July 27—The Russia-Africa summit taking place this week in St. Petersburg, shows that the Global South is not being cowed by imperial demands that it obey the rules-based order. Despite efforts by the U.S. and many European nations, such as France and the U.K., to depress participation, more than 40 nations attended, with some 17 represented by heads of state or government.
In its plenary session on “Technology and Security in the Name of Sovereign Development for the Benefit of Mankind,” including African Union (AU) Chair and President of Comoros Azali Assoumani, Patriarch Kirill, President of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Oramah, and New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered remarks on the future cooperation between Russia and African nations. Putin pointed to Africa’s high average GDP growth rate over 20 years; the growth in trade between Russia and Africa; the potential to collaborate on food, fertilizer, agricultural equipment and training; cooperation on energy infrastructure; transportation upgrades; and people-to-people exchanges such as through education and sports. Tens of thousands of tons of Russian food exports were offered free of charge to a number of countries.
Putin had bilateral meetings with many leaders on Thursday, July 27. Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed expressed his sentiments to the Russian President: “We are very happy, we are very glad to be here, to join our fellow African leaders for the summit.” President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who chaired the 2019 Russia-Africa summit, spoke on development: “Mr. President, as you have pointed out, the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is a project that is fundamental to our cooperation, and we will carry it through. Another element is the establishment of the Russian Industrial Zone [along the Suez Canal].”
The President of Comoros, and Chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, meeting Putin along with AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, said, “First, allow me to say, Mr. President, that Russia is a very important partner for Africa. It is said that a friend in need is a friend indeed, and in times of need, Russia has always stood with Africa regardless of the problems that arose, including its struggle for independence. Russia has always been there, despite all the difficulties that Africa has been through…. Russia’s investment in African countries set many countries on the path of development.”
Putin also held bilateral meetings with President of Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of Burundi Évariste Ndayishimiye (who said, “I would like to confirm that Burundi is and will always be an ally of Russia, on which it can always rely in defending its vital national interests”), and President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa, with more meetings planned for July 28.
On July 26 Dilma Rousseff, the former President of Brazil and current president of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), met with the Presidents of two BRICS nations: Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The NDB “must play a significant role in the emergence of a multipolar world,” she said. The Russia-Africa summit, she underscored, is very important for those who believe in developing the Global South. “It is crucial,” she said, “to pay attention to the debt volume of these countries and their high demand for investment. It is unfair and unacceptable that traditional financial institutions impose conditions on them without the involvement of the BRICS bank.” She told Putin, “The Russia-Africa summit is vital for those interested in the development of the Global South.”
The nations of the northern part of Africa have dozens of desalination projects in the works, with Tunisia aiming for 30% of its water to be supplied by desalination by 2030. Algeria is aiming for 60% by that year.
Meanwhile, in collapsing NATO-land, the disgusting levels of corruption of the U.S. Biden administration, and the disgusting efforts to cover it up, may force a more honest discussion of major issues. The great potential for the trans-Atlantic to contribute positively to the world is seen in the announcement that NASA and DARPA are putting in $500 million towards a nuclear-thermal rocket, to be tested in space within the next three years. We are currently essentially helpless against an errant asteroid or comet. Unlike the billions being thrown into supplying Ukraine with weapons—whose supply has the effect of killing more Ukrainians than Russians—this investment in nuclear rockets, which would dramatically improve our ability to change the orbits of threatening space rocks, is actual defense spending.
We must end the threat of war to get to the real business of developing the Earth, and creating the technological means of developing increasingly broad reaches of the Solar System.
The August 6 events of the International Peace Coalition are the focal point in creating the necessary change of orientation.
Ad astra!
