The countries of the Global South are becoming more aware that no one is immune to "state banditry" in the economy by the West, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting of the business council of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"Anti-Russian steps do not find support from the overwhelming majority of states in the global South, from all those countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America that pursue an independent foreign policy course and are guided primarily by national interests," - the head of Russian diplomacy said. - "The understanding that absolutely no one is safe from state banditry on the part of the collective West is getting stronger".
In this regard, Lavrov said, not only Russia, but also many other countries are actively using alternative currencies and payment platforms in foreign trade settlements.
"International transportation corridors, value chains are being created, resistant to attempts by unfriendly countries to prevent the implementation of mutually beneficial projects," he pointed out.
The Russian Foreign Minister stated that the collective West, led by the United States, "still will not calm down" in its efforts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and hold back its development. "And in general - to throw Russia to the sidelines of international life. They say so directly, without hiding anything," Lavrov continued.
"It is clear that a very real hybrid war has been unleashed against us. And one of its most important fronts is in the economic sphere," - the foreign minister said. - "We have been hit with a whole host of measures aimed at outright discrimination against domestic economic operators, blackmailing our traditional foreign partners, and launching a large-scale information campaign to discredit Russia as a trade and investment counterparty. And they tell everyone: "We will undermine the Russian economy, so it will be uncompetitive."
"Cynicism is prohibitive," Lavrov assessed the situation.
"I hope that at our meeting we will not only discuss the risks and threats of today, but also talk about the opportunities opening up for domestic economic operators in foreign markets. I believe that our discussion should be substantive, rich and forward-looking," Lavrov summarized, addressing the participants of the business council.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS