MOSCOW, Russia – The Kremlin’s doors may be swinging open in 2024, with Russian President Vladimir Putin holding a stack of invitations from a diverse array of countries eager to host him. While the Kremlin remains coy about Putin’s travel plans, the sheer volume of invites hints at a potentially packed year of diplomatic engagements.
Despite Putin’s cautious “I don’t exclude, but…” statement, the list of potential destinations reads like a global atlas. Brazil, Burundi, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, Mongolia – the Kremlin’s mailbox overflows with requests for the Russian leader’s presence. And this is just the tip of the iceberg, with Putin emphasizing that “any trip can be promptly agreed upon” if circumstances require.
This potential flurry of activity comes on the heels of a relatively quiet 2023, which saw Putin limit his official visits to a select group of close allies like Kyrgyzstan, China, and Kazakhstan.