What Are China and Russia Doing in Africa? || Peter Zeihan
Aug 23, 2024
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Peter Zeihan, a geopolitical strategist renowned for his sharp analyses, delves into the intriguing activities of China and Russia in Africa. He examines China's Belt and Road Initiative and its financial hurdles, alongside Russia's use of paramilitary forces to gain influence. The discussion reveals the broader implications of their actions on global dynamics and local stability. Should the world be concerned about these strategic moves? Zeihan breaks it down with clarity and insight.
China's extensive infrastructure investments in Africa, originally presented as generous aid, have largely proven ineffective and unsustainable, resulting in significant resource waste.
Russia utilizes paramilitary tactics, particularly through the Wagner group, to destabilize regions in Africa while seizing valuable resources, amplifying regional lawlessness and risks of extremism.
Deep dives
Chinese Infrastructure Projects in Africa
The Chinese government has invested heavily in infrastructure projects across Africa under the One Belt, One Road initiative, initially offering these projects as free assistance. However, this so-called generosity later revealed itself as a facade, as the Chinese authorities demanded repayment, leading to widespread rejection of these offers by local populations. Consequently, many of these projects have fallen into disrepair, as they were often unwanted or unsustainable within the local context. Overall, while the Chinese investment efforts seem substantial, a significant portion has been deemed ineffective and has wasted valuable resources, with estimates suggesting global losses exceeding a trillion U.S. dollars.
Russian Strategies in Africa
Russia's approach in Africa involves the use of paramilitary groups, like Wagner, to instigate regime changes in certain regions, particularly in the Sahel. This strategy aims to capitalize on newly established regimes by securing valuable resources such as gold, which can be easily smuggled. These efforts have intensified following the Ukraine war, contributing to a decline in French influence while creating instability in the region. The resulting atmosphere of lawlessness raises concerns about the emergence of stateless zones, reminiscent of previous conflicts in regions like Afghanistan, potentially fostering opportunity for extremist activities.
*This video was recorded during my backpacking trip through Yosemite in the end of July. China and Russia seemingly enjoy having their fingers in the African pie, but what are they doing there? And should we be worried?