Russia-Africa summit ends with Putin calling Russia and Africa "natural allies"

On Thursday (October 29), the Russia-Africa Summit came to an end. Russian President Vladimir Putin wooed dozens of African leaders at the summit in a bid to expand Moscow's influence on the continent.

Putin told a meeting in the Kremlin on the second day of the summit that Russia and Africa were linked by "a truly strong friendship and a close partnership." He said that the two sides are "natural allies" in building a "multipolar, truly democratic" world order that should be free from power and double standards and based on respect for the norms of international law and the basic principles of the United Nations Charter. He also mentioned Moscow’s support for African countries’ anti-colonial struggles during the Soviet era.

Africa, with a population of nearly 1.6 billion, is increasingly influential on the international stage, with its 54 countries forming the largest voting bloc in the United Nations. Moscow has hosted Russia-Africa summits in 2019 and 2023. This summit attracted nearly 50 African countries, of which about 20 were attended by leaders.

Kenyan President William Ruto said at the meeting that the international order must reflect today's world, not the world of 1945, and Africa cannot continue without a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Putin immediately expressed support, saying it was "unfair" not to have African representatives on the Security Council. Egyptian President Sisi emphasized that security and stability in Africa are necessary conditions for realizing the aspirations of the African people.

Putin said Russia's trade with African countries exceeded $27 billion last year and pledged to continue expanding. He said that Russian companies cooperate with African partners in an equal and honest manner, and do not "siphon away profits" in the colonial manner like the empires of the past. Instead, they reinvest the profits in the local economy, share advanced technologies, and create jobs.

Putin also said that Russia supplied more than 18 million tons of grain to Africa last year and another 13 million tons in the first nine months of this year, calling this a "real contribution" to Africa's food security. Russia's fertilizer exports to Africa last year were about 1.5 million tons, and so far this year they have exceeded 2.2 million tons. Currently, approximately 40,000 African students are studying at Russian universities.

Putin particularly emphasized that Russia helps African countries maintain internal stability and security, strengthen national defense and law enforcement capabilities, and has signed intergovernmental agreements on military and military-technical cooperation with 45 African countries.

In the process of competing with the United States, Europe and China for influence in Africa, Russia has also used military contractors to expand its influence in many fields such as economy, security and politics.