Relations between Russia and Latin America in the context of a new geopolitical reality discussed at St Petersburg University

The third meeting "Russia and Ibero-America in a Turbulent World: Six Months from the Russia — Latin America International Parliamentary Conference" was attended by: Viktor Titov, Senior Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics of St Petersburg University; Lazar Jeifets, Professor in the Department of American Studies at St Petersburg University, Viktor Jeifets, Professor in the Department of Theory and History of International Relations at St Petersburg University; Nikolai Dobronravin, Professor in the Department of World Politics at St Petersburg University; other scholars and professors of the University; and students of different levels of education. 

The main focus of the discussion for the participants in the business breakfast was strategies for building relations between Russia and Latin America in the context of a new geopolitical reality. The participants considered this issue from the standpoint of politics, economics, and logistics. They came to the conclusion that Russia could find worthy partners and new markets in the Ibero-American countries, but at the moment there are a number of difficulties for truly fruitful cooperation. Among these, the experts named the conservatism of companies in terms of doing business, the prevalence of nepotism in large companies across Latin America, competition from China, and the lack of interesting offers from Russian banks. Although de jure the Ibero-American states did not support the Western sanctions policy against the Russian Federation, de facto they have been too slow to move towards Russia as their potential partner.

Nevertheless, the trend towards the development and deepening of economic cooperation can still be traced: St Petersburg University experts discussed a number of successful cases on bringing Russian companies to Latin American markets, particularly the pharmaceutical and media markets, and also analysed possible niches that our companies could occupy in future.

The participants in the meeting also focused on the issues of inter-institutional interaction. The subject of a particularly lively discussion was the issues in current academic cooperation between Russia and Latin American countries. The students who came to study at St Petersburg University from Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina shared their personal experience of establishing contacts with the oldest university of Russia. The students also expressed a number of ideas, the implementation of which can help talented young people from Latin America make a choice in favour of studying at Russian universities. 

Business breakfasts of this kind are held on a regular basis. The next meeting is expected in April 2024. Interested students and staff can inform the G.O.R.K.I. Centre in advance of their wish to participate in the event by submitting an application form via email: gorki@spbu.ru.