The Evolution of Russia-Africa Relations

Africa serves as a viable means for Russia to obtain economic revenue while demonstrating its effectiveness as a global power.

Written by Aaliyah Vayez

Sep 14, 2020

Director-General of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev and Rwanda's Minister of Infrastructure, Claver Gatete at the Russia-Africa Summit, Sochi Russia. October 2019. THE ROSCONGRESS FOUNDATION

Over the past decade, Russian foreign policy has witnessed a shift across several domains. While these changes centre the promotion of closer relations between Russia and its global peers, arguably such changes may be fundamentally seen as means to achieve Russian domestic and foreign goals. For one, despite being suspended in 2014, Russia was accepted as the eighth member of the then-G8, which allowed it significant status among the most powerful countries in the world.

Although limited to convenience rather than underscored by strong cooperation and given China’s ongoing trade war with the United States, Russia’s presence in the Far East include close ties with China, specifically in energy and defence acquisition. In the Middle East, Russia has forged diplomatic ties with the likes of Syria, Iran and even Hamas. Russia has expressed its commitment to strengthening relations with Latin American and Caribbean states, notably working within international and regional forums, multilateral associations and more tangibly, increasing weapon sales, tourism and technology transfer.

More so, cross-continental relations demonstrate how much Russian foreign policymakers take seriously the strategic importance of each region of the globe to varying Russian interests. It seems only fitting that Russia includes the African continent in its efforts to expand its interest and influence across the globe. Africa serves as a viable means for Russia to obtain economic revenue and demonstrate its effectiveness as a global power. Although Africa’s main import and export trading partners are to a large degree China and India, currently the United States and United Kingdom far outweigh Russia’s economic presence on the continent.

The Soviet Union’s diplomatic ties with African countries notwithstanding, Russia’s relations with Africa have gone through periods of regression and stagnation as the country has embraced consecutive administrations. Despite this, Russia has recently demonstrated much effort toward rebuilding and strengthening its relationship with Africa.

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About the Author

Aaliyah Vayez

is currently reading towards a Master’s in Social Science, specializing in International Relations, at the University of Cape Town. She is a Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) Masters scholar and research intern at the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA).

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The Evolution of Russia-Africa Relations