Russian President Vladimir Putin has used the close of the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow to portray Russia as a “true partner” of African states, promising deeper cooperation on food security, healthcare, technology and defense while pressing for a multipolar world order.
The two-day meeting concluded with the adoption of the Moscow Declaration and a joint action plan running to 2029. The summit brought together delegations from 48 African countries, with 22 represented by heads of state, according to African Initiative.
Speaking at the closing plenary on October 29, Putin accused Western powers of pursuing “neocolonial” policies and said Moscow offered cooperation based on sovereign equality, non-interference and respect for national cultures.
Referring to economic issues, Putin said Russia-Africa trade exceeded $27 billion in 2025, up from about $18 billion in 2022, and argued that the total could soon at least double. He pledged that Russia would remain a reliable grain supplier, including through contractual and free-of-charge deliveries.
Over 40 African countries already receive Russian grain and fertilizers, and Moscow offers to share agricultural technology in crop cultivation, livestock, food processing and storage.
Putin highlighted education and health cooperation, saying the number of African students in Russia had risen by 50 percent since 2020 to about 40,000. He also proposed local production of medicines and vaccines in Africa, alongside cooperation in digital technology and public administration.
Participants adopted the Moscow Declaration, which Putin said reaffirmed support for a “just and democratic” multipolar order grounded in international law and the UN Charter. The 2027-2029 action plan covers trade, investment, agriculture, health, education, technology and humanitarian cooperation. It also calls for fewer trade barriers, greater use of national currencies and alternative payment systems, and expanded transport and logistics links.
Defense ties featured prominently despite the summit’s economic focus. Putin’s adviser Anton Kobiakov said 30 African countries had military-technical cooperation agreements with Russia, describing such links as a longstanding feature of relations dating to the Soviet era.
