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Soviet Union [USSR] Countries of Socialist Orientation
The countries of socialist orientation can be categorized into
two groups: those that had observer status in Comecon and those
that were not observers but had privileged affiliations with
Comecon member countries (see
table 51, Appendix A). The Soviet
Union's trade with the Third World has always been heavily skewed
toward countries of socialist orientation. Soviet aid provided most
of the foreign capital for these countries and influenced their
domestic economic development significantly. The Soviet Union often
profited more politically than economically from this trade: most
Soviet surpluses were not repaid but became clearing credit, longterm cooperation credit, or short-term commercial credit.
In 1986 the countries that had observer status in Comecon were
Afghanistan, Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and South
Yemen. These countries were all characterized by political
instability, low GNP, and low export potential. The share of
exports to this group rose from 14 percent of total Soviet
identified exports to the Third World in 1980 to 28 percent in the
first nine months of 1986. Afghanistan, a recipient of Soviet
machinery and military equipment, was the Soviet Union's most
significant partner in this group. By contrast, trade with
Mozambique and South Yemen was negligible.
Countries that had privileged affiliations with Comecon
countries were Algeria, Benin, Burma, Congo, Guinea (until 1984),
Iraq, Madagascar, Nicaragua (1979-85), Nigeria, Syria, and Tanzania
and, at times, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe.
Throughout the 1980s, Soviet exports to these countries oscillated,
for example, from 27 percent in 1981 to 15 percent in 1983. This
fluctuation, as well as fluctuations in imports, was primarily a
result of changes in trade with Iraq, a major Soviet arms-for-oil
trading partner in the Third World.
Data as of May 1989
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