Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Wednesday that his country is a better partner for Africa than the colonialist West, which is still seeking to exploit the continent’s resources and is using African nations’ debts to hold back their development, Reuters and Agerpres report.
The Kremlin leader made his appeal before leaders and government delegations from 48 countries at the third Russia–Africa summit in Moscow. He is due to hold bilateral talks with many of the 22 counterparts attending the two-day event, covering a wide range of issues, from security and arms deals to grain shipments.
The summit was first held in 2019 as part of Russia’s efforts to expand its political, economic and military influence in Africa, where fighters from Russia’s Africa Corps continue to operate. Russian state media, cultural institutions and state-owned companies are also seeking to advance their interests across all sectors, including mining and electricity generation.
Winning over leaders in Africa and across the Global South is now a key part of Moscow’s strategy to counter Western pressure following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Africa is emerging as one of the key players in the global economy and politics. However, building a multipolar world is, of course, no easy task. It faces resistance from countries that are not prepared to accept this reality—those accustomed to thinking in terms of their colonial past and amassing immense wealth,” Vladimir Putin said at the summit on Wednesday, without naming any particular country.
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