During Gnassingbe’s Visit to Putin, Russia and Togo Agree to Mutually Open Embassies in 2026
In a rare international meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé at the Kremlin in Moscow on 19 November 2025. Getting the cold shoulder from the West, Russia has been stepping up its outreach to Africa. Although the two countries do not yet have embassies in each other’s countries, relations have been steadily growing over the years.
2025 marks 65 years of diplomatic relations between Russia and Togo. It is worth recalling that Togo signed a military cooperation agreement earlier this year. Every year, several Togolese students undertake higher studies in Russia thanks to scholarships offered by the Russian Government. During the academic year 2024-2025, 86 scholarships were awarded.
“Next year, we’ll be opening embassies in both countries. Despite the absence of embassies, our trade and economic activity is developing at a generally good pace. While the volume is still modest for our countries, it’s a positive trend. I strongly hope that after the embassies open and the intergovernmental commission begins its work, we will be able to do everything possible to not only maintain this process, but also accelerate it.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin
On the trade side, the bilateral trade volume reached nearly USD 100 million in 2024. Russia exports wheat and fertilisers to Togo, where agriculture accounts for over 40% of the #GDP. Actually, Russia is one of the world’s largest producers of wheat and fertilizers in the world. Togo holds the world’s 4th largest reserves of phosphate, which is a key raw material in the production of fertilizers.
Lomé is one of the few deep-water seaports that open into the Gulf of Guinea and is positioned to act as a gateway to West Africa. Despite having a small population of less than 10 million, Togo forms part of both ECOWAS and WAEMU, with a potential regional addressable market of nearly 450 million consumers.
In a statement released by the Kremlin, it is stated that the two countries intend to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of diplomacy, economy, trade, agriculture, energy, training, and #FoodSecurity.