Russia’s trade with African countries totaled $27 billion in 2025, a relationship that accounted for 3.9% of the country’s foreign commerce. Russian President Vladimir Putin said companies were weighing production in Africa amid Western sanctions, The Moscow Times reported Thursday.
Putin spoke on the second day of the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. Delegations from 48 African countries attended, with 22 heads of state among the participants, the outlet reported. Putin did not name any companies considering production moves. He described the interest as “mutual” and the firms’ investment potential as “sufficiently high.”
Putin said African governments should retain control over investment decisions and that investments should remain secure through political changes. He also said trade could double to $50 billion in the near future. The Moscow Times reported that he has repeated the doubling target since at least 2019. The 2025 trade total was 2.4% lower than the 2024 figure.
The outlet reported that Russia’s influence in Africa is grounded largely in military cooperation and security agreements. Analysts cited in the article said some African governments maintain relations with Moscow to balance Western and Chinese influence. The report also noted concerns about African citizens being recruited to fight in Ukraine.
