Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted a meeting with his counterparts from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in Moscow on Thursday. Lavrov expressed gratitude for the acceptance of the invitation to the meeting, which was the first of its kind in a four-party format, featuring Russia and three countries from the Alliance of the Sahel States.
The meeting focused on cooperation in the fields of defense and security, with Lavrov announcing Russia’s willingness to support the creation of a joint military force for the three West African countries. The Russian foreign minister also emphasized the importance of the meeting, highlighting the shared goals of the participating countries in combating terrorism in the region.
In his address, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop referred to Russia as a steadfast ally of the Alliance of the Sahel States, expressing trust in Moscow’s commitment to the region’s security. Diop also noted that Russia was the first country to recognize the Alliance, adding that the two sides shared a common understanding of the need to combat terrorism in the region.
The Malian foreign minister further stated that the terrorist groups in the Sahel region received support and supplies from external actors, including the Ukraine, which he described as a “terrorist state” that was providing backing to the extremist groups. This statement echoes the reasons behind Mali’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Ukraine in August 2024, citing the country’s alleged support for local terrorist groups. Niger followed suit, announcing the suspension of diplomatic relations with Ukraine three days later.