How Russian Wheat Became a Weapon of Influence

Russia’s growing crop exports are part of a broader strategy

10 October 2024

Russia has reportedly stolen more than 180,000 tons of grain from Ukraine. Now it is using wheat to assert itself around the world – but will Europe use the tools it has in its backyard to reverse course?

Russia has emerged as a dominant player in the global wheat market, leveraging a combination of government support, climate change and geopolitical shifts to solidify its position as the world’s largest exporter.

Historically reliant on wheat imports, Russia reversed its agricultural fortunes in the early 2000s, doubling production by 2020.

Now, amid an ongoing war in Europe, Russia is using its wheat exports as a tool of geopolitical influence, particularly in Africa and through the BRICS bloc, positioning itself as a key player in global food security.

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Ivan Us

Ivan Us is a Economic Diplomacy Program Expert, and since 2014 he has been Senior Consultant at the Foreign Policy Center of the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Ukraine in Kyiv.

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