Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé at the Kremlin on Wednesday for discussions focused on strengthening relations between Moscow and the West African country.
According to a statement from Lomé, Gnassingbé, whose family has governed Togo since 1967, accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Russia.
The two leaders are expected to deepen cooperation in peace, security and development, while also exploring broader partnerships in diplomacy, trade, agriculture, energy, education and food security.
Their talks will include international issues of shared concern, such as regional security, climate change and ongoing efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to Business Insider Africa.
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Russia has been expanding its footprint across Africa in recent years, engaging more actively in Angola, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Madagascar, Mali and Mozambique, an assertive strategy that has drawn attention from Western European nations and the United States.
Moscow’s interest in Togo dates back at least to June 2018, when Mikhail Bogdanov, Putin’s special representative for Africa, visited Lomé.
Since then, bilateral ties have grown steadily, with education becoming a central pillar. Russia now provides annual scholarships to Togolese students, increasing from about ten two years ago to 86 for the 2024–2025 academic year.
Security cooperation also expanded after Moscow ratified a military agreement with Togo in October 2025, covering joint exercises, training, intelligence sharing and emergency medical support.
Economically, Togo already imports Russian grain, and Russia plays a dominant role in the global fertiliser market. It is the world’s second-largest producer after China and remains the largest exporter.
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Image Credit: PRIO
