Emmanuel Dupuy, President of the Institute for European Perspective and Security in France, moderated the next panel, which included: Mr. Chris Alden, Director of LSE Ideas from the United Kingdom; Mr. Charles Powell, Director of the Elcano Royal Institute from Spain; Ms. Natalia Tellidou, Research Fellow at ELIAMEP – Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy from Greece; and Mr. Murat Aslan, Researcher at the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) from Turkey.

In the West, there is a palpable sense of indignation towards the hostile attitude exhibited by certain states in Latin America and Africa, as well as the lack of involvement of their leaders in the conflict in Ukraine. The issue lies in the perception within these states that the current global order has been imposed by force, which generates frustration and resentment. The Russian Federation is attempting to amplify this sentiment in the countries of the Global South. The influence of the Wagner Group has extended beyond the military sphere, having a significant impact in political and social domains through the manipulation of local public opinion. Additionally, Russia presents the invasion of Ukraine as a war against the Western world order and seeks to persuade these states to support the Russian cause of countering the West’s global influence.