Moscow is ready to supply the necessary military equipment to Mozambique to improve the country's defense capabilities and aid in the fight against terrorism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
"Building on the existing good experience, we will be ready to supply military products required by our Mozambican friends, including those to ensure defense capability and beef up anti-terrorist potential," Lavrov told reporters after talks with Mozambican Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources Carlos Alberto Fortes Mesquita.
Lavrov also pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet with Nyusi on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in July.
"We are waiting for a representative delegation of Mozambique headed by President Filipe Nyusi … a separate bilateral meeting between the leaders of Russia and Mozambique will take place at a forum event," the top diplomat said.
The Russian foreign minister also commented on the accusations put forward by the US Ambassador to South Africa of weapons being supplied to Russia, advising the US official to "know his place" and not to meddle in relations between Moscow and Pretoria.
"If an American or any other overseas ambassador sees something wrong, then you should know your place and stay out of other people's business," Lavrov stressed.
As for arms supplies, Lavrov noted that Russia never violates international norms, unlike "Western colleagues, who, while declaring neutrality with regard to the events in Ukraine, are flooding that country full of modern, long-range and unsafe weapons, including for those who use them."
The top diplomat added that both South Africa and Russia "are sovereign states that conduct their relations in full compliance with the norms and principles of international law."
"US ambassadors would probably do better to improve their image in the eyes of the foreign public," Lavrov remarked.
Regarding the humanitarian supplies to Mozambique, Lavrov said that another shipment of Russian humanitarian aid would soon arrive in one of the country's ports. According to the chief diplomat, "Russia traditionally provides humanitarian assistance to Mozambique, primarily by supplying food through the World Food Programme."
Earlier this week, the minister visited Kenya and Burundi. After that, Russia's top diplomat will head to South Africa, where he will take part in a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers.
This is the fourth visit by the Kremlin's top diplomat to the African continent in the year. In July 2022, the minister traveled to Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Republic of Congo. Six months later, in January 2023, Russia's diplomacy boss toured South Africa, Eswatini, Angola and Eritrea, and in February he visited Mali, Mauritania and Sudan.