Forty-eight African delegations gathered in Moscow this week for the third Russia-Africa Summit, where Vladimir Putin positioned Russia as a non-exploitative partner compared to Western nations. As Western sanctions isolate Moscow due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Kremlin is actively courting African leaders through trade, security cooperation, and agricultural supplies.
Shifting Alliances and Diplomatic Visibility
Delegations from 48 of Africa’s 54 countries attended the two-day gathering. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov noted that 22 countries were represented by heads of state. This figure compares with 17 at the 2023 summit and 43 at the first meeting in 2019.
Africa policy specialist Will Brown at the European Council on Foreign Relations told CNN that images of Vladimir Putin standing beside African leaders carry immense weight. These visuals allow Russian influence networks to shape perceptions across Africa and the wider Global South.
African governments are not simply choosing between Moscow and the West. Tighisti Amare, director of the Africa Program at Chatham House, described their strategy as diversified non-alignment. Governments maintain ties with multiple partners to secure security support, agricultural supplies, energy investment, or diplomatic backing.
Trade Realities Versus Strategic Ambitions
Political and security presence does not mirror economic scale. Russia estimated its trade with Africa at $27 billion in 2025, falling short of the $40 billion target Moscow set in 2019. Putin has introduced a new goal of more than $50 billion.
China and the European Union remain vastly larger commercial partners for the continent. China-Africa trade reached approximately $348 billion in 2025. Trade between the EU and Africa stood at roughly $395 billion.
| Partner | Estimated Annual Trade Volume |
|---|---|
| European Union | ~$395 billion (2025) |
| China | ~$348 billion (2025) |
| Russia | $27 billion (2025) |
Agriculture remains a bright spot for Russian commercial engagement. Putin stated that Russia exported 13 million metric tons of agricultural products to Africa during the first nine months of 2026, alongside essential fertilizer supplies.
Security Frameworks and Military Agreements
Russia has expanded its footprint in the Sahel region through military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger that broke ties with Western partners. The Africa Corps, a paramilitary organization, assumed much of Wagner’s work following the mercenary group’s 2023 mutiny against the Kremlin.
Anna Ida Rock, a researcher at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, noted that the Africa Corps maintains a reported presence in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Mali, and Niger. Meanwhile, arms exports tell a different story. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that Russian global arms exports dropped 64% between the 2016–2020 and 2021–2025 periods.
Ethiopia demonstrates that Moscow can still secure high-profile defense contracts. Abiy Ahmed announced at the summit that his country had received Russian Su-35 fighter jets and would acquire four S-400 long-range air-defense systems. The deal covers 12 aircraft, with Russia’s state arms exporter confirming the delivery of two.
