After the multiple Western sanctions against Russia and the arrest order of the International Criminal Court against Vladimir Putin, for the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian leader has seen his international movements limited.
Putin, who won a fifth term as president in elections that were neither free nor fair, has made five international visits since his victory. His destinations have been Belarus, Uzbekistan, China, North Korea and now Vietnam.
Although supporting Russia on the international stage means risking sanctions, Putin can still count on several staunch allies. DW has compiled a list of Russia’s main supporters, those whom Putin can still trust and from whom he can ask favors if necessary. The list reveals the extent to which Russia is isolated internationally.
China
China, Russia’s main trading partner, announced a “limitless” partnership with Russia before the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, it has redoubled it, despite the negative impact that this may have on China’s economy and international image.
China’s stance on the war in Ukraine is far from neutral. Proof of this are his alleged diplomatic efforts to convince various countries not to attend the recent Swiss peace summit on Ukraine, to which the aggressor, Russia, was not invited. The absence of China was also notable there.
During the conflict, the Chinese have done everything they can to keep the Russian economy afloat, as well as serve as an intermediary country for sanctioned military goods that Russia needs to keep its war machine running.
Communist China sees Russia as a strategic partner to counter the world order established by the United States and its allies. Putin visited China in May and Xi Jinping went to Russia last year, boosting already close relations.
North Korea
Under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, North Korea is isolated from the world, but it is one of the countries that has established an alliance with Russia and Putin. Both countries have just signed a defense agreement, which includes a commitment to mutual defense in the event that either country is attacked.
Russia needs any military help it can get, and the highly militarized North Korea will supply Russia with no questions asked. For Kim, any ally is better than none.
Whenever the United Nations votes on resolutions condemning or stopping Russia’s actions in Ukraine, North Korea, unlike China, always votes against it.
Belarus
Belarus, Russia’s closest and most devoted ally – some would even say “puppet state” controlled by Russia – has multiple treaties and agreements with Russia, its largest economic partner.
Belarus depends on Russia on many levels, from oil and gas imports to economic subsidies. Russia regularly has troops and military equipment stationed on the territory of Belarus, which was one of the sites of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has allowed Russia to park its nuclear weapons in the country.
Iran
Like Russia, Iran is a country subject to strong international sanctions from Western countries. For this reason, both countries maintain a strong economic and military alliance. According to US intelligence services, Russia and Iran sharply stepped up their military cooperation after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Iran has supplied Russia with drones and ammunition, which are essential for the Russian Army on the front lines. One of Vladimir Putin’s few international visits after the 2022 invasion was to Iran.
After the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a plane crash in May, Putin sent his condolences and said that he considered him a reliable partner, who contributed greatly to the expansion of friendly relations between the two countries.
Syria
Syria is Russia’s stronghold in the Middle East, and the country’s president, Bashar Al Assad, is a big admirer of Putin. Syria relies heavily on military support from Russia, which has established a regular military presence in the country to help its leader cope with the ongoing civil war.
Assad has said that the war in Ukraine was a “correction of history and the restoration of the balance that was lost in the world after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.” Syria, like Belarus and North Korea, has voted against UN resolutions calling for Russia to stop the invasion.
Vietnam
Vietnam and its communist government are the latest to strengthen ties with Russia. The country signed a strategic defense agreement with Russia while Putin was on a tour of Asia, during which he sought to improve Russia’s international reach and discussed trade, defense and the war in Ukraine.
Vietnam has avoided condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine. During the visit, Vietnamese President To Lam congratulated Putin on his re-election in March and praised him for achieving “domestic political stability.” For his part, Putin assured that strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam was one of Russia’s priorities.
Henry-Laur Allik, D.W.
