Keypoints:
- Russia hosts Sahel defence talks
- Security and sovereignty top agenda
- New cooperation agreements signed
RUSSIAN Defence Minister Andrey Belousov has pledged Moscow’s readiness to strengthen the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), promising military support to enhance stability and security across the region.
Speaking after high-level talks with AES defence chiefs in Moscow, Belousov hailed the alliance as ‘the result of the free choice of the Sahel peoples, a course towards sustainable peaceful development’. He said Russia stood ready to provide ‘comprehensive assistance’ to protect sovereignty and secure borders in the Sahel.
‘Strengthening cooperation’
Belousov emphasised that the four-party dialogue between Russia and the AES would become a key forum for advancing defence collaboration.
‘This format will be important for discussing issues of strengthening cooperation in the defence sphere,’ he said.
Representing his AES counterparts, Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara said the inaugural meeting demonstrated a shared commitment to building a long-term strategic partnership with Russia.
‘Currently, cooperation in the field of defence is the largest area of cooperation between our countries,’ Camara noted.
Agreements to expand military ties
Talks concluded with the signing of a joint statement on consultation outcomes and memorandums of understanding between Russia’s Defence Ministry and AES members. The agreements will deepen cooperation in defence capabilities, training, and security operations.
Formed in September 2023 by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the AES began as a mutual defence pact and was formalised into a confederation on July 6, 2024. The treaty not only strengthened security coordination but also broadened cooperation into economic and social sectors.
Moscow’s pledge comes as the Sahel bloc seeks new partners after cooling ties with several Western nations. Russia has in recent years expanded its African footprint through military partnerships, trade, and infrastructure projects, positioning itself as a key alternative security ally for governments confronting insurgencies and regional instability.
For the AES, the deal promises additional training, equipment, and political backing, bolstering their capacity to counter militant violence and cross-border threats. The talks in Moscow mark another step in a shifting geopolitical landscape where African states diversify their defence relationships beyond traditional Western frameworks.
