Ukrainian military attack leaves 54 Russian soldiers dead, 3 tanks destroyed, government says
FOX NewsSep 09, 2022
Lavrov Wraps Up Africa Tour In Ethiopia
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Image copyright: Russian Foreign Ministry/AP [Deutsche Welle]
The Facts
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Ethiopia on Wed., capping his four-nation Africa visit, amid Russia's efforts to deepen its non-Western ties.
He reaffirmed Moscow's support for Addis Ababa's efforts to stabilize the domestic political situation, a move that Ethiopian FM Demeke Mekonnen welcomed as Russia's commitment to "Ethiopia's sovereignty."
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
While the West likes to claim that the whole so-called "international community" has isolated Russia over the Ukraine war, the warm welcome for Lavrov and the neutral stance of the vast majority of African leaders is further proof that the world's stance is not so black and white. The West doesn't understand that Africa is no longer willing to blindly support its agenda and double standards, and Russia enjoys an excellent reputation across large parts of the continent.
Pro-establishment narrative
Indeed, it isn't all that accurate to speak of Russia's international isolation, and that is precisely why the West should focus on long-term strategies to detach Africa from Moscow's sphere of influence. In addition to sanctions against Russia, the West should simultaneously invest economically and politically in African countries, since this would not only strengthen the rules-based world order but also help to curb Russian and Chinese influence.
