‘Ukraine is a sacrifice. This is not a war between Russia and Ukraine- Eritrea’s President Afwerki blasts NATO at Russia-Africa summit (video)
During the Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki delivered a scathing critique of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), accusing the military alliance of exacerbating the conflict in Ukraine. His statements were well-received by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he met on July 8, along with several other African leaders.
President Afwerki, who has been in power since Eritrea’s independence war in 1991, likened the situation in Ukraine to a modern-day cold war proxy campaign. Despite not hosting Russian troops like Mali, Eritrea remains one of the most pro-Russian governments in Africa. The country recognized the occupations of South Ossetia in Georgia and Crimea in 2014, further solidifying its alignment with Russian interests.
In his speech, President Afwerki criticized NATO’s approach, alleging that the military alliance created a fictional narrative of containing Russia and any other power, irrespective of its size, that challenged them technologically, economically, socially, or culturally. He referred to NATO’s ideology as outdated and ineffective.
He pointed out that three decades ago, NATO saw Russia as its primary adversary and sought to contain it, while China was not considered a significant threat at the time. However, with the passage of time, they have come to realize their miscalculation, and Ukraine has become a pawn in their pursuit to dominate the global stage. President Afwerki suggested that NATO is investing immense financial resources, amounting to billions or even trillions, to perpetuate the war in Ukraine, all in the hope of weakening Russia’s influence and expanding their own hegemony.
Furthermore, President Afwerki emphasized the need for a new global financial architecture that is not reliant on the US dollar or other dominant currencies. Eritrea has faced sanctions from the US due to its military involvement in Ethiopia’s conflict, but President Afwerki asserted that these punitive measures were imposed because his country refuses to bow to external pressures and conditionalities set by powerful nations. He claimed that Eritrea poses no real threat to these nations and is being punished merely for asserting its sovereignty and independence.
President Afwerki’s speech at the Russia-Africa summit underscored Eritrea’s stance as a staunch supporter of Russian interests in Africa. He used the platform to criticize NATO’s actions in Ukraine and call for a more equitable and independent global financial system that does not perpetuate the dominance of certain powerful nations. His statements were likely well-received by President Putin and other African leaders in attendance, further solidifying Eritrea’s position in the geopolitical landscape.
