Russia and Equatorial Guinea have reaffirmed plans to deepen defense and security cooperation following high-level talks between their foreign ministers in Moscow. Equatorial Guinea’s Foreign Minister Simeon Oyono Esono Angue met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday to discuss military collaboration, regional security and Russia’s expanding influence across Africa. During the meeting, Lavrov said Moscow remained committed to supporting Equatorial Guinea’s defense capabilities through continued military-technical cooperation. “We are always open to listening and meeting your needs in the field of defense capability as much as possible,” Lavrov told Angue.
Angue praised Russia’s growing security role in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region and the Central African Republic, where Russian-backed security operations have expanded in recent years. “We see what is happening in the Sahel. The involvement of Russia in defense and security in this area of the African continent has had great results due to Russia’s intervention to promote peace and security in the Sahel,” Angue said. He added that Russia’s engagement in Central Africa had also contributed to efforts aimed at stabilising conflict-affected regions.
Russia has steadily expanded its political, military and economic presence across Africa through defense agreements, energy projects and diplomatic partnerships, particularly in countries facing insurgencies or deteriorating relations with Western governments. Analysts say Moscow’s strategy in Africa increasingly focuses on security cooperation, arms agreements and resource partnerships as it seeks to strengthen geopolitical influence on the continent. The talks in Moscow reflect growing ties between Russia and several African nations amid shifting global alliances and rising competition for influence in Africa.
