Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, is seeking support from other parts of the world, especially Africa, following the outbreak of war in Ukraine and tensions with the West. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, has frequently traveled to this continent.
The Third Russia-Africa Summit
The Russia-Africa Summit has been held approximately every three years since 2019, with the third session scheduled for October 28 and 29 in Moscow. This program focuses on economic cooperation and also addresses topics such as politics, security, science, and culture. However, Russia currently collaborates only with a few African countries, mainly in the northern part of the continent, which is reflected in trade statistics.
Egypt as a Key Partner
According to reports, Egypt is recognized as one of Russia's most important African partners, with a bilateral trade volume that has more than doubled since 2021. According to Ivan Klyshch, an expert at the International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn, South Africa has the largest national economy, but its trade volume with Russia is significantly lower than that of Egypt and Algeria.
Russia is constructing a large nuclear power plant in the El-Dabaa region on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, funded by a $25 billion Russian loan. These projects reflect the stable trade relations between Russia and Egypt, which could serve as a gateway for Russia to other African markets.
However, Africa's share of Russia's foreign trade is expected to be only 3.9% by 2025, which is a small figure considering Moscow's special attention to African countries. Additionally, Russia is not recognized as a major trading partner for Africa, with the European Union remaining the continent's largest trading partner.
Russia's military presence in Africa, particularly through the Wagner Group, is expanding, as the country seeks access to mineral resources and energy projects on the continent. Given the interests and rich resources of African countries, maintaining this military presence is of special importance.
