Putin Opens Russian Skies to African Airlines, Pitches Trade Boom
Addressing the plenary session of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow, Putin said Russia is ready to broaden cooperation with African countries in those four areas.
“We also offer our African partners comprehensive solutions for building reliable logistics routes that will have a direct impact on the growth of trade and investment,” he said. “Naturally, we invite African airlines to begin flights to the Russian Federation.”
TRADE TARGET: $50 BILLION
Putin said Russia-Africa trade could top $50 billion in the near term. He added that Russia is involved in more than 30 prospective energy projects across 16 African countries.
“Russian-African trade turnover exceeded $27 billion last year. In 2022, by the way, it was only $18 (billion). That’s significant growth. True, of course, even that is not enough. I am convinced that we are capable of increasing this figure at least twofold in the very near future and definitely surpassing the $50 billion mark,” he noted.
INFRASTRUCTURE, HEALTH CARE OFFERS
Russia can also design, build and modernize railways, roads, sea routes and transport hubs, and equip them with digital management, tracking and customs declaration systems, Putin said.
On health, he said Moscow plans to localize production of medicines and vaccines in Africa and to set up laboratories and diagnostic centers.
ATTACK ON WESTERN POLICY
Putin cast Africa’s growing weight in global affairs as part of a wider shift toward a more equitable, multipolar world in which the majority’s voice carries more influence. He said Russia and African states had together helped lay the groundwork for a fairer international order.
The Russian leader pointed to Moscow’s past backing for African liberation movements, economic development and the creation of national armed forces.
He accused the West of steering African nations into a “debt trap,” and called tariff wars and sanctions “tools of neocolonialism.”
Putin also urged changes to how the IMF and the World Bank operate, saying their work should be refocused on the needs of developing economies.
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