Opinion | Western sanctions on Russia: developing countries won’t back measures that leave them hungry
- Few non-Western countries have answered the US’ call to economically isolate Russia, fearing the impact of disruptions to global production and trade on their own people
- Meanwhile, countries like China have already felt the effects of US sanctions and have no desire to inflict them on others
While talking with friends the other day about the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, I was asked how many countries have imposed sanctions against Russia. Soon after I began to count, I was somewhat stirred by what emerged: outside the EU, only the UK, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the Bahamas have followed the US in economically punishing Russia.
Not a single country in the entire African continent, Middle East or Latin America has toed the US line. Is it again a case of the West versus the rest?
Among the 193 member states of the United Nations, over 150, accounting for more than 80 per cent of the global population, decided not to follow the US’ lead. Based on Reuters’ data, the countries that have implemented sanctions against Russia, with the exception of the Bahamas, belong to the geopolitical West.
There are reports that Washington has been frantically urging developing countries to isolate Russia. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price demanded during a recent press conference that every country make clear its position on Moscow’s invasion and Washington’s response. However, despite this incessant prodding, most developing countries have opted to stay out of the conflict.