Goldtent TA Paradise

Map of African Countries That Have Signed Military Agreements with Russia

1. Farmer says:

   August 9, 2023 - 11:13 am at 11:13 am

   Well that certainly sounds like a big deal. As if Africa has just wholesale switched sides and now become part of the Russian sphere of influence in contention against Europe and American hegemony. But its not what is happening. The term “military agreements” is being used pretty loosely here.

   What the deals are is actually arms and technical agreements and arrangements for training. Much of Africa has been buyers of Russian weapons historically as F16’s (for example) were priced way out of their league. They bought MIGs instead and whatever else Russia had on offer that fit the budget. This seems to be an expansion of that idea although modernized in light of Russian successes against Western weapons systems. What a great marketing program the Ukraine war has become! Here is a snippet from an article about the Nigerian agreement which sheds a little more light on what these deals are all about:

   “ABUJA, Aug 25 (Reuters) – Nigeria and Russia have signed a military cooperation deal providing a legal framework for the supply of equipment and the training of troops, the Nigerian embassy in Moscow said on Wednesday. The Agreement on Military-Technical Cooperation between both countries provides a legal framework for the supply of military equipment, provision of after sales services, training of personnel in respective educational establishments and technology transfer, among others,” the Nigerian embassy said in a statement. It described the pact as a landmark development in bilateral relations between Abuja and Moscow”.

   So just to be clear, these agreements are not anti-Western if that was implied. Its more business as usual except substantially expanded and no doubt heavy with Russaian enticements and free stuff to encourage countries to sign on to the deals.

   • Kewl2 says:

     August 9, 2023 - 11:49 am at 11:49 am

     GREAT local knowledge!!