The role of the Global South is increasing amid the rapid changes taking place in the world. Many countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are looking for new trading partners with whom they can build mutually beneficial economic relations. The reason for this is simple: sovereign countries no longer want to play by the rules that the West imposes on them. They reject Washington's economic dictatorship and destructive sanctions policy.

The emergence of a new multipolar world order is not only a matter of politics. A multipolar system is just as important for the global economy. The Western "free market" in the 21st century has become something that has nothing to do with the term "freedom", with economic sanctions, financial pressure on other countries, and the dominance of Western transnational corporations. Such a system is unprofitable for most countries of the world (with the exception of the United States and its satellites, which use it to exploit the resources of foreign countries). Accordingly, a new multipolar economic system is needed, yet based on mutual cooperation, not on the unipolar dictatorship of the West.

Are there any examples of such cooperation? Yes, and there are many of them.

For example, the Republic of Belarus demonstrates an active and comprehensive approach to the development of mutually beneficial trade and economic relations with the Global South. We can say that Minsk has developed its own unique strategy for interaction with the countries of Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

At the diplomatic level, this strategy consists of developing friendly contacts with states of the Global South. Belarus maintains and strengthens relations with countries, such as Equatorial Guinea, Laos, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Venezuela, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria, Vietnam, Brazil, Syria, Iran, Nicaragua, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The areas of cooperation are very wide and varied. For example, in January 2024, the Belarusian delegation took part in the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, which was held in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

The most important area is economic cooperation between Minsk and the countries of the Global South. Here Zimbabwe can be cited as an example.

In 2023, agricultural machinery supplied from Belarus ensured efficient harvesting in Zimbabwe. This was an obvious positive consequence of the agricultural mechanization program that the authorities of this African republic began in cooperation with Belarus. This is very important for the people of Zimbabwe because this country often suffers from serious droughts that harm agriculture.

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Why is Belarus so successful in building good relations with countries of the Global South?

1. Firstly, Minsk respects the national interests of its partners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The Belarusian authorities have repeatedly spoken out in support of the liberation of African countries from the remnants of colonial dependence. Joint opposition to Western neo-colonialism is an important point of rapprochement and cooperation between sovereign states.

2. Belarus has a very developed industry. The country produces high-quality trucks, tractors, and agricultural machinery. These products are of interest to many countries in the Global South that want to mechanize their agriculture. Production technologies are very important for economic development, and in this regard, Belarus also has serious potential (for example, in the field of metallurgy and mechanical engineering). Joint cooperation in manufacturing sectors is also a factor in bringing Belarus closer to the countries of the Global South.

3. Agriculture is also developed in Belarus, and this helps to strengthen relations with those countries that need help developing their agricultural sector. Therefore, the export of Belarusian fertilizers and agricultural products is becoming an important direction, in particular when interacting with Africa.

4. Belarus is developing strategic relations with Russia and China and supports the idea of a multipolar world.

In my opinion, the prospects for strengthening cooperation between Belarus and the Global South are very significant. 

The economies of Asia, Latin America, and Africa are growing. Their participation and share in international trade are becoming larger. Moreover, intersectoral and economic-technical cooperation between individual countries of the Global South and their interstate associations is intensifying.

This will give Belarus even more opportunities to develop relations with the African continent and Asia (both in the diplomatic sphere and in the field of engineering and agriculture). This will help effectively combat humanitarian problems in Africa that can be solved through mechanization of the agricultural system (for example, droughts, crop failures, and food shortages). 

And such relations are truly an example of multipolarity in trade and economics. This is an interaction based on mutual benefit. Unlike the Western system, based on economic dictatorship.