What Were Chrystia Freeland Comments About Africa?

In a speech last week in Washington, Freeland urged democracies to grow closer through trade and energy toes, in the face of a perilous new world order where autocracies are trying to usurp democracy.

In a question session afterwards, a man asked Freeland about Western countries hinting at a drop in aid for the continent to fund Ukraine’s needs. He asked Freeland to respond to concerns that this will only increase Freeland Russia’s Sway in that continent.

Responding to the question, she said that western countries need to step up and “prove we’re real partners”.

She also said it is up to African countries to choose their paths and rejected the idea that they can simply fall into Russia’s orbit by accident.

“A democracy can only be defended by people themselves if they’re prepared to die for their democracy”, she said.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister said she did not mean to offend anyone after saying that Africans must be prepared to die for their democracy.