Moscow has said it is ready to help build joint armed forces for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to bolstering the defense capabilities of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) following talks in Moscow on Thursday.

Speaking after a meeting with his counterparts from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared "to actively assist in building the capacity of the joint forces of the Sahel states, enhancing their combat readiness, as well as that of the national armed forces of each of the three countries, and in training military personnel and law enforcement officers."

Moscow's readiness to aid in the creation of a unified armed force for the three Sahel nations would be in addition to existing bilateral efforts to enhance defense cooperation, the diplomat noted.

Lavrov also said Russian assistance would involve support for the alliance's broader strategic priorities, including economic development and diplomatic processes.

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop thanked Russia for "always supporting us in the difficult moments of the story." "We know that friends can be found in distress. Many thanks for your solidarity," Diop said.

He also announced that the country's interim president, General Assimi Goita, will visit Moscow in June.

Niger's foreign minister, Bakari Yaou Sangare, emphasized that the AES looks to Russia for assistance in securing arms supplies, noting that the alliance faces an increasingly difficult global environment.

"The people of the Sahel are counting on Russia. They expect it to stand by us and support us in our fight against terrorism and in our struggle for independence," Sangare stated.

Burkina Faso and its neighbors, Mali and Niger, also under military rule, have severed defense ties with their former colonial power, France. The three countries have established a new group - the AES - and have sought security cooperation with Russia, which has agreed to assist them in counter-terrorism efforts.

Earlier in March, a high-level Russian delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov visited Mali and held talks with the West African nation's officials on strengthening bilateral security cooperation.

Last September, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Niger's ambassador to Russia, Abdou Sidikou Isa, held talks about resolving the longstanding conflicts in the Sahel region days after an Al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military training school in Bamako, Mali. Russia has since assured Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso of its military support.

(RT.com)