African countries should have modern armed forces, Russia will expand interaction with the countries of the region in the field of military and military-technical cooperation, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the XI Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS).
"We are convinced that African countries should have modern armed forces, trained and well-equipped, capable of responding independently to challenges and threats to their own security," he said. "The Russian Defense Ministry will continue to expand interaction with African countries in the sphere of military and military-technical cooperation."
The Russian minister added that the fight against neocolonialism and terrorist threats is a basic element of cooperation between Russia and African countries.
"Today we have an opportunity to discuss in detail the military aspects of security in Africa, to define and adjust the priorities of military and military-technical cooperation. The discussions held during the Russia-Africa summit have strengthened our confidence that the fight against neo-colonialism, along with the fight against the terrorist threat, is a basic element of cooperation," Shoigu said.
The Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) is an annual event organized by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Its purpose is to strengthen interaction between military departments of different countries and to search for common ways to meet new challenges and threats.
The agenda of the conference usually includes the issues that are most important in shaping views on international security. Separate plenary sessions are traditionally devoted to an exchange of views on contemporary military threats, including the improvement of the arms control system. Security issues in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America are usually discussed.
The conference is being held with the participation of the Russian Minister of Defense, Army General Sergey Shoigu, and invites defense officials from various countries, heads of international organizations, as well as representatives of academic circles and non-governmental experts.