The Worldwide Impact of North Korean Troops in Ukraine and the BRICS Summit
Putin attempted to shift global power dynamics after hosting a summit with the intergovernmental organization of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) and receiving aid for the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war from North Korea. This partnership is unsurprising, as the countries share similar ideological and political beliefs. More surprising, however, was Turkey joining the summit. As a NATO member, Turkey’s decision to join indicated that perhaps a larger power struggle over the world order is taking place between the West and BRICS members.
On October 28, 2024, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) confirmed that North Korean troops were deployed to the Kursk border region. Whether they are only engaging in training or are being actively deployed to battle remains uncertain. “It's our business,” said Putin when asked about the new military aid from North Korea, refusing to indicate what role the troops will play in the Russo-Ukrainian war. NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, had confirmed that Moscow had also received ballistic missiles and ammunition from North Korea alongside the deployed troops. The number of troops sent to Russia remains unclear, as the U.S. initially confirmed that 3,000 troops were deployed, which soon increased to 10,000. In return for the military aid, Putin will help North Korea “evade international sanctions” and plans to send them military technology.
Western political figures, such as South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun and the European Union’s (EU) visiting policy chief, Josef Borrell, have voiced their concerns about the escalation of the war in Ukraine, and have condemned the evolving alliance between Russia and North Korea. However, Russia clearly has diplomatic ambitions that extend beyond North Korea, as Putin invited the leaders of BRICS to Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to October 24, 2024. According to the Kremlin, this summit was “‘the largest foreign policy event ever held,’ by Russia.” During the BRICS summit, Putin accused the West of escalating the Russo-Ukrainian war due to alleged direct involvement of European NATO countries. On October 23, 2024, the EU urged the BRICS members to ask Putin to end the Russo-Ukrainian war. The Prime Minister of India Marendra Modi advocated for peace in Ukraine and a truce between the two warring countries, but India has not officially condemned Russia for its invasion. The other BRICS members appear to prioritize maintaining positive financial and economic ties with Russia, due to their reluctance to speak out about the war and condemn Russia as well.
The Western alliance appears to be concerned with more than the deployment of North Korean troops, as the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Anónio Guterres, reminded the BRICS countries to avoid considering the organization as a UN alternative. Putin said the path to a “more just world order” was blocked by forces that sought world domination. Western politicians, such as Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have both responded to the news, emphasizing how the situation threatens global peace. They both agreed that strengthening NATO-EU cooperation is crucial for maintaining peace and security. President Von der Leyen wrote via X that “we [EU] will respond together with our like minded partners.”
Whilst inadvertently worsening relations with the West by directly involving North Korea in the Russo-Ukrainian war, Putin opted to strengthen ties with China, India, Iran, Turkey, and others. Putin appears to have had two main goals for the BRICS summit: to form strong partnerships with allies that aim to terminate the influence the U.S. has in the international financial system, and to demonstrate that Putin is not as “evil” of a world leader as the western media portrays him to be. The summit was also an opportunity for Putin to present himself and Russia as a country that is not isolated and battling alone, but as a member of an international alliance rivaling NATO.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey was the only NATO member present at the BRICS summit, significant because of Putin and other BRICS members' criticization of NATO. Mr. Erdogan confirmed that Turkey has an interest in developing an economic relationship with the BRICS alliance members. In September 2024, the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey wouldn't be interested in joining BRICS if it had been accepted into the EU. According to Fidan, Turkey initially applied to join the EU in 1987, and in reaction to the stalling of the negotiation, they are exploring other options, such as BRICS and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This dual alignment between BRICS and NATO is something that would not have been feasible a few years ago, but with the current instability in the world order, appears to be plausible. Turkey has played an important role in the Russo-Ukrainian war, as it assisted in negotiating prisoner swaps and participated in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, enabling Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea ports to developing countries.
It is clear that the Kremlin is actively courting new and existing allies, however, the purpose of this preparation remains to be determined. It can be assumed that the developing relationship between Russia and North Korea is intended for mutual military gain. Conversely, the BRICS summit appears to have been a forum primarily seeking to strengthen communication and cooperation among the invited parties.
The power shifts in the world order continue to evolve alongside the ramifications of the deployed North Korean troops in the Russo-Ukrainian war and of the BRICS summit. The global impact of the East has, however, effectively demonstrated a possible future power struggle between Western and Eastern alliances over the domination of the world order. A multipolar world appears to be very near in the political future, if we are not already living in it.