Russia’s Engagement with the Global South: From Concept to Practice

(Aleksei Zakharov, Rajoli Siddharth Jayaprakash – Observer Research Foiundation) In recent years, the prioritisation of engagement with the non-West has re-emerged as a salient feature of Moscow’s strategic orientation. This shift must be understood against the backdrop of deepening Russia–West antagonism, where deteriorating relations with Western states have prompted a broadening of Russia’s ties with the non-Western states. While existing scholarship offers useful insight into these dynamics through bilateral case studies and region-specific analyses, more attention needs to be paid to the conceptual framework that underpins recent shifts in Russia’s foreign policy. Current policymaking in Moscow relies on two primary documents: Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept of 2023 and the concept of the ‘World Majority.’ – Russia’s Engagement with the Global South: From Concept to Practice