Русский
The governments of Russia and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe have concluded an agreement on military cooperation. The parties signed the deal in St. Petersburg on April 4, and is intended to remain in force “for an indefinite period of time.”
Russia and Sao Tome and Principe have agreed to cooperate in such areas as joint personnel training, armed forces staffing, the use of weapons and military equipment by personnel, material and logistics support, sharing experience and information in opposing extremism and international terrorism, and the training of military commanders.
The agreement also envisions participating in military exercises and monitoring them, visits by military aircraft, and visits by military ships and vessels.
Sao Tome & Principe is an island nation off the coast of Gabon in West Africa. Its rich volcanic soil and proximity to the equator made São Tomé and Príncipe ideal for sugar cultivation, followed later by cash crops such as coffee and cocoa and the lucrative plantation economy. It also has extensive fishing rights. Sao Tome has strong historic connections with colonial Portugal.
The security move gives Russia an effective West African coastal naval and support facility; and will mean Russia could provide additional military support to the Sahel countries of Africa as they move from European colonialism to independence. Sao Tome could be used for example for monitoring Nigerian ports. The West African country is 6 hours sailing from Sao Tome by ship and as of 2022 was the world’s 15th largest oil producer.
