Notably, 16,000 Syrians have reportedly volunteered to join the war against Ukraine. Not to forget, the Russian intervention is essential for the Syrian establishment, and over the last decade or so they have shielded the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad in the UN Security Council in addition to providing military hardware.

Earlier, the UAE which has been a steady ally of the US over the years abstained from voting against Russia in the United Nation condemning Russia’s military adventurism. The Saudis too, like the UAE, another strong US ally, have not made a clear stand with the US’s reluctance to help them in light of the Houthi insurgence. Twenty-eight African countries voted against Russia, 17 abstained in line with their non-alignment principles and eight abstained.

The majority of the support comes from countries under their respective liberation party rules which found Soviet Russia as an ally during their freedom struggle against the western imperialist forces.

Other than this, much of the support comes from countries where a private military contractor Wagner Group is essential for the stability of those countries. Wagner is owned by a Russian oligarch, who enjoys close ties with Putin. This includes countries like Mozambique, the Central African Republic, and Mali.

Iran and Turkey have been Russia’s closest allies in the region with Iran subjected to a similar form of ostracisation for its nuclear ambitions.

Even big oil is a factor. The OPEC countries where Russia is a strong player in the cartel want to stay united and dictate control over the global oil price.

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The institution’s Board of Directors approved the Second Expenditure Rationalization, Energy Efficiency and State-owned Enterprise Governance Development Policy Financing (DPF) Project for a total of $1.443 billion, including guarantees from the governments of the United Kingdom ($371.82 million) and Canada ($72 million), a testament of strong international support to Iraq. The DPF’s key development objectives focus on: (i) supporting expenditure rationalisation; (ii) improving energy efficiency; and (iii) enhancing the transparency and governance of state-owned enterprises.

“Despite an ongoing war and low oil prices, Iraq is undertaking bold transformational reforms that will safeguard economic stability and lay the foundations for longer term private sector development and inclusive growth for all Iraqis,” said Ferid Belhaj, Director for the Middle East, World Bank. “The reforms will help build trust between Iraqi citizens and their government, by making the management of public funds more efficient and transparent and expanding social safety nets to reach the most vulnerable segments of the population.”

Separately, the Bank’s governing body also endorsed a $41.5 million operation for the Modernization of Public Financial Management Systems, which supports the overall objectives of the DPF series and aims to support Iraq’s public financial management system.

“This operation is complementary to the objectives of the DPF and will support the government in its goal to improve transparency in the management of public funds and financial information and modernise public procurement practices across many federal and governorate agencies,” said Robert Bou Jaoude, the Bank’s Country Manager for Iraq.

The overall financial assistance package is aligned with the government’s recovery blueprint for 2015-2018. It is also in line with the World Bank’s strategy for the Middle East and North Africa, which calls for renewing the social contract in fragile states, supporting regional cooperation, bolstering the resilience to refugee crises, and initiating reconstruction and recovery programs where needed.

With the new package, the World Bank’s present engagement in Iraq rises to nearly $3.4 billion, including multi-sectoral support to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas recently recovered by government forces and a transport corridor investment.

In addition, the Bank is providing wide-ranging technical assistance to the Kurdistan Regional Government.

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