Overview
- Faustin-Archange Touadera called the Russian training mission in the Central African Republic successful and said it supports force readiness and security.
- He reiterated that the contingent numbers about 175 and arrived through procedures cleared by the UN Security Council and its sanctions committee.
- Touadera said decisions on increasing personnel or assistance will be made via bilateral negotiations and declined to outline timelines or specifics.
- He expressed a desire to open a joint UAV operator training center with Russia, while Moscow’s ambassador described Russia as CAR’s key military-technical partner.
- In a separate signal of closer ties, Touadera invited President Vladimir Putin to visit following provisional results showing his re-election.