Military hardware, gold refining top agenda in Mali–Tatarstan diplomatic meeting
Mali's President Assimi Goïta visited the Kazan Kremlin to discuss military cooperation and the development of Mali's gold sector.
Discussions included potential defense equipment acquisitions, economic ties, and collaborative projects like a gold refinery in Mali.
These talks aim to build long-term strategic partnerships between Mali and the Republic of Tatarstan aiding Mali's geopolitical realignment.
Goïta's visit highlights Mali's growing ties with Moscow in the wake of its exit from ECOWAS and its ongoing military transition—part of a broader effort to redefine the country's geopolitical stance and build new strategic partnerships beyond the West.
Following a high-level meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Goïta traveled to the Republic of Tatarstan, where he held talks with Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic, at the Kazan Kremlin.
The Republic of Tatarstan is a semi-autonomous republic within the Russian Federation, located in the Volga Federal District. While it is part of Russia, Tatarstan maintains a distinct cultural identity, with its own president (as a regional head), constitution, and official languages—Russian and Tatar.
The meetings reflect both the symbolic and strategic dimensions of the strengthening Mali–Russia relationship, particularly in defense and resource cooperation.
Minnikhanov welcomed Goïta to Kazan and expressed gratitude for Mali's interest in collaborating with Tatarstan:
' During your stay, you'll have the chance to become more familiar with our republic's capabilities, its history, culture, and traditions. We, in turn, will ensure your visit is both fruitful and engaging,' he said.
The talks also emphasized the rapid economic growth across Africa in recent years and reaffirmed the growing importance of Russia's relations with the continent.
Mali, Tatarstan seek relations in military, refining.
On the security front, Mali is expected to request advanced military hardware, including drones, armored vehicles, and air defense systems, to reinforce its fight against jihadist insurgencies.
During the meeting, Minnikhanov highlighted opportunities for strengthening trade and economic ties between Tatarstan and Mali. He noted that African markets are already familiar with Kazan-produced Mi-series helicopters and KAMAZ trucks, known for their Dakar Rally victories.
' There is a real promise in mechanical engineering, food processing, agriculture, and innovation,' he added.
He also pointed to the gold refinery project spearheaded by the company 'Yadran' as a tangible example of ongoing cooperation.
The refinery, currently under construction in Mali, is the result of collaboration between the Malian government, Russia's Yadran, and a Swiss investment company.
Mali, one of Africa's largest gold producers, aims to boost domestic refining capacity through this strategic partnership.
The cornerstone laying ceremony for the refinery took place on June 16. Construction is expected to be completed within 18 months, after which the facility will begin operations with an initial design capacity of 100 tonnes per year.
Plans are already in place to expand capacity to 200 tonnes annually in subsequent phases.
During his visit to Kazan, Goïta expressed interest in deepening industrial cooperation with Russian enterprises, particularly in the transport and defense sectors.
'We are interested in cooperating with KAMAZ and other enterprises,' Goïta stated, referring to the renowned Russian truck manufacturer known for its durability and performance in challenging environments.
Goïta's visit signals a broader strategic shift. As Russia deepens its footprint in West Africa, countries like Mali are increasingly turning to Moscow for support—not only in defense, but also in critical sectors such as mining, infrastructure, and energy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
38 minutes ago
Russia starts direct commercial flights between Moscow and Pyongyang
MOSCOW -- Russia on Sunday opened a regular air link between Moscow and Pyogyang, a move reflecting increasingly close ties between the two countries. The first flight operated by Russian carrier Nordwind took off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport carrying over 400 passengers. Russia's Transport Ministry said there will be one flight a month to meet demand. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who visited North Korea's new Wonsan-Kalma beach resort earlier this month to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, promised to encourage Russian tourists to visit the complex. The resort, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, is at the center of Kim's push to boost tourism to improve his country's troubled economy. North Korea has been slowly easing the curbs imposed during the pandemic and reopening its borders in phases. But the country hasn't said if it would fully resume international tourism. Regular flights between Russia's eastern port city of Vladivostok and Pyongyang reopened in 2023 following a break caused by the coronavirus pandemic. in Ukraine.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Russia's economy is now so militarized, it may keep expanding its army even after the Ukraine war
Russia's war machine has become such an integral part of its economic engine that its military industry is likely to keep expanding even after the fighting in Ukraine ends, according to a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "The end of hostilities will not lead to a radical cut-off of military investment," wrote CSIS analysts in a report published on Thursday. Now in its fourth year, Russia's war with Ukraine continues even as Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration weathers sweeping Western sanctions. And while cracks are starting to show, the Russian economy may still be able to sustain the war effort for several more years, the report said. Defense spending is set to hit a post-Soviet record of 6.3% of GDP in 2025 and could climb even higher despite mounting signs of economic slowdown or recession. "Russia's economy appears sustainable for the next few years," the CSIS analysts wrote. They forecast that the Kremlin could maintain its war of attrition through at least 2027. 'Russia could be preparing for some kind of future confrontation with NATO' The CSIS report comes amid renewed scrutiny of Russia's economy. Manufacturing activity contracted last month, and employment has suffered. GDP growth slowed to 1.4% in the first quarter, down sharply from 4.5% in the previous quarter. Still, Russia has defied expectations thanks to its growing military-industrial complex. "Having become the most sanctioned country in the world, it has managed to maneuver around many economic constraints, keeping revenues from energy sales high and its budget balanced, investing in the military and defense industry, ramping up domestic production of weapons and equipment, and boosting economic growth," wrote the think tank analysts. Crucially, the militarized economy has built a broad base of political and economic stakeholders — from elites to ordinary workers — who benefit from continued conflict. That makes any significant drawdown in military activity politically and economically unlikely. Even if a ceasefire is reached, Russia may still be able to rebuild and expand its armed forces over the next decade. "Russia's war-induced socioeconomic changes have been so significant that the process of societal militarization is unlikely to stop even if the war in Ukraine were to end," wrote the CSIS analysts. The Kremlin's strategic posture hasn't softened either. CSIS suggests Russia is preparing for a long-term confrontation with NATO, using the war to modernize its forces and test Western resolve. Beyond conventional arms, Russia has ramped up hybrid warfare, including cyberattacks, disinformation, sabotage, political meddling, and strikes on critical infrastructure. These tools allow Moscow to operate aggressively across multiple fronts. "Despite being inferior to NATO in terms of its conventional capabilities, today's Russia represents a bigger challenge to European security than it did at the start of 2022," the CSIS analysts wrote. The Kremlin is learning from past failures, adapting quickly, and growing more confident in what it sees as a West unwilling to stop it. "Moscow's ongoing large-scale military reforms signal that Russia could be preparing for some kind of future confrontation with NATO within roughly the next decade—including even a large-scale conventional war," they wrote.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
India ramps up rare earth partnership with 5 African nations to counter China's dominance
India is intensifying its engagement with Africa in a strategic bid to diversify its sources of rare earth elements (REEs) amid growing global concerns over China's dominance in the critical minerals market. India is enhancing collaborations with Africa to secure rare earth elements (REEs) and reduce its reliance on China. This move addresses global concerns over China's dominance, controlling over 90% of REE supply, and its recent export restrictions. India's partnerships include agreements with Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Côte D'Ivoire and other countries Reuters reports that China currently controls over 90% of the global supply, raising urgent concerns about supply chain security. Earlier this year, Beijing further restricted the export of rare-earth magnets, escalating pressure on countries dependent on the technology. In response, India has stepped up its bilateral outreach to strengthen its supply chain and reduce reliance on Chinese exports. According to India's Minister of State for Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh, New Delhi already has cooperation agreements in place with mineral-rich countries, including key African suppliers of rare earth and critical minerals. "In the interest of developing bilateral cooperation with countries having rich mineral resources, the Ministry of Mines has entered into bilateral agreements with the governments of several countries, including Australia, Argentina, Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Côte D'Ivoire, as well as international organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA)," Singh said in a written statement. While India's engagement also spans countries in Latin America and Asia, Africa stands out as a vital partner due to its vast untapped reserves and growing geopolitical importance. Consequently the emerging Asian giant has begun initiating government-to-government memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with countries like Brazil and the Dominican Republic. Singh added, " The broad objective of the MoUs is to provide an overarching framework for cooperation in research, development, and innovation in mining, with a particular focus on rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals." Mineral-rich Africa emerges as rare earth battleground Africa, endowed with vast reserves of rare earth minerals vital to modern technology, has become the epicentre of a growing geopolitical contest involving China, the West, and India. These minerals, essential for powering electric vehicles, smartphones, military systems, and clean energy technologies, are now seen as strategic assets that could reshape the global balance of power. India, now the world's fifth-largest economy, is leveraging its democratic credentials and expanding global clout to position itself as a strategic partner. Its investments, particularly in sectors like electric mobility, defence, and renewable energy, rely heavily on a stable supply of rare earths. This engagement initiated by India, is part of a broader global race not only to access raw materials but to influence the future of manufacturing, trade, and technological advancement. Unlike previous extractive models, the emerging approach places greater emphasis on value addition within Africa. Many governments across the continent are pushing for processing, infrastructure development, and local job creation, aiming to convert mineral wealth into long-term economic growth.
