I'm conflicted on this type of problem. The bit I particularly struggle with is the alternative - if we don't go there and attempt to break down the barriers with ordinary people, what hope is there for the country? Just sit tight and wait until the next dictator dies and hope they're of a more lenient disposition? They're not going to invite us in for lectures on political education.

It's not the same, I'm not suggesting it is, but I do see parallels with Saudi Arabia (I bring it up because I've lived there). And while the guy at the top is as unsavoury as it gets I do think the presence of Westerners has been a positive influence and the few steps we've seen to let women drive, cinemas open, etc. I'd put down in small part to that presence influencing the general population. And in another perhaps not so small part down to the internet. And that's a country we sell proper weapons to, not just machine learning classes.

I get that there's a fairly direct line that can be drawn to negative consequences in engaging with such states, but these things are inherently messy and there's a long game to play here.