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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the Business Council meeting, Moscow, February 6, 2024

6 February 2024 13:38
202-06-02-2024

Colleagues,

We are delighted to meet with representatives of our business communities in the format of the Business Council under the Foreign Minister of Russia.

As we agreed, today we will discuss the essential aspects of supporting and promoting Russian businesses in the current geopolitical circumstances. All of us are aware that the US-led collective West is persistently trying to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, impede its development and push it to the periphery of international life. They have said this openly and without mincing words. It is obvious that a real hybrid war is being waged against us, and the economy is one of its main battlegrounds.

A large package of measures has been applied against us to openly discriminate against Russian economic operators. They are blackmailing our traditional foreign partners and waging a large-scale information campaign to discredit Russia as a trade and investment partner. They are also openly stating their intention to undermine the Russian economy and render it uncompetitive. This is cynical beyond all reason.

At the same time, it is obvious that these anti-Russia activities have not been supported by the overwhelming majority of countries in the Global South, all those countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America that are pursuing an independent foreign policy and are guided primarily by their own national interests.

The use of neo-colonial practices by the United States and its satellites has significantly eroded trust in US-style globalisation. The global majority have a growing number of complaints about the effectiveness and impartiality of international financial institutions and cooperation platforms that are controlled by Washington. There is a growing belief that nobody can be safe from the state-sponsored gangsterism of the collective West. That is why not only Russia but also many other countries are actively using alternative currencies and payment platform in their foreign trade. We are creating international transport corridors and value chains that are protected from the unfriendly countries' unscrupulous attempts to hinder the implementation of mutually beneficial projects.

I hope that today we will not only address current risks and threats but also explore emerging opportunities for national economic operators in external markets.

I believe that our discussion should be substantive, intensive and focused on the future, just as it usually happens at our Business Council.