Military-technical cooperation between Russia and Cameroon: Main features and prospects (2012-2024).

African nations are actively reshaping their role in international relations and holds a significant position in a world that is becoming less focused on the West. This has led to a surge in interest in the region from major global players. Recognizing this, Russian leaders have made strengthening ties with African countries a key strategic goal of their foreign policy. Russia-Africa cooperation is primarily focused on military-technical collaboration, which has been expanding quickly in Sub-Saharan Africa recently. This article elaborates the main features and prospect of the military-technical relations between Russia and Cameroon in the period 2012 and 2024. The year 2012 is characterized by the establishment of a permanent military mission at the Cameroonian embassy in Moscow, while the year 2024 marks the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union (Now Russian Federation) and Cameroon which were established on February 20, 1964. Cameroon’s military-technical cooperation with Russia is driven by mutual interests: Yaounde seeks reliable security assistance, while Moscow aims to expand its geopolitical footprint in Africa. It is noted that despite the low economic exchange between Russia and African countries, the military technical cooperation with Russia is the most significant. This is because without ensuring the security aspects of a country, we cannot talk of political, economic, social, and industrial development. The recommendations suggest that, it would be strategically valuable for Russia to establish weapons factories in reliable partner countries, such as Cameroon and the Sahel nations. This will promote self-reliance in the military sphere. This aspect of independence is increasingly prioritized in African foreign policy discussions of the 21st century. Ultimately, Cameroon-Russia military-technical cooperation exemplifies how African nations are navigating a multipolar world, leveraging new partnerships to address security challenges while managing complex international pressures.