Russian training war-vessel docks in Equatorial Guinea
(MENAFN) The Russian naval training ship Smolny has arrived in Equatorial Guinea for its second official visit, according to the African Initiative news agency on Sunday. The vessel, which belongs to Russia’s Baltic Fleet, was welcomed in the capital, Malabo, by high-ranking officers from the Equatorial Guinean Navy, Russian Ambassador Karen Chalyan, and embassy personnel.
Unlike its previous missions, this year’s journey for the Smolny starts in Equatorial Guinea and will include scheduled visits to South Africa, Tanzania, Sao Tome and Principe, the Republic of the Congo, and Vietnam, before ending in Vladivostok, Russia, in late September.
On board are approximately 400 personnel, including 200 naval cadets undergoing practical at-sea training. During the Malabo stop, cadets will participate in military and cultural activities such as a parade, a friendly football match, and meetings with members of the local Russian community.
As part of the official agenda, Malabo’s senior naval officials toured the Smolny, inspecting living quarters, including those housing 15 Tanzanian cadets currently studying at Russian naval academies. The tour also covered the ship’s command bridge and medical facilities, which feature an onboard operating room and dental clinic.
This visit follows the Smolny’s 2024 tour of African ports, which included stops in Cameroon, Benin, the Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Namibia, and Angola.
Russia has increased its naval presence in Africa as part of broader efforts to expand military cooperation and strengthen maritime ties. Last October, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov docked in Tunisia’s Bizerte port to mark the centenary of a previous Russian squadron’s stay there. In June of last year, two Russian warships, the Varyag cruiser and the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate, visited Libya to bolster naval cooperation between the two nations.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
