Russia's Quiet Rise in Africa

Russia is making some big moves behind the scenes, ATS. Putin, the Great Chess Master, is setting up the game for victory when he checkmate's everyone. According to the article, Russia is now making some serious inroads into Africa as the continent is starting to see some serious growth; spearheaded by heavy investment from China. Africa is full of resources including some of the largest untapped reserves for minerals, oil and gas in the world. Russia is re-kindling its relations with Africa whereas after the fall of the Soviet Union, those relations had collapsed. In fact Gazprom has recently partnered with Algeria’s state gas company, which will give Russia control of nearly 40 percent of Europe’s gas consumption. It's a win-win for Russia.

But while Putin’s declaration sent political analysts scrambling to figure out what all this meant for Russian-American relations, it turned out that Moscow was quietly in the middle of a equally important shift, courting a new and unlikely international partner: Africa. Indeed, in recent years, this unusual relationship has strengthened to a new level as Russian investments across Africa have grown at an astounding rate. Overall trade has increased more than tenfold over the past decade or so, with exports jumping from under $950 million to $4 billion, and imports from Africa rising from $350 million to $1.6 billion. For Russia to reclaim its role as a global power after long being seen as a “junior partner” by the West, “it needed to be present in all geographies — and, of course, Africa is an increasingly important one,” says Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, a research organization.

Indeed, for most developed countries Africa’s growing economic importance is now impossible to overlook. In the next five years, the continent will be home to eight of the 10 fastest-growing economies, and in the next 15 years its GDP is expected to reach that of Eastern Europe. But there’s also plenty of allure today: It’s already home to some of the largest untapped reserves for minerals, oil and gas in the world.

Russia is undoubtedly rising back to power, and just like China, Africa is playing a major role in that rise. If this new collaboration between Russia and Africa works out then I think Chessmaster Putin will be able to say "Checkmate" to the West. What says ATS?

news.yahoo.com...

a reply to: lostbook

Why would he say checkmate when the west is already enslaved in the global market?

If by checkmate you mean, Russia will become economically more powerful than the US, then yeah that's probably getting close to happening. Next, Russia will economically invade India if they have not already.

a reply to: lostbook

Felt the need to google Russian and Sudan after reading your post: found this Russian Sudan Relations

when Vladimir Putin was elected the President, and then the Prime Minister of Russia, and along with Chinese leader Hu Jintao opposed UN Peacekeepers in Darfur. Russia strongly supports Sudan's territorial integrity and opposes the creation of an independent Darfurian state. Also, Russia is Sudan's strongest investment partner (in Europe) and political ally in Europe, and Russia has repeatedly and significantly regarded Sudan as an important global ally in the African continent.

SIPRI reports that only 8 percent of Sudanese arms are Chinese, and that Russian arms actually make up the majority, at 87 percent. Russia is the major weapons supplier to the Sudan

Sounds like Russia has been making a bunch selling arms to Sudan, and making a strategic alliance.

a reply to: Observationalist

Thanks for that. As I stated in the article, the former Soviet Union had strong ties to Africa, and now Putin is re-kindling those ties.

a reply to: lostbook

Well, if anything Putin is only playing his strategies right for Russia.

The guy's a master strategist and will be remembered by the people for years to come. That is the kind of leadership that can make a difference for the Russian people.

I admire his ability to outsmart his competitors, so far his being doing everything right.

Go Putin..

YEah...till the UN approved climate controls kick in full force. then russia will be SOL because oil and gas are carbon producers right?

originally posted by: InnerPeace2012
a reply to: lostbook

Well, if anything Putin is only playing his strategies right for Russia.

The guy's a master strategist and will be remembered by the people for years to come. That is the kind of leadership that can make a difference for the Russian people.

I admire his ability to outsmart his competitors, so far his being doing everything right.

Go Putin..

I respect Putin. He's a great leader and strategist. Being from the West, I can't cheer him on and root for him but I do see his strength.

It is to late for Russia in Africa. It will never regain its lost influence. China has been trying but, other than taking China's money it has not lead to anything. Africa is more firmly in the Wests Camp than ever. The African Union and NATO have signed multiple cooperation agreements and NATO forces are in most African nations conducting training and joint operations. Joint Naval and ground training have been increased massively. The African Union has become NATOs junior partner. African ground troops are transported by NATO assets in to a trouble zone and then supported by NATO intel, drones, logistics and on occasion air support. It has worked very well for all in involved. The African Unions African Standby Forces all rely on NATO to transport and supply. Which why NATO has a liaison office at the African Union Headquarters. Russia will find Africa ready to trade and buy weapons but, they will also find that without the ability to act globally Russia is of no use to Africa.

While it is good Putin is trying to dig Russia out it isolation, Russia is simply outclassed by the West and China. Russia's only real option down the road is going to be to join with Europe and accept that simply can no longer compete or China is going to have it for breakfast.

originally posted by: hubrisinxs
a reply to: lostbook

Why would he say checkmate when the west is already enslaved in the global market?

If by checkmate you mean, Russia will become economically more powerful than the US, then yeah that's probably getting close to happening. Next, Russia will economically invade India if they have not already.

Economically more powerful than the US? How could this, in any of our lifetimes, possibly come to pass? I think Putin is doing great considering what he's having, but he is getting summarily owned at every turn economically, and the US is still lunar leaps and bounds ahead of Russia economically, with the gap widening, not closing. Russia's wealth is in oil and natural gas, which doesn't bode well for Russia these days. When it does again, the US will benefit more.

Russia only becomes more powerful economically than the US in our lifetimes if Kurzwiel is right and everyone born after 1965 is immortal. Even then, an awful lot would have to change. We're certainly not on a path which leads to such an outcome currently.

a reply to: MrSpad

You're right. In fact, the US has a strong military presence throughout Africa. Here's an article that goes into it pretty well:

The US Military’s Best-Kept Secret

Research by TomDispatch indicates that in recent years the US military has, in fact, developed a remarkably extensive network of more than 60 outposts and access points in Africa. Some are currently being utilized, some are held in reserve, and some may be shuttered. These bases, camps, compounds, port facilities, fuel bunkers, and other sites can be found in at least 34 countries—more than 60 percent of the nations on the continent—many of them corrupt, repressive states with poor human rights records. The United States also operates “Offices of Security Cooperation and Defense Attaché Offices in approximately 38 [African] nations,” according to Falvo, and has struck close to 30 agreements to use international airports in Africa as refueling centers.

As for the OP: To be fair, Russia & China are bigger recent allies to most Africans nations anyway. People tend to forget or overlook this, but Europe conquered all of Africa except 2 nations during the "Scramble for Africa". This was from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. And some of the biggest genocides happened in these European colonies. In fact, Germany's first major genocides in the 20th century happened between 1904 & 1907 against the people of Namibia, decades before the Holocaust.

I'm mentioning this because African nations regained their independence from the West during the Cold War. China, Russia, and Cuba helped many of those revolutionary movements. Angola, for example, had 3 major factions in its civil war once Portugal left in the 1970s; 2 of those factions were CIA backed while the 3rd was communist backed. The CIA backed factions lost. So it's only natural that some African administrations would still have good relations with China & Russia. The West has treated them far worse than the East. (Ethiopia is an exception to this, because the communist DERG govt was horrific to everyone. But you get the point.)

Another exercise in fantasy thread.

I can barely read these over the sound of Putin being swallowed.

a reply to: dogstar23

The United States government borrows more than it makes every year and more Americans, every year, are forced to live on that system on a personal level. Saving in America is something of the past generations, each new generation becomes indoctrinated into the system of pseudo-renewable credit. America borrows its place as economic king.

Asia Bank and the Asia Union will hurt international currency markets and the dollar could become worthless.

Economic stability is the weakest form of stability.

What scares me the most is what will happen when the Military no longer has a growing budget. Not that I am for bigger Military, it that if the plug is pulled that way will it be a justification for strong strategic action... I hope not.

EDIT: just happened again:

NY Times reports that,

adding at least $2 trillion in debt over the next 20 years

NY Times

America can't stop borrowing and spending.

originally posted by: yuppa
YEah...till the UN approved climate controls kick in full force. then russia will be SOL because oil and gas are carbon producers right?

The UN climate 'controls' are so weak, they will be ignored. Chine is building a coal fired station once a week, When has China taken any notice of the UN? Tibet anyone?

originally posted by: pikestaff

originally posted by: yuppa
YEah...till the UN approved climate controls kick in full force. then russia will be SOL because oil and gas are carbon producers right?

The UN climate 'controls' are so weak, they will be ignored. Chine is building a coal fired station once a week, When has China taken any notice of the UN? Tibet anyone?

Well if they themselves will not abide by it then th e rest of th e nations will not so if that happens its a win for everyone.

a reply to: yuppa

yeah and how is the UN gonna enforce that while everyone is getting filthy rich? you think anyone is gonna risk loosing money because the UN wants to impose something on them? no dude. the UN is irrelevant.

originally posted by: enlightenedservant
a reply to: MrSpad

You're right. In fact, the US has a strong military presence throughout Africa. Here's an article that goes into it pretty well:

The US Military’s Best-Kept Secret

Research by TomDispatch indicates that in recent years the US military has, in fact, developed a remarkably extensive network of more than 60 outposts and access points in Africa. Some are currently being utilized, some are held in reserve, and some may be shuttered. These bases, camps, compounds, port facilities, fuel bunkers, and other sites can be found in at least 34 countries—more than 60 percent of the nations on the continent—many of them corrupt, repressive states with poor human rights records. The United States also operates “Offices of Security Cooperation and Defense Attaché Offices in approximately 38 [African] nations,” according to Falvo, and has struck close to 30 agreements to use international airports in Africa as refueling centers.

As for the OP: To be fair, Russia & China are bigger recent allies to most Africans nations anyway. People tend to forget or overlook this, but Europe conquered all of Africa except 2 nations during the "Scramble for Africa". This was from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. And some of the biggest genocides happened in these European colonies. In fact, Germany's first major genocides in the 20th century happened between 1904 & 1907 against the people of Namibia, decades before the Holocaust.

I'm mentioning this because African nations regained their independence from the West during the Cold War. China, Russia, and Cuba helped many of those revolutionary movements. Angola, for example, had 3 major factions in its civil war once Portugal left in the 1970s; 2 of those factions were CIA backed while the 3rd was communist backed. The CIA backed factions lost. So it's only natural that some African administrations would still have good relations with China & Russia. The West has treated them far worse than the East. (Ethiopia is an exception to this, because the communist DERG govt was horrific to everyone. But you get the point.)

Thank you for your well informed contribution to my post. Much appreciated and I learned something new.

originally posted by: lostbook

originally posted by: enlightenedservant
a reply to: MrSpad

You're right. In fact, the US has a strong military presence throughout Africa. Here's an article that goes into it pretty well:

The US Military’s Best-Kept Secret

Research by TomDispatch indicates that in recent years the US military has, in fact, developed a remarkably extensive network of more than 60 outposts and access points in Africa. Some are currently being utilized, some are held in reserve, and some may be shuttered. These bases, camps, compounds, port facilities, fuel bunkers, and other sites can be found in at least 34 countries—more than 60 percent of the nations on the continent—many of them corrupt, repressive states with poor human rights records. The United States also operates “Offices of Security Cooperation and Defense Attaché Offices in approximately 38 [African] nations,” according to Falvo, and has struck close to 30 agreements to use international airports in Africa as refueling centers.

As for the OP: To be fair, Russia & China are bigger recent allies to most Africans nations anyway. People tend to forget or overlook this, but Europe conquered all of Africa except 2 nations during the "Scramble for Africa". This was from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. And some of the biggest genocides happened in these European colonies. In fact, Germany's first major genocides in the 20th century happened between 1904 & 1907 against the people of Namibia, decades before the Holocaust.

I'm mentioning this because African nations regained their independence from the West during the Cold War. China, Russia, and Cuba helped many of those revolutionary movements. Angola, for example, had 3 major factions in its civil war once Portugal left in the 1970s; 2 of those factions were CIA backed while the 3rd was communist backed. The CIA backed factions lost. So it's only natural that some African administrations would still have good relations with China & Russia. The West has treated them far worse than the East. (Ethiopia is an exception to this, because the communist DERG govt was horrific to everyone. But you get the point.)

Thank you for your well informed contribution to my post. Much appreciated and I learned something new.

No problem. Just wanted to point out that the relationships existed for a long time, though it can differ greatly depending on the African country.

Egypt used to be strongly pro-Russian in the beginning of the Cold War, especially once the British & their Western allies left. Then Egypt tried to play the East & West against each other during the time when it was warring with Israel. Now, Egypt is firmly on the side of the West, partially due to the roughly $1.5 billion in military aid the US gives them every year. However, Russia has recently agreed to build an advanced business community near parts of Egypt's renovated Suez Canal, so the ties aren't completely severed.

This isn't news?

There have been Russians loitering around Africa for years. Lots of Russians in Egypt. A friend of mine from Egypt is learning Russian because of all the Russians in Egypt; it's good business sense. A lot of Russian and CIS businesses operate throughout Africa. A big industry is the cargo flight business, which goes hand in hand with the black market arms trade. When I was in Uganda we were met by Russians who lived there. Us little sh*ts pop up everywhere.

There are also a lot of natural resources in Africa, and it's been attracting plenty of Russian and Chinese investors for some time now. During the life of the CCCP the Soviets began to forge connections in Africa, so there's an existing basis in several African countries for relations with Russia and CIS states.

It's a bit annoying when people start going on about Russian and Chinese investors being "suspicious" purely on the basis that they are investing in regions with comparatively few Western investors.

Calm down, Putin is not going to become Boss of All Africa and send armies of Russian speaking black people to take down the West.

Although whilst we're at it, why hasn't the West taken advantage of business opportunities in Africa? Obviously there is some Western investment, but you're lagging behind Russians and Chinese.

a reply to: enlightenedservant

Agree with post, and for link
African nations had an agreement among them that no foreign military bases would be allowed on the continent.

originally posted by: DeepThoughtCriminal
Although whilst we're at it, why hasn't the West taken advantage of business opportunities in Africa? Obviously there is some Western investment, but you're lagging behind Russians and Chinese.

The US has military power, which could not be used in Africa (until recent times...). What the US did send instead (IMO) was church missionaries (look up Pat Robertson's African Development Company and Freedom Gold, Ltd) with the intent of bringing religion, which would then bring democracy, and cause capitalism to flourish. Also America sent economic aide for the AIDS epidemic. Kind of like bringing a gift to someone in exchange for a favor.

China used the money the US gave them to buy all that cheap crap they manufacture to venture into Africa, offering building and infrastructure in exchange for investment.

Putin is a pawn of the secret societies just like Nobama ......He sits in his mansion while we fight each other