Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during a telephone conversation with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop, affirmed Moscow’s commitment to enhancing Mali’s military capabilities, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The statement outlined that Russia will continue to support Bamako by addressing urgent socio-economic issues, improving the combat effectiveness of Mali’s armed forces, and providing training for military and law enforcement personnel to combat ongoing terrorist threats.
The two diplomats also discussed advancing the traditionally strong relationship between Russia and Mali, exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration in political, trade, economic, humanitarian, and other areas. The conversation was initiated by Mali.
Last week, tensions heightened in northeastern Mali near the Algerian border. On July 25 and 26, armed militants attacked a patrol of Malian government troops in Tinzaouaten, resulting in significant losses for the Malian armed forces, including substantial casualties and damage to equipment.
