The defense ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger held high-level consultations in Moscow on August 14 to strengthen the strategic partnership between Russia and the Confederation of Sahel States (ESA).
The meeting, hosted by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, marked the first trilateral talks at this level and aimed at consolidating military cooperation to address persistent terrorist threats and armed group activity in the region.
The discussions, which followed earlier engagements on May 11 during the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazism, concluded with the signing of a joint statement and a memorandum of understanding between the Russian and ESA defense ministries.
During the talks, Russian officials reaffirmed their readiness to provide comprehensive support to enhance the stability, security, and sovereignty of ESA member states.
The defense chiefs from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expressed their commitment to building a new regional security architecture and pursuing independent foreign policies based on national interests.
The engagements also highlighted growing military exchanges between Moscow and the Sahel alliance, underscoring deepening defense cooperation in the face of ongoing regional security challenges.
