As President Donald Trump seeks a with Putin on Ukraine, the Kremlin is stalling鈥攁nd making gains elsewhere. While Washington remains absorbed in Eastern Europe, Moscow is expanding its reach in Africa, pushing steadily toward the Atlantic coast. Working under the radar, Russia is building military , securing , and the regional balance from the Red Sea to West Africa.
If the Trump administration , the Kremlin will lock in another strategic foothold on NATO鈥檚 southern flank. And it won鈥檛 be alone: Russia is deepening coordination with China and Iran, forming a hostile axis intent on challenging Western dominance across multiple theaters鈥攍and, sea, air, and the airwaves.
The US from Niger鈥攆ollowing France鈥檚 from Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso鈥攎ark the collapse of Western footholds in the Sahel. As the West retreats, Russia is rapidly filling the vacuum, embedding itself in security structures and expanding its influence beyond its borders. And it鈥檚 not just political influence鈥擱ussia is Africa鈥檚 top , accounting for 40 percent of the continent鈥檚 weapon imports.
This isn鈥檛 mere opportunism鈥攊t鈥檚 Putin鈥檚 asymmetric warfare at work. Arming juntas, backing coups, and exploiting chaos, Moscow is seizing the power vacuums left by the West. At a summit in Sochi last November, Putin : 鈥淥ur country will continue to provide total support to our African friends.鈥�
Moscow鈥檚 growing influence in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger鈥攖he newly formed (AES)鈥攕ignals a clear trajectory. Between 2020 and 2023, military juntas in these countries seized power through Russian-backed coups, ending military and diplomatic ties with regional allies, , and the United States. Now, they are deepening security cooperation under Moscow鈥檚 guidance. A joint force of from Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali will to deploy in the central Sahel, reinforcing Russian influence while sidelining Western-backed security structures.
But Russia isn鈥檛 just backing these regimes鈥攊t鈥檚 rewiring Africa鈥檚 security architecture through its shadowy mercenary corporation Wagner PMC. More than a paramilitary group, Wagner is for embedding in security forces and reshaping the region鈥檚 balance of power. By supplying military aid and diplomatic cover, Moscow is making itself the backbone of their survival, ensuring long-term control over the region鈥檚 future.
Moscow is now extending this to the Atlantic coast. In Mauritania, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov鈥檚 was part of a broader Russian diplomatic push. While the Mauritanian government reaffirmed its commitment to international law, it also expressed that it 鈥渦nderstands鈥� Russia鈥檚 security concerns鈥攑roof that Moscow鈥檚 narrative is gaining traction.