https://arab.news/wdf98
- Moscow has tried to build new partnerships in Africa, where it has been growing in influence in recent years, including militarily
- Foreign ministers from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso met Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow for the summit
MOSCOW: Russia and a group of west African countries led by military juntas hailed growing military ties at a summit in Moscow on Thursday, with some condemning Ukraine as a 鈥渢errorist鈥� state.
Facing isolation in the West following its full-scale offensive against Ukraine, Moscow has tried to build new partnerships in Africa, where it has been growing in influence in recent years, including militarily.
Foreign ministers from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso met Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow for the summit, which Lavrov said would 鈥渟trengthen the whole suite鈥� of their relations.
The three Sahelian countries are led by juntas who seized power in coups and have turned away from former colonial power France while moving closer to Russia, which has been sending mercenaries to help them fight a transnational jihadist insurgency.
Lavrov said Russia was ready to help 鈥渟trengthen the three countries鈥� combat capability鈥� and train soldiers and law enforcement officers.
He added that Moscow could help the countries form a joint armed force 鈥渂y organizing special courses, by using instructors who are already working in large numbers in the countries鈥� and by 鈥渟upplying military production.鈥�
Mali鈥檚 Abdoulaye Diop said that Mali and Russia shared views on 鈥渇ighting against terrorism.鈥�
鈥淲e consider Ukraine as simply a terrorist state,鈥� the minister said at a press conference.
Mali last year broke off diplomatic relations with Ukraine, accusing a senior Ukrainian official of having admitted Kyiv played a role in a heavy defeat suffered by Malian troops.
Niger then joined Mali in cutting diplomatic ties, accusing Kyiv of supporting 鈥渢errorist groups.鈥�
Ukraine鈥檚 foreign ministry on Thursday rejected claims it had interfered in Mali鈥檚 affairs as 鈥渂aseless,鈥� and suggested Diop鈥檚 comments were unserious given he 鈥渞epresents an illegitimate junta that usurped power.鈥�
Moscow has concluded defense agreements with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and supplied them with military equipment.