Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, signed a treaty on the "non-use of weapons in space" with Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in Africa.
Politcal Instability
The treaty, intended to prevent the militarization of space, was met with skepticism and mockery online.
Many questioned why Russia would prioritize such an agreement with a country whose economy relies largely on subsistence farming and is currently dealing with a severe food crisis.
Burkina Faso, a former French colony, has faced significant political instability, with a military junta taking control in a coup in 2022.
Despite its dire economic situation, Russia is strengthening its influence in the region, aligning itself with Burkina Faso as part of a broader neo-colonial strategy in Africa.
Expanding Partnerships
At the same time, Russia has been expanding its strategic partnerships elsewhere, particularly with Iran.
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the signing of a comprehensive strategic agreement with Iran, a country facing new sanctions for allegedly supplying ballistic missiles to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.
Despite these sanctions, Russia views Iran as an important ally, and the partnership has grown stronger in recent years.
This growing alliance has fueled tensions between Russia and NATO. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently criticized Russia for escalating the conflict in Ukraine.
They accused Moscow of using Iranian-supplied missiles in its war efforts, further complicating relations between Russia and Western nations. Putin has warned that any NATO involvement in Ukraine’s long-range missile usage could lead to a broader conflict with Russia.
