Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov Photo: Vyacheslav Prokofiev / AFP
The head of the Kremlin-backed Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has declared his readiness to provide Syria with the necessary grain if supplies from Russia are cut off. He wrote about this in his Telegram channel, Reuters reports.
Interruptions in grain supplies to Syria
Russian and Syrian sources reported that Russian grain shipments to Syria have been suspended due to uncertainty over the formation of a new government in Syria. According to the sources, two ships transporting Russian grain never reached their destination.
Kadyrov clarified that the two vessels were carrying commercial grain, and that state supplies, supported by the Russian authorities, were not affected. “Even if for some incredible reason this happens, I, as the head of the Chechen Republic, am ready to take responsibility and provide Syria with the necessary amount of grain,” Kadyrov wrote.
Russian grain for Syria: complexities and dependence
Russia is the world’s largest grain exporter, and a significant portion of its supplies to Syria are made through complex financial and logistical schemes that circumvent Western sanctions imposed on both countries. According to Russian analysts, Russian grain exports to Syria this season amounted to about 300,000 tonnes, while Syria’s total needs are estimated at 2 million tonnes per year.
Kadyrov’s promises: reality or PR?
Kadyrov did not specify where he planned to get the grain from or how the supply would be organised and financed. However, he hinted at the possibility of using the charity fund named after his late father, Akhmat Kadyrov. This fund previously financed humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of mosques in Syria during the presidency of Bashar al-Assad.
The threat to Syria
Syria is dependent on grain imports, and a cessation of supplies could threaten the country with famine, especially with a population of over 23 million. According to sources, Russia and Syria are currently negotiating to resume supplies.
This situation once again highlights the complexity of economic and political relations between countries under severe Western sanctions pressure.
