Russian President Vladimir Putin will host Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe at the Kremlin on Wednesday to discuss expanding cooperation between Moscow and the West African phosphate producer. The meeting, requested by Putin, will focus on diplomacy, trade, agriculture, energy, training, and food security, according to a statement from Togo.
Gnassingbe’s family has ruled Togo since 1967. Russia’s growing influence in Africa—including in countries such as Angola, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, and Mozambique—has raised concerns among Western European nations and the United States. Russia is a major supplier of grain and fertiliser to Togo, ranking as the world’s second-largest fertiliser producer after China and the top global exporter.
