Friday, October 11, 2019

Russia-Africa Summit Getting Attention in West

The Hill published on 10 October 2019 a commentary titled "The Russian Offensive in Africa and America's Feeble Response" by K. Riva Levinson, president and CEO of a Washington-based consultancy.

The first ever Russia-Africa summit in Sochi later this month is resulting in an increase in Western interest in Russia-Africa relations and especially the activities of shadowy Russian organizations such as the Wagner Group. While this topic deserves closer attention, it is equally important to look at actual results after the Sochi summit to determine if Russia is really returning to Africa in a major way.

For useful background on Russia-Africa relations, see pages 62-75 and 117-122 of the May 2019 white paper published by the US Department of Defense titled "Russian Strategic Intentions."