While the UN gets the number of votes necessary to demand that Russia stop the war in Ukraine, geopolitics got enough votes to tell us about the world that is, and the one to come.
Because what at first glance is the absence of 12 countries, 141 votes in favor, 5 against and 35 abstentions, in the background tells us about the cuts that the pieces of the cake carry, with which the powers divide the world.
It’s that simple.
As expected, the largest slice was the one that included the United States and 140 other countries that decided to condemn Russia’s actions. With notable surprises like that of Serbia, a traditional ally of this nation, who probably voted this way in allusion to the memories it brought back from 2008 and from Kosovo.
The surprises continue with the slice of the countries that were against. Because while the positions of Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and Syria were almost self-evident, Eritrea’s was not. Perhaps because of the little presence it has at the international level, which in the end does not translate in the same way, with regard to Russia’s interests in the Red Sea. A geostrategic point, through which 10% of world trade passes, and which connects the energy producers of the Persian Gulf, the Western markets and the export industries of Northeast Asia.
Hence, after the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war, relations between Russia and the Red Sea countries intensified, with promising prospects for Moscow to obtain authorization to install bases in the region. Giving rise to the fact that as of 2018, Eritrea actively cooperates with the Eurasian country, and that in that same year it was announced that they were negotiating the opening of a “logistics” base on its coast.
We continue with the slice of cake for those who decided to abstain. There are China and 34 others, who in their silence shout that they speak the language of the New Silk Road.
A project launched by China in 2013, with which it intends to gain weight as a power, which consists of establishing two combined routes, one for land infrastructure and the other for sea, which would improve connections between Asia, Africa and Europe, giving China more economic and political influence worldwide.
Currently more than 70 countries are already part and this includes key countries in the UN vote such as India, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq. Highlighting the importance of Iran in the new axis that Beijing wants to form and that is also observed in the joint military exercises that have been carried out with Russia in the Persian Gulf, the dependence on infrastructure and energy that Iraq and Pakistan have with Beijing. Being perhaps South Africa, the biggest surprise of those who voted in this way and that is probably explained by the influence that Beijing has in companies in the energy sector and the assurance of natural resources.
However, India’s reasons could be due to reasons more related to Moscow and its dependence on military aid from it.
Thus the X-ray of what happened in the Extraordinary General Assembly of the UN.
Geopolitics voted and the map has spoken.
Last one out turn off the light.
Twitter: @HenaroStephanie
Youtube: Stephanie Henaro
Geopolitics teacher
Last one out turn off the light
Mexican analyst and commentator. She studied international relations at the Tecnológico de Monterrey CCM and at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris (Sciences-Po). She has a specialization in Russian foreign policy from MGIMO in Moscow and a master’s degree in Geopolitics, Territory and Security from King’s College London in England.
