A Turning Point in Global Politics: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Praise for Putin
Last week, at a grand global summit held in the Russian city of Kazan, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia—once celebrated as a beacon of hope in the West, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and a reliable ally of the United States—delivered a striking endorsement of his host, Vladimir Putin, a figure often regarded as the antithesis of the rules-based international order.
“Allow me to congratulate you on maintaining economic resilience during a difficult period,” Ahmed remarked with apparent admiration. “This period was not easy for Russia, but under your leadership, you have succeeded in maintaining economic resilience which might serve as an exemplary model for most of us.”
To an untrained ear, these words might seem like the conventional platitudes exchanged among global leaders at such gatherings. However, to those attuned to the subtle dynamics of international relations, it offered a revealing glimpse into the shifting global landscape—a world grappling with profound inequalities and a series of ongoing crises. It underscored how the balance of power is increasingly slipping from the West’s control.
Ahmed is not merely a political figure; he is an ambitious nation builder presiding over one of Africa’s most rapidly developing economies. Yet, his growing divergence from Western interests, coupled with his commendation of Russian resilience amid stringent sanctions, serves as a pointed warning. If the West attempts to curb Ahmed’s assertive maneuvers in his strategically significant region, he has a formidable ally and a model in Putin’s Russia.
Ahmed’s remarks were made during the annual summit of the BRICS nations, which marked the largest assembly of global leaders in Russia since the onset of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This opulent event was designed to signal to the West that its efforts to isolate Putin as punishment for his actions in Ukraine had been largely unsuccessful.
As he stood alongside leaders from approximately three dozen countries, Putin exuded a sense of triumph, resembling a cat who had just devoured a canary. Notably, he reportedly has the world’s richest individual, Elon Musk, on something akin to speed dial, and has engaged in private conversations with both the former and possibly future president of the United States, Donald Trump. The presence of the Secretary General of the United Nations at the summit also raised eyebrows, marking his first visit to Russia in more than two years. In a concluding news conference, Putin took the opportunity to make pointed remarks aimed at his Western adversaries, further illustrating the growing divide in global politics.
