Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted over 20 leaders from some of the world’s fastest-growing nations in the Russian city of Kazan. The meeting marked a display of solidarity among many of the globe’s most prominent dictators and authoritarian leaders. It served as an effort to demonstrate to the West that its attempts to isolate Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine have failed.
Addressing a roundtable of nearly 30 nations, Putin told the BRICS+ members and their guests that their countries “share similar ambitions, values, and a vision for a new democratic world order.”
The gathering was part of the 16th annual BRICS+ summit—an economic bloc that originated in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as its initial members. This year, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined the ranks, with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia also expressing interest in membership. Representing 45% of the global population, this bloc could signal a growing shift toward global conflict.
In his closing remarks, Putin strongly criticized Western nations, accusing them of hoarding global wealth, goods, and even concepts such as human rights, democracy, and climate change.
Simultaneously, North Korean military forces have been reported to be on the ground in Russia, joining Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine—a concerning sign of the war’s expanding multinational involvement. NATO confirmed that thousands of North Korean troops are moving toward the front lines, prompting Kyiv to request additional weapons and international efforts to counter these troops.
South Korea has even suggested it may begin supplying weapons to Ukraine in response to the presence of North Korean troops alongside Russian forces. Putin has not denied the presence of North Korean military personnel in the country.
Journalist and author Anne Applebaum, who recently released her book Autocracy Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World, argues that global dictators are collaborating to undermine democracy and the rule of law. She suggests that this network of authoritarian regimes allows leaders to exchange strategies on suppressing opposition, maintaining power, and stripping citizens of fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech.
Applebaum also highlights the troubling question of what it means when dictators around the world work together to support political figures like former President Donald Trump, who has received support from these regimes in his 2024 re-election bid. She raises concerns about the increasing presence of autocratic influence globally and the growing challenge to democratic norms.
In her book, Applebaum proposes that democracies must reorient their policies and strategies to effectively counter the rise of authoritarianism and safeguard the values of liberty and law.
Guests:
Anne Applebaum, Journalist and Author of Autocracy Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World
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This interview was recorded on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.