Putin Hosts African Leaders at Moscow Summit to Counter Western Influence
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted African leaders at the Moscow summit, pitching Russia as a premier partner and criticizing Western exploitation.
POLICY WIRE — Moscow, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed African leaders on Wednesday, positioning Moscow as the continent’s superior partner while sharply criticizing what he labeled a colonial West.
Speaking at the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Putin accused Western nations of attempting to exploit the continent’s natural resources and utilizing debt to stifle local development.
The two-day event brought together government delegations and leaders from 48 nations as part of a broader Kremlin strategy to expand political, economic, and military influence across the continent.
Marking the third iteration of the summit since 2019, the gathering takes place while Moscow navigates severe Western sanctions over its military offensive in Ukraine alongside providing security assistance to various African governments.
During the high-level meetings, Putin pledged to significantly boost trade with Africa and declared that the continent is increasingly developing into a major force in global affairs, reaffirming a commitment to deepening strategic ties.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
