Russia sends training warship to Nigeria, Tanzania, Republic of Congo and other African countries as Moscow steps up efforts to expand its military influence across the continent

The latest effort involves the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet training ship Perekop, which visited Nigeria and subsequently docked in Cotonou, Benin, on November 9, 2026, after a series of port calls across Southern, Eastern and Central Africa.

The vessel arrived in Lagos on November 7 from Douala, Cameroon, as part of a long-distance training expedition that began in July and is expected to end in mid-December.

The Perekop‘s African journey has included stops in Seychelles, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria, reflecting Moscow’s efforts to maintain military contacts across different parts of the continent.

Beyond providing practical training for naval cadets, the port visits have created opportunities for Russian military officials to meet African defence counterparts and discuss closer cooperation.

The expedition is carrying cadets from the Baltic Naval Institute, alongside foreign military personnel from Namibia and the Republic of Congo who are studying naval affairs in Russia.

The approximately 30,000-nautical-mile voyage is scheduled to cover four oceans, 14 seas and 23 straits, making it one of the vessel’s extensive international training deployments.

The voyage comes as Russia continues to pursue stronger military relationships with African governments through defence agreements, military training and exchanges between armed forces.

African defence officials have also participated in Russian military exercises, including the Centre-2026 exercise in the Urals, highlighting Moscow’s efforts to keep its defence partnerships active.

However, Russia faces competition from other international suppliers and military partners. Türkiye, China, the United States and European countries maintain significant defence relationships across Africa, with Türkiye increasingly expanding its military footprint in West Africa.

For Moscow, naval visits provide a relatively visible way to sustain diplomatic and military engagement without requiring permanent military deployments.

The Perekop expedition, which began in July, is expected to continue until December, leaving further opportunities for the Russian Navy to engage African countries before the vessel completes its voyage.