The island state of Sao Tome and Principe has recently signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia, marking a significant step towards jointly tackling regional and global security threats. The agreement, aiming to bolster peace and stability on an international level, was formalized in St. Petersburg on April 24 and came into effect on May 5, as per a document published on Moscow’s legal information website.
Under this long-term partnership, Moscow and Sao Tome and Principe will engage in exchanging experiences in various areas, including joint military training, armed forces recruitment, and troop engineering support. Additionally, both parties have committed to sharing information and expertise to combat regional and global terrorism effectively.
This collaboration follows the approval of a security cooperation pact between Russia and Sao Tome and Principe by the Russian government in November. In a statement to RT during the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues, Jorge Amado, the defense minister of Sao Tome and Principe, expressed appreciation for Moscow’s efforts against extremist violence and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in overcoming current security challenges.
Along with strengthening defense ties with African nations, Moscow has been recognized by military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger as a reliable security partner, especially amidst jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel region. These nations have turned to Russia for support after cutting defense ties with France, accusing the West of neglecting security concerns in the region.
Notably, the new leadership in Niger, which assumed power after a coup last July, has revoked a military agreement with the US and denied entry to American troops in the country. Recent reports confirmed the presence of Russian forces in Niamey, training Niger’s soldiers and entering a base where American troops were stationed.
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