• Russia-Togo military pact nears ratification; joint drills, training, intel, free medical aid included
• Togo turns to Moscow amid northern jihadist surge as French-US influence fades in Sahel.
• The deal may unsettle ECOWAS; Lomé stresses the importance of multipolar diplomacy, anchored by its deep-water port.

Russia’s legislative committee approved a bill on July 22, to ratify a framework agreement on military cooperation with Togo, following the signing of the agreement a few months earlier. The agreement includes joint military exercises, training for Togolese soldiers, the sharing of security intelligence, and free emergency medical services.

Vladimir Grouzdev, president of the Association of Lawyers of Russia and a commission member, told the official Russian press agency, “The agreement is of a framework nature and provides for the granting of medical aid: the host party undertakes to provide emergency medical assistance free of charge to the other state-party.”

This agreement comes at a time of rising jihadist attacks in Togo's northern savannah. The security challenges have led Togo to pursue closer military collaborations. Although parliamentary approval is still pending, this development occurs against a wider geopolitical backdrop marked by declining French and American influence in the Sahel region, along with a growing Russian footprint through similar agreements with Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

This realignment could shift regional power balances. Some analysts view it as an opportunity for Togo to bolster its security sovereignty. Others fear it might create tensions with ECOWAS, where Togo remains a crucial member and key transit point for goods, as well as a diplomatic actor.

Despite concerns, Togo stays dedicated to a multipolar foreign policy. It continues to broaden its international alliances to adapt to a shifting global environment. Central to this approach is Lomé's deep-water port, which gives Togo a logistical edge and reinforces its position as a regional gateway.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum