During President Vladimir Putin’s tenure, Russia has occupied a complex and increasingly perplexing position on the global stage. On one hand, it maintains “legacy” roles, upholding responsibilities as one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and participating in the G20. However, simultaneously, it has forged close alliances with nations often regarded as international “rogue states,” such as North Korea, Iran, Belarus, and Syria. Russia’s actions, both domestically and internationally, have stirred debates about its alignment with the West’s geopolitical order.
Russia’s engagement with these so-called “rogue states” has escalated since its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, resulting in extensive international sanctions and leaving Moscow largely isolated. Consequently, Russia has sought support from countries like China and India for its oil exports and explored military cooperation with the group of allied “rogue states” for potential military equipment and support.
Some experts argue that Russia is increasingly acting like a “rogue state” itself, challenging the Western dominance in global affairs and engaging in asymmetric warfare against its adversaries. The recent visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia, with pledges to deepen military and economic ties despite concerns from other nations, underlines Moscow’s inclination to disrupt the existing world order and gain advantages from the resulting discord.
“The present global geopolitical situation is one of a polarized international order,” says Edward Howell, a politics lecturer at Oxford University, emphasizing how North Korea strategically exploits the fractured international order, especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While Russia’s alliances may seem transactional, not everyone concurs with the label of a “rogue state.” Russian political analyst Anton Barbashin points out that Russia maintains significant influence on the global stage, collaborating with countries like China, India, and Turkey.
In the case of North Korea, the alliance is seen as a marriage of convenience to meet Russia’s specific needs, particularly in the context of the battlefield in Ukraine. The future of Russia’s alliances and its evolving role on the global stage remains a subject of scrutiny and analysis.