A Russian naval training ship has arrived in Togo for the first official visit by a Russian military vessel to the West African country in 45 years, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
The Russian Baltic Fleet training ship Perekop docked at the port of Lome as part of a training voyage. The last visit by a Soviet warship to the Togolese capital was in 1981.
Addressing the crew during the welcoming ceremony, Russia’s acting charge d’affaires, Aleksandr Chistyakov, called the visit “a sign of genuine friendship, mutual trust, and mutual respect” between the two countries, as quoted by African Initiative.
During the three-day stay, Rear Admiral Vyacheslav Sytnik, who leads the voyage, held talks with senior Togolese military officials, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Brigadier General Tchakpele Akli-Esso. The visit included cultural and sporting activities.
The Perekop is carrying more than 200 naval cadets from Russia’s Admiral Fyodor Ushakov Baltic Naval Institute, who are receiving navigation experience during the voyage. Military personnel from Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon who are studying naval operations in Russia are also taking part, according to the ministry.
Before arriving in Togo, the Perekop paid a three-day visit to neighboring Benin. During a stop in Cotonou, Russian naval officers met with Beninese military officials to discuss naval cooperation, according to the Russian Embassy.
An open day aboard the ship and friendly sports competitions with Beninese sailors were also on the program.
Earlier, the ship conducted joint naval drills with Nigeria, which involved a Nigerian patrol vessel and a helicopter, with crews practicing coordinated maneuvers and maritime safety procedures.
The Perekop has also made stops in Cameroon, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Seychelles. The training mission is scheduled to end on December 9 after visits to 20 ports, including 12 outside Russia.