Moscow and African countries are interested in defense cooperation and will continue to develop it, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on Pentagon reports that Russian forces are in Niger on the same base as the US military.
"We are developing our relations in all areas, including defense, with various African states. They are interested and we are also interested in it. We will continue to develop our relations with African states," Peskov told reporters.
In mid-April, Russian military instructors came to Niger to train the country's personnel in counter-terrorism and to install an air defense system.
The arrival of on Russian military instructors in Niger is "a signal of hope and confidence," Malian political scientist Adama Diabaté told Sputnik Africa in April. Beninese analyst Suleiman Amzat also praised the arrival of the Russian instructors in Niger, calling it "a good initiative."
The coordinator of the Nigerien branch of the Tournons la page movement, Maikoul Zodi, told Sputnik Africa that Russian technologies will help the country to get striking power to end terrorism.
Russian forces are sharing a base in Niger with the US military until Washington withdraws its contingent from the West African country, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Washington and Niamey have recently begun discussions for the "orderly withdrawal" of US servicemen based in Niger. The military pullout was initiated in March after a Nigerien military spokesperson said the country's transitional government, which took power in a coup in July 2023, had terminated the military agreement with the US with immediate effect, citing the interests of the Nigerien people.
The country's military authorities stated that the agreement was forced upon them and did not serve the interests of their people as reasons for their decision.
In terms of Russian military assistance, hundreds of officers from the Central African Republic's armed forces are currently being trained in Russia. In early 2018, Russia sent its military instructors to the Central African Republic at the request of the government as the African country suffered from insecurity caused by rebel groups.