International sanctions, once seen as a reliable foreign policy tool, are increasingly producing negative consequences for Western nations and the global order itself. Originally designed to pressure countries into aligning with internationally accepted conduct standards, these measures now face growing criticism for their excessive application and unintended outcomes.
The Unintended Consequences of Sanction Overuse
Western countries frequently employ sanctions against nations that deviate from what they define as international standards. However, these standards often reflect Western philosophical ideologies, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine global norms and Western national interests. The result has been widespread sanctions against Global South nations including Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Zimbabwe, and many others.
The over-reliance on sanctions has produced three major adverse effects: the unification of sanctioned nations, the development of alternative systems to bypass restrictions, and increasing polarization of the global order. This situation ultimately undermines the United Nations' ability to maintain international peace and security.
How Sanctioned Nations Are Fighting Back
When faced with sanctions, countries quickly seek creative ways to circumvent them. Iran has developed a sophisticated shadow fleet of oil tankers, shell companies, and covert logistical operations to export oil despite restrictions. As recently as October 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reported that Qingdao Hexin facilitated the offloading of nearly two million barrels of Iranian oil at Haiye Terminal in Qingdao Port.
Russia demonstrates another adaptation strategy. After McDonald's exited the Russian market in 2022, local entrepreneurs rebranded the restaurants as Vkusno & tochka ("Tasty and that's it"), creating their own versions of popular menu items. Similarly, China developed the BeiDou satellite navigation system to achieve technological independence from U.S.-controlled GPS, following a 1993 incident when GPS signals were temporarily cut off for a Chinese vessel.
The Rise of Alternative Global Systems
The excessive use of sanctions has accelerated the creation of parallel international frameworks. BRICS has emerged as a direct response to Western sanction overuse, providing an alternative platform for economic cooperation. Countries are increasingly moving away from dollar-dominated systems, with nations like Kenya and Angola converting their national debt from USD to Chinese Yuan.
The international payment landscape is also transforming. The SWIFT system and U.S. dollar, previously dominant in global finance, now face competition from local currency transactions and China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). This shift represents a fundamental challenge to Western financial hegemony.
The global system has become increasingly polarized along historical and ideological divides, with the Global South led by China and Russia on one side, and the Global North led by the U.S. and Western allies on the other. This division pushes diplomacy to the sidelines while fostering conflicts that complicate international relations.
As the world becomes more multipolar, the effectiveness of sanctions as a foreign policy tool diminishes. Nations are building resilience, creating alternatives, and forming new alliances that reduce their dependence on Western-dominated systems. For Nigeria and other developing nations, these developments offer both challenges and opportunities in navigating the evolving global landscape.
