The amount owed by residents of foreign countries to the Russian Federation rose by 2.3 billion dollars in 2022, an increase of 8.7 percent, bringing total external obligations to 28.9 billion dollars by year-end. This figure comes from the World Bank’s annual debt statistics report, which provides a broad view of external liabilities tied to Russia. The data are summarized in the RBC report on debt trends among developing economies.
According to the World Bank, by the close of 2022, debts to Russian creditors existed in 37 countries. These figures reflect obligations that residents of those nations owe to residents of the Russian Federation, which can be settled in any currency, in the form of goods, or through services. The World Bank also noted gaps in the data for some economies, specifically Venezuela and Cuba, for which reliable external-debt figures were not available in the report.
Looking at the country breakdown, the most prominent external debtors to Russia at the end of 2022 included Vietnam with about 1.39 billion dollars, Egypt at approximately 1.82 billion dollars, India around 3.75 billion dollars, Bangladesh near 5.86 billion dollars, and Belarus about 8.24 billion dollars. These numbers reflect the scale of bilateral financial obligations that persisted across a diverse set of economies during a year marked by global financial volatility and shifting energy markets.
News items linking Turkey’s energy sector to Russia have circulated widely, including unconfirmed reports about a substantial gas debt to Russia and ongoing negotiations on debt restructuring. On closer inspection, official statements from the Turkish energy sector clarified the situation, emphasizing that publicly circulating figures require verification and that any restructuring talks are state-led and ongoing through formal channels.
Additionally, in another parliamentary context, discussions emerged about Moldova’s request for relief on its natural gas obligations to Russia. The discourse highlighted the broader political and economic dimensions of energy trade and debt diplomacy, where fiscal relief and payment terms intersect with regional relations and energy security considerations.