Putin meets Togolese Prime Minister as Russia deepens ties with Africa
It has been a busy week in global diplomacy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who held several high-level meetings aimed at strengthening Russia’s relationships with other countries. One of the key meetings took place on Wednesday in Moscow, where Putin welcomed Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbé for talks focused on trade, cooperation, and future diplomatic ties.
During the meeting, Putin said Russia and Togo were making progress in their economic relationship even though both countries currently operate without embassies in each other’s capitals. He explained that trade between Russia and Togo is still small compared to their potential, but it has been steadily growing. According to him, the trend is encouraging and shows that both countries are interested in working together in areas such as agriculture, energy, and technology.
Putin announced that Russia and Togo plan to open embassies in both countries next year. He said this step will make communication easier, help businesses collaborate more effectively, and open new opportunities for investment. The establishment of embassies will also support the work of a new intergovernmental commission, which will coordinate joint projects and monitor progress in trade and economic relations.
“I hope that once the embassies are opened and the commission begins its work, we can not only maintain the positive trend but also speed it up,” Putin said. He added that Russia is interested in expanding its presence in West Africa and sees Togo as a reliable partner in the region.
Prime Minister Gnassingbé’s visit highlights Togo’s efforts to diversify its international partnerships. The country has been seeking new economic opportunities, especially in energy development, infrastructure, and technology transfer. Officials from both sides said they hope the new diplomatic steps will make it easier for Russian companies to invest in Togo and for Togolese businesses to enter the Russian market.
Putin’s meeting with Gnassingbé came just days after another major diplomatic event in Moscow. Earlier in the week, Putin hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting, which brought together leaders from several Asian and Eurasian countries to discuss security, trade, and regional stability. The series of engagements shows Russia’s active push to strengthen global alliances.
The meeting with Togo marks another important step in Russia’s broader plan to expand cooperation with African nations.
