruct their leaders from attending. Compared to the attendance of 42 leaders from the first Russia Africa Summit in 2019, there were 17 heads of state attending this summit, and other countries sent senior officials or ambassadors to attend.

Regarding Putin's food aid promise, Western public opinion is also full of gunpowder, believing that the Kremlin is using it to shape the image of a "savior" and "risking everything to cover up the impact of suspending the food export agreement on Africa.". They also claimed that Russia has not fulfilled its investment commitments to Africa made at the first Russia Africa Summit

In this regard, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta said that the hostile forces apparently tried to make the outcomes of the Russia Africa Summit "zero", so they exerted "unprecedented pressure" on the participation of African countries. But every guest who comes to St. Petersburg writes a footnote for the failure of the West.

Rossiyskaya Gazeta said that when the United States and the West held such summits, they always tried to make Africans unite against the world, which is their concept. "But we don't like this here, and we don't want to force anyone's position, especially one that makes our partners feel uncomfortable."

Furthermore, analysis suggests that compared to some Western countries wooing Africa from a geopolitical perspective, focusing on peace and development can win the hearts of many emerging and developing countries.