Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s formidable foreign minister, is a man whose diplomatic roots run deeper than most realize. His journey began not in the corridors of Moscow but in the tropical heat of Colombo, Sri Lanka, where, fresh out of MGIMO in 1972, he embarked on his first overseas posting. According to Lanka-e-News, it was there that the young Lavrov immersed himself in the local language, mastering Sinhalese—a rare feat for a Russian envoy. This early investment in cultural and linguistic fluency would become a hallmark of his diplomatic style, shaping the patient, nuanced approach that has defined his decades-long career.
Lavrov’s time in Sri Lanka, and his experience covering the Indian Ocean region, instilled a philosophy of diplomacy that prizes long-term relationship building over quick wins. As Lanka-e-News notes, he learned to "pick the fertile soil, plant the seed and tend it for years until influence grows." This method—part gardener, part strategist—has guided Lavrov through postings at the United Nations and, since 2004, as Russia’s foreign minister. His tenure is now one of the longest of any major power, giving him a rare institutional memory in a world of ever-shifting alliances.
But if Lavrov’s early years taught him the value of patience, the past decade has demanded boldness. Since 2014, and especially after the imposition of sweeping Western sanctions in 2022, Lavrov has steered Russian foreign policy toward a vision of a "multipolar" world—one where no single power, especially not the West, dominates global affairs. This vision is not new. As the Observer Research Foundation points out, Russia and China jointly declared their support for a multipolar order as far back as 1997. Yet, as the 80th United Nations General Assembly convened in 2025, the question of whether the world has truly become multipolar remains hotly debated.
One thing is certain: the game has changed. The expansion of BRICS—now 11 full members and 10 partner countries spanning Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America—has transformed the bloc into a powerhouse. BRICS countries now represent nearly half the world’s population, about 40 percent of global GDP (in purchasing power parity terms), and roughly a quarter of global trade. As the Observer Research Foundation notes, BRICS is "anchoring global growth and shaping economic trajectories," with its influence set to grow even further.
Energy and food are at the heart of this new order. BRICS members account for a staggering 94 percent of the world’s remaining coal pipeline, 40 percent of oil and gas capacity under development, and already generate 51 percent of global solar electricity. The bloc produces about 42 percent of the world’s food, with India and Russia leading in rice and wheat production, respectively. Russia, under Lavrov’s guidance, is spearheading plans for a BRICS Grain Exchange—a move designed to rival Western-led exchanges, promote trade in local currencies, and give the bloc greater sway over global grain prices.
These developments are not just about economics; they are about leverage. As Western sanctions have bitten into Russia’s economy—freezing central bank reserves and restricting financial transactions—Lavrov’s response has been to champion alternative trade routes, push for local-currency settlements, and advance BRICS payment platforms. According to Lanka-e-News, Lavrov has "advocated measures...that would reduce reliance on Western financial rails," a strategy that has only accelerated since 2022.
Lavrov’s diplomatic playbook extends far beyond the BRICS core. Since 2022, his ministry has ramped up engagement with the so-called Global South—making high-profile tours of Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. These efforts serve a dual purpose: securing political support in international forums and building economic partnerships less vulnerable to Western pressure. As Lanka-e-News reports, Lavrov’s two-track approach is about "securing political cover in international fora while finding markets and partners less sensitive to Western sanctions." Latin America, with frequent meetings from Brazil to Venezuela and Cuba, has become a focal point in this drive.
In the security sphere, Lavrov has maintained open channels even with pariah states. Notably, Russia’s relationship with North Korea has deepened, blending strategic reciprocity—military and political support—with transactional cooperation. Pyongyang, for its part, has supplied materiel and manpower, while Moscow offers diplomatic cover. Central Asia remains another priority, with Lavrov leveraging security and economic projects, as well as organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, to keep the region firmly within Moscow’s orbit.
India, meanwhile, stands out as Russia’s "particularly privileged strategic partner" in South Asia. This isn’t just rhetoric: India has become a major importer of Russian energy and an important political interlocutor. Rather than spreading its attention thinly across the region, Lavrov’s strategy has been to double down on New Delhi, using the relationship as a lever to influence broader regional dynamics. Critics may call this outsourcing, but supporters see it as pragmatic realism.
Yet, while Russia and BRICS rise, the traditional pillars of global governance are wobbling. The Observer Research Foundation describes the current multilateral system as "collapsing into irrelevance," hamstrung by shifting power dynamics, new non-state actors, and alliances that are fraying at the seams. The Transatlantic alliance, once the bedrock of post-war order, is showing visible cracks. Trade disputes—tariff wars between the US and EU—have flared, and NATO spending targets have become a source of tension. Fiscal pressures, highlighted by the US credit rating downgrade in May 2025, mean that neither Washington nor its European allies can easily shoulder the burden alone.
Complicating matters further is the rise of non-state actors—technology firms, NGOs, and global activism networks—who wield outsized influence over global policymaking. Tech giants like Palantir, Meta, Baidu, Alibaba, and OpenAI have shaped everything from surveillance regimes to data regulations and military applications. These actors, as the Observer Research Foundation notes, operate "outside the reach of the traditional accountability mechanisms" of multilateral institutions, making them both indispensable and disruptive.
In this new era, the United States no longer acts as the unchallenged "referee" of global governance. Its retreat from the role has left the system "unanchored and ineffective," with outdated metrics like the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement targets losing credibility. As the Observer Research Foundation puts it, "the system doesn’t just stall—it collapses, leaving the global arena unguarded." Reform debates abound, but consensus is elusive; no one seems willing to play by the old rules, and the game itself has changed beyond recognition.
Through it all, Lavrov’s playbook—rooted in linguistic and cultural fluency, patient relationship-building, and the construction of alternative institutions—has positioned Russia as both a challenger and a shaper of the emerging order. Whether this multipolar vision will ultimately stabilize or further fragment the global system remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the rules of the game are being rewritten, and Sergey Lavrov is determined to make sure Russia has a hand in drafting them.