Download This PaperEl retorno de Rusia a África: operando en la 'zona gris' (Russia’s Return to Africa: Operating in the ‘Gray Zone’)
OASIS N° 35, 2022
23 Pages Posted: 22 Mar 2022
Date Written: January 12, 2022
Abstract
Spanish Abstract: Este ensayo busca mostrar cómo en los últimos años se viene configurando un escenario de disputa a escala global y regional entre varios Estados, denominado “zona gris”, caracterizado por el uso de medidas coercitivas no confrontacionales. Asimismo, plantea cómo Rusia parece estar convirtiéndose en un retador dentro de esta “zona gris”, mediante acciones principalmente políticas, económicas y militares para consolidar su poder e influencia, y debilitar a sus adversarios en posiciones estratégicas en algunas zonas del continente africano. A través de una revisión de fuentes secundarias se presenta un estado del arte de los desarrollos teóricos de la “zona gris” y se intenta analizar el retorno de Rusia a África a la luz de dichos desarrollos. Se concluye que África se estaría convirtiendo en un escenario de disputa en la “zona gris” entre Rusia y occidente, con importantes ganancias geoestratégicas para Moscú y pocos beneficios para las naciones africanas donde está interviniendo. Este ensayo brinda una aproximación analítica al rol de Rusia en la arena internacional al intentar hacer una teorización de su retorno a África desde el enfoque alternativo basado en el concepto de la “zona gris” bajo una lógica de lucha indirecta contra occidente y no de confrontación directa como se ha abordado tradicionalmente.
English Abstract: This essay aims to show how in recent years, a scenario of dispute on a global and regional scale between several States, called “gray zones” - characterized by the use of non-confrontational coercive measures - has been configured. In addition, it examines how Russia has apparently become a challenger within this “gray zone”, employing mainly political, economic and military measures to consolidate its power and influence, and also to weaken its adversaries in strategic positions in some areas of the African continent. Throughout a review of secondary sources, a state of the art of the theoretical developments of the “gray zone” is presented, and the return of Russia to Africa is analyzed based on these developments. It is concluded that Africa is becoming a scene of dispute in the “gray zone” between Russia and the West with important geostrategic gains for Moscow, and few benefits for the African nations where Russia is intervening. This essay provides an analytical approximation of the role of Russia in the international arena by trying to theorize about its return to Africa from an alternative perspective of the “gray zone”, and how this could happen under a logic of indirect struggle against the West and not of direct confrontation as has been approached up to now.
Note: Downloadable document is in Spanish.
Keywords: Russia, Africa, United States, European Union, gray zone, strategy, geopolitics.
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation