Русский
The state visit of Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbéto Moscow on November 18-19 and his high-level talks with President Vladimir Putin on November 19 marks a defining moment in the evolution of Russia-Africa comprehensive economic relations. Far more than a diplomatic courtesy, the visit symbolizes a maturing partnership grounded in strategic trust, mutually beneficial economics, and a shared vision for a more balanced global order.
For Russia, Togo represents not only a key entry point into West Africa and Russia’s growing economic integration with the Eurasian-African cross-continental markets but also a stable partner eager to diversify its international cooperation. For Togo, Russia stands out as a reliable strategic actor capable of offering security assistance, industrial cooperation, and economic partnerships without political preconditions. In an era of shifting global alignments, the Russia–Togo relationship is fast becoming a template for Moscow’s next phase of engagement with the African continent.
Strengthening Access To The Sahel
The Moscow talks underscore a mutual willingness to deepen ties across government, business, and security sectors. As a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union, Togo holds significant regional influence. Its geographic position on the Gulf of Guinea, while its status as a major logistics hub through Lomé Port, makes it a natural counterpart for Russia’s long-term strategic outreach.
Togo’s Lomé Port is the only port on the West African coast from which several cities can be reached by road within one day. Goods can be moved within a reasonable time at competitive costs. It includes a Free Trade Zone, handles 80% of the trade flow in Togo, and additionally serves the Sahel countries – Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – where Russia also has significant economic interests, and in nuclear energy and mining in particular.
All sides view enhanced political coordination as instrumental to addressing global challenges. Whether building resilience against external economic pressures, supporting multipolarity in international forums, or advocating for African representation in global governance, Russia and Togo—as well as Togo’s neighbors—share converging strategic interests and economic complementarity. The Moscow summit brought these interests to the forefront and laid the groundwork for deeper economic and political synergy.
Economic and Trade Cooperation
While Russia–Togo trade volumes remain modest today, they carry considerable potential for rapid expansion. Fertilizers, grains, and industrial products from Russia have already begun entering Togolese markets, while Togo supplies agricultural goods that complement Russian imports.
During his meeting with Faure Gnassingbé in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin emphasized that reopening embassies in both Russia and Togo in 2026 will supply the missing institutional framework to significantly catalyze trade and economic cooperation. Although bilateral trade is moderate – Togo imported around US$97 million from Russia in 2024, including US$75.6 million in fertilizers, plus mineral fuels and other goods. On the export side, Togo shipped approximately US$6.6 million of cocoa products to Russia in the same year. Despite these relatively modest numbers, Putin noted that the upward trend is unmistakable. The reopening of diplomatic missions together with the formation of an intergovernmental commission should pave the way to deepen and diversify this trade: Russia foresees expanding its grain shipments (the first batch of 27,000 tonnes were shipped in January), increasing fertilizer exports, and developing long-term infrastructure and energy projects. Russia increased its wheat exports to Africa by 35% in 2024. These measures will not only strengthen food security across Africa, including Togo, during a period of global fragility, but also create significant long-term potential for expanded wheat and grain trade between Russia and African nations—including, as previously noted, the Sahel region.
On the Togolese side, Russian investments and partnerships could boost value-added production in agriculture, mining (notably phosphates), and logistics, sectors where Togo is already competitive. According to both leaders, these developments could drive bilateral trade into tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars annually, reinforcing Russia’s broader economic footprint in West Africa.
Reaching a stated goal of US$1 billion in Russia–Togo trade within five years is challenging but achievable if major drivers align. Rapid expansion in agriculture, energy, industrial projects, security cooperation, and aviation could lift trade tenfold. Embassy reopenings and large-scale investments are essential to transform Togo into a key West African hub for Russian commerce. Expanding ruble-based trade with West Africa is increasingly urgent for unlocking full two-way trade and investment growth potentials, helping bypass sanctions and stabilize settlements. But its success depends on stronger banking links, digital payment systems, and central bank coordination before it can become a widespread regional practice.
- Industrial and Infrastructure Cooperation
Togo’s long-term industrialization plans require reliable partners in energy, transport, logistics, and manufacturing. Russia, with decades of experience in engineering, logistics management, and large-scale infrastructure projects, is well positioned to assist. Opportunities include urban transport and road modernization, new and green energy cooperation, nuclear energy cooperation, automotive cooperation including assembly and servicing, aviation sector development through regulatory and technical support, tourism, renewable and conventional energy technologies. For Moscow, these sectors offer gateways to expand its commercial presence across West Africa through durable, long-term partnerships rather than short-term export transactions.
- Agricultural and Food Security Partnerships
Togo is eager to enhance its food security and agricultural productivity. Russian grain, fertilizer, and agricultural technologies directly support these goals. Long-term agreements on food shipments, combined with local projects in storage and processing, could make Togo a key distribution point for Russian agricultural exports to the wider West African and Sahel region.
- Education, Training, and Human Capital
One of the most transformative pillars of Russia’s engagement with Togo has been the rapid expansion of Russian scholarships for Togolese students. Over the past few years, the number of government-sponsored places in Russian universities has multiplied several times over. Russia–Togo cooperation has rapidly deepened, highlighted by a major surge in Russian state scholarships to Togolese students—from just 10 to 86 for the 2025 academic year in two years—underscoring human capital as a core pillar of their growing partnership. For Togo, this is an investment in future engineers, doctors, and administrators. For Russia, it builds durable human ties and goodwill elements that have long been central to its diplomacy.
- Security Cooperation: A Stabilizing Force in West Africa
Russia’s emerging role as a security partner is one of the most consequential dimensions of the Moscow–Lomé partnership. With West Africa confronting rising extremist threats and the aftershocks of destabilization in the Sahel, Togo has moved proactively to strengthen its defense capabilities. A newly formalized military cooperation agreement between Russia and Togo includes training of Togolese military personnel, support for counterterrorism and border protection, intelligence cooperation, medical and emergency support, possible joint exercises, and equipment assistance. For Togo, the partnership enhances national security at a time when threats are evolving. For Russia, it strengthens its role as a dependable security provider in a strategically sensitive region. This is particularly relevant as many African states increasingly seek alternatives to traditional Western security frameworks, which have failed to stabilize the Sahel despite years of intervention. Russia offers a model of cooperation based on respect for sovereignty and practical capabilities, an approach that resonates deeply across Africa. The agreement significantly widens opportunities for Russian defense and security companies, offering a structured path for equipment sales, advisory services, and long-term strategic presence in West Africa.
Russia’s Expanding Economic Footprint in Africa
The Togolese Prime Minister’s visit must be understood within the broader context of Russia’s fast-growing economic presence on the continent. Russia’s accelerated diplomatic return to Africa, marked by reopening embassies in Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea and upcoming missions in South Sudan, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Gambia, and the Comoros lays the foundation for a powerful expansion of Russia–Africa trade. This renewed presence strengthens political dialogue, unlocks new markets, and deepens long-term economic cooperation. Investors and businesses must be ready to explore the new momentum of this Russia-Africa trade potential. Russian trade with Africa has risen sharply in recent years, driven by agricultural exports, energy partnerships, and new industrial projects. The global reorientation of supply chains and the rise of South–South cooperation have amplified Africa’s importance in Russia’s long-term strategy.
Russia’s approach prioritizes non-interference, long-term industrial projects, capacity-building and technology transfer, military cooperation on a state-to-state basis, support for multipolarity, and partnerships based on mutual benefit. Togo, with its advanced reforms, stable governance, and regional influence, is an ideal partner in this strategy.
A Partnership for the Multipolar Era
Perhaps the most significant dimension of the Russia–Togo engagement is its symbolic and geopolitical power. As international politics shift from unipolar dominance toward diversified power centers, partnerships like these illustrate the emergence of a new global architecture. For Russia, cooperation with Togo is part of a broader rebalancing that strengthens ties with the Global South. For Togo, the partnership provides a diversified set of opportunities free from the political conditionalities often attached to Western aid. Together, the two nations are aligning around a shared vision of sovereign development, diversified economic choices, and a world where smaller states can pursue their interests with dignity and independence. In this context, the Moscow visit is more than diplomatic diplomacy, and it is a declaration that Africa’s role in the global order is rising and that Russia intends to be a central partner in that ascent.
A Strategic Milestone With Long-Term Consequences
The visit of Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbé to Moscow marks a strategic moment for both Russia and Togo. It accelerates a relationship that is grounded in shared interests and fortified by concrete projects in defense, agriculture, energy, education, and infrastructure. For Russia, it strengthens a key partnership in West Africa at a time when African nations are seeking new economic and security alliances. For Togo, it offers reliable cooperation that supports national development goals and enhances its regional role. Russia’s message is clear: its engagement with Africa is long-term, respectful, and mutually beneficial. Togo’s message is equally clear: the future of African development lies in diversified partnerships that empower nations—not constrain them. This visit opens a new chapter, not only for Russia–Togo relations, but also for the broader transformation of Africa’s global partnerships in a rapidly changing world.
This article was written by Ibrahim Khalil Ahasan, a Dhaka-based independent columnist and freelance journalist on contemporary international issues whose work has been published in many local and international publications.
Further Reading
Russia’s Developing Trade & Investment In Africa: Background and Current Status
