As first-ever ‘Russia-Africa Summit’ is being held, two nuclear-capable Russian bombers land in South Africa

Sochi: Two Russian strategic nuclear bombers arrived at the South African Air Base on Wednesday. This is the first instance of Russian bombers landing in the African continent. Analysts believe that it represented the deepening cooperation between Russia and Africa. The Russian bombers landing in South Africa, while the first Russia-Africa summit was being held in the Russian city of Sochi, presided over by Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a significant development.

Two Russian nuclear ‘Tupolev Tu-160’ bombers landed at the Waterkloof Airforce base, near the city of Pretoria, in South Africa, on Wednesday. Along with the senior officials from the South African Defence Ministry, officials from the Russian Embassy also were present. The South African officials informed that it was a part of the growing defence cooperation between Russia and South Africa.

Analysts informed that the landing of the Russian bombers in the African continent was proof of the increasing Russian influence in the African continent. The first ever Russia-Africa summit in the Russian city of Sochi demonstrated the fact that after the United States and China, Russia was also trying to increase their influence in Africa.

The decisions Russian President Putin took at the Russia-Africa summit as also the agreements inked between the two nations were part of the Russia’s Mission Africa, as per analysts. In the last few years, Russia is trying to get a foothold in the African countries like Algeria, Nigeria, Rwanda and Central African Republic. The deployment of a private military unit from the Russian defence sector in the Central African Republic was highlighted as being a part of the same effort.

President Putin announced at the Russia-Africa Summit that the loans worth nearly $20 billion provided to the African nations, were being waved off. The Russia-Africa trade was around $20 billion in 2018. Taking that into account, the Russian President’s announcement assumes much significance. At the same time, the Russian officials are also said to be in the process of signing defence deals worth billions of dollars with the African countries.

Preciously, both China and the United States have succeeded in expanding their influence in the African continent and now, Russia is entering the fray. Analysts assert the landing of the Russian bombers and the Russia-Africa summit made the fact evident.

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