Russia in Africa: Soviet Legacies, Current Objectives, Local Responses

Please join the Program on U.S.-Russia Relations at the Harriman Institute and the Columbia Institute of African Studies for a panel discussion on the role of Russia in Africa, organized and moderated by Elise Giuliano (Harriman Institute).

In recent years, Russia has stepped up its engagement in Africa, forging military and security agreements as well as business relationships with leaders in several states. What lies behind Russia’s “return” to Africa? During the Cold War, Africa constituted a major site of Soviet geopolitical competition with the U.S. Does this history, as well as the legacy of Soviet antiracism, inform Russia’s current goals and actions on the continent? Panelists will explore this issue, as well as the impact of Russia’s presence on security and humanitarian crises within Africa. What has been the reaction of various local actors to Russia’s presence? Panelists will also discuss the policy response: how should the international community and the West respond to Russian engagement in Africa?