African countries have become victims of the West's policy that ignores the interests of the continent in numerous fields, Ivan Loshkarev, a scientific researcher at the Center for the Middle East and African Studies of the Institute for International Studies MGIMO, told Sputnik Africa.
"The African continent has become a hostage to Western policies not only in terms of food. It is also banking, education and many other types of forced dependence," Loshkarev noted, adding that "the position and interests of African states are not very much taken into account in the US and EU countries."
Loshkarev predicted that the West will not fulfill its obligations to lift restrictions on Russian agricultural exports, which is Moscow's condition framed in the grain deal.
The researcher reasoned that the West "seeks to gain an edge in the Ukrainian conflict" and some countries benefit from the food restrictions imposed against Russia.
"Apart from strategic aspects, some Western countries (Canada, France) compete with Russia in food markets and the current restrictions play into their hands," Loshkarev explained.
The scholar also commented on the price decline phenomenon in global food markets after the termination of the grain deal. According to him, price fluctuations in this area are generally not connected with political factors.
"The current price fluctuations were largely caused by changes in prices for energy resources, which are used, among other things, for grain transportation. Since the need for food is basic for people, economic mechanisms operate to a greater extent in this market," the pundit stressed.
The grain deal expired on July 18, while Russia notified Turkiye, Ukraine and the UN of its objection to its renewal. President Putin said that the terms of the deal regarding Russia were not implemented since Western countries were not going to fulfill their promises.
Putin repeatedly pointed out that the West exported most of the Ukrainian grain to its own states, while the main goal of the deal - to supply grain to needy countries, including African countries - was never realized.
As the Russian president pointed out at the recent Russia-Africa Summit, more than 70% of cargos under the grain deal went to the EU, while Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia and several other countries accounted for less than 3% of total exports.