No one in the Muslim world supports sanctions on Russia – deputy prime minister – RT Russia and the former Soviet Union

Islamic countries do not support the West’s sanctions against Russia, and the agreements signed at the Kazan economic forum this week prove it, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told RT on Saturday.

Bringing together delegations from Russia and the countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the “Russia-Islamic World” forum in the city of Kazan has resulted in hundreds of meetings and the signing of more than 100 trade agreements, said Khusnullin.

“The forum has become a place where political and economic interests come together, because the countries of the Muslim world support us”, he stated. “None of the countries in the Muslim world support sanctions against us.”

While a handful of Arab nations – including Saudi Arabia and Egypt – have formally condemned Russia for its military operation in Ukraine, no Islamic nation has followed the West’s lead and imposed economic sanctions. in Moscow.

Trade between the Islamic world and Russia has continued largely unhindered, and Khusnullin revealed that other agreements are in the works, including bilateral agreements on agricultural products and halal foods, processing of crude oil and banks.

Increased trade will be facilitated by the construction of the International North-South Transport Corridor, a 7,200 kilometer stretch of sea, rail and road routes for transporting goods between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. Freight transport from Russia to India is faster and cheaper than via the traditional Suez Canal route, while eliminating the risk posed by EU sanctions.

“A lot of ground has been covered here” said Khusnullin. “People have been exchanging connections, questions and contacts, and that will give more and more momentum for the future.”

This year’s Kazan Forum took place at a time of upheaval in the Islamic world. In addition to the broad refusal to join the West’s sanctions regime, oil-producing Gulf states have refused to increase production at the request of the United States, Saudi Arabia and Iran have resumed diplomatic relations after talks brokered by China, and Syria was welcomed back into the Arab League amid protests from the West.

Russia and Islamic nations share a common geopolitical vision, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Bashar Jaafari told RT on Friday. “The world must quickly move from the unipolar system to a multipolar system”, Jaafari said, calling on Moscow and its Islamic partners to sign a “political statement” in the near future.