Russia’s deal-making in Africa raises alarms in Europe

RABAT, Morocco: Russia is reviving an interest in Africa that collapsed along with the Cold War, and its growing appetite for deals in oil and natural gas is an added cause of unease in an energy-hungry Western Europe.

Companies from Russia say their goal is to diversify energy interests and secure raw materials for a fast-growing economy, but the businesses are also seen as tools of an increasingly assertive Kremlin foreign policy.


The fact that Russian companies have yet to make major progress in Africa has not assuaged Western concerns, particularly because the Russian intervention in Georgia raised new questions about the reliability of energy supplies from the east.

Northern Africa is already an especially important alternative source for European countries that fear over-reliance on Russian energy.

“Quietly, but with rising amounts of panic, we’re hearing officials from major European governments complain about what the Russians are doing,” said Jon Marks, editorial director of the industry newsletter Africa Energy.

IHT