Sounds complex. There are open questions as to whether those regions that open up for farming would have the soil to support it. And whether reduction in rainfall elsewhere in Russia would cancel out the gains. They have already benefited from current warming.

I assure you, no one had noticed anything substantial.

Edit: probably changed to possibly. Downvoted immediately because who knows?

Not exactly. “We just need to offer a bigger carrot than Russia does”

You don't assume that the relationships between the West and the Global South is a clean slate, right?

I agree that western nations could take a page out of China's book and look to having more of a presence in developing and underdeveloped nations, including financing and building infrastructure, but hopefully without seeking leverage (e.g., Sri Lanka.. though the incompetent government only has themselves to blame).