He had not hosted him in Russia since 2019. But on Wednesday, November 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the president of the Council of Ministers of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, with a broad smile beneath the Kremlin’s gilded ceilings. Symbolizing the renewed understanding and growing ties between their two countries was the announcement that their embassies in Lomé and Moscow would soon reopen, having been closed since 1992 and 1999 respectively.

During their meeting, the two leaders discussed cooperation on trade, energy and agriculture. But it was above all in the field of defense that their relationship advanced. Putin and Gnassingbé confirmed a new bilateral military agreement, first announced in the spring and ratified by the Douma (the Russian Parliament) on October 25.

This agreement provides for Togolese soldiers to be trained by Russian instructors, as well as intelligence sharing and joint military exercises. It also allows each country to use the other’s military ports. This marks a significant gain for Russia, which has secured a new foothold in the Gulf of Guinea, where its warships and military aircraft can now dock, at the crossroads of major maritime routes connecting Africa, Europe and the Americas.

You have 77.43% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.