New york: Russia on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to operationally supporting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to help them win the fight against terrorism. "We will continue to provide the necessary support to the ESA to win the fight against terrorism, including by strengthening the operational capabilities of the defense and security forces. We are committed to the stabilization and territorial integrity of the ESA space," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He was speaking after a high-level meeting in New York with his counterparts from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this working session is part of the bilateral consultation mechanism established in April 2025 in Moscow. It allowed both parties to take stock of the achievements of the strategic partnership, particularly in the military, economic, and diplomatic fields. Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop welcomed "significant progress," including the recent meeting in Moscow of the defense ministers of the three ESA member states. According to him, "important resolutions" were taken to support the implementation of the future unified force of the AES.
On the economic front, the two parties reiterated their commitment to strengthening trade cooperation. The ministers also discussed the regional political and security situation, as well as relations between the AES and certain African organizations.