Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on the world stage today for the first time since the Wagner group uprising, Reuters news agency reported. Putin makes his return to the one-day online meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which also includes Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
Hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, the summit aims to expand the influence of the Eurasian group. Countries are trying to do this by, inter alia, allowing Iran to join the group and paving the way for Belarus to join. With his presence, Putin demonstrates that he has everything under control in his country again.
The Russian president spoke at the summit about what he believes is a growing risk of conflict and a global economic crisis. He also said that Russia will oppose Western sanctions and “provocations”.
Shadow above
But the war in Ukraine also casts a shadow over the top. While most of the participating countries have good ties with Russia, several countries are under pressure. For example, the West has asked China and India to limit aid to Moscow. India in particular walks a fine line, as Modi was welcomed by President Joe Biden for a state visit to the United States just over a week ago. Biden sees India as a partner in US competition with China.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
