In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine (February 2022), the Global South has increasingly embraced a form of “functional non-alignment,” characterized by diplomatic abstention from sanctions, moral condemnation of aggression, and hedging between power blocs. This paper examines the complexities of this posture in light of:

1. Iran’s military backing of Russia both diplomatic and through drone exports and the subsequent tensions arising from the Iran Israel war.
2. NATO’s deepening defense commitments post‑2025 summit and its strategic recalibration.
3. The repercussions these interlocking conflicts have for non-aligned countries navigating strategic autonomy amidst multi-polar great-power rivalry.