Russian Deputy Defense Minister Vasily Osmakov met with Somali State Minister of Defense Omar Ali Abdi in Moscow, where the two sides discussed the possibility of military and security cooperation between the two countries, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.
The ministry’s statement said the talks focused on key issues of bilateral defense cooperation, with the two officials expressing their commitment to developing a constructive dialogue and gradually strengthening military ties.
The meeting also discussed military training programs, counterterrorism cooperation and technical cooperation in military fields.
Pictures released by Russian media showed officials from the two countries holding formal talks at one of the Russian Defense Ministry’s facilities in Moscow.
Earlier this May, Russian Ambassador to Somalia Mikhail Golovanov also met in Mogadishu with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who confirmed his participation in the third Russia-Africa summit scheduled to be held in October 2026.
