Russia aims to expand cooperation with Sahel states alliance

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Moscow's commitment to deepen strategic ties with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). During July 2026 ministerial consultations in Niamey, Lavrov and the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger discussed expanding cooperation in defense, counterterrorism, military training, and infrastructure.

Lavrov and AES leaders emphasized their shared their joint vision for a "fair multipolar world order". This expanded alliance also features tangible cooperative projects, such as plans to build the Sahel’s first shared telecom satellite.