Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Alex Vines, Africa Program Director at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He takes us through Russia’s African paradox involving diplomatic Influence, security dependence and the politics of multipolarity. Moscow is gaining diplomatic traction across the continent even as its security partnerships, information operations and recruitment practices raise troubling questions about sovereignty, accountability and the human costs of geopolitical competition. For Vines, the participation of 48 African countries and 22 heads of state and government in the latest Russia-Africa summit illustrates the continuing appeal,  of Moscow as a diplomatic and strategic partner.