At the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Putin pitched Russia as an alternative to Western partners, pledging local processing of raw materials, technology transfers and more agricultural exports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented Moscow as an alternative partner for African countries, accusing Western countries of exploiting the continent’s resources and using debt to hinder its development.
What Putin promised African leaders
Speaking at the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Putin said Russian companies would not engage in what he called the “predatory, neo-colonial exploitation” of Africa’s natural and human resources.
Instead, he said, Moscow would support local processing of raw materials, technology transfers and production that creates jobs and generates tax revenue.
Putin said Russia was prepared to deepen cooperation with African countries and support a greater African role in global institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
He also pledged to expand Russia’s agricultural exports to Africa, saying Moscow supplied about 13 million metric tons of agricultural products to the continent during the first nine months of 2026. Russia is a major supplier of grain and fertilizer to several African countries.
48 African countries at the summit
The two-day summit, which began on Wednesday, has drawn delegations from 48 African countries, including 22 heads of state.
Talks are focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, security, agriculture, and defense.
Russia’s push for influence in Africa
The summit comes as Moscow seeks to deepen its political, economic and security influence across Africa, particularly as Western countries try to isolate Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Russia has expanded defense partnerships and its security presence in several African countries, including through the state-controlled Africa Corps.
Economic ties, however, remain comparatively limited. Russia-Africa trade reached about $28 billion in 2025, far below Africa’s trade with China and the European Union, despite Moscow’s efforts to expand commercial ties.
