Russian’s Lavrov en route to Namibia

Augetto GraigWindhoekNamibia’s minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala Musavyi, says she looks forward to welcoming high level Russian officials, including influential Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and deputy prime minister Yury Trutnev, when they visit Namibia in February.Ashipala Musavyi made the announcement following a live media conference with Lavrov in Moscow, where she is on a three day state visit at his invitation. The visit is aimed at strengthening historic ties between Namibia and Russia and advancing cooperation across a range of sectors. During talks in Moscow, the two ministers discussed the longstanding strategic relationship between their countries and the importance of enhancing economic and political cooperation. Trade promotion featured prominently on the agenda, with potential partnerships identified in agriculture, mining, education, health, and the creative industries. Lavrov said promising areas include geological exploration, mineral extraction and processing, energy, agriculture and fisheries. Russia and Namibia are also preparing for the 11th session of the Russia–Namibia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, scheduled to be held in Windhoek next month. Both sides agreed to host a business forum alongside the commission’s meeting, reflecting growing interest from Russian firms in opportunities within Namibia. Ashipala Musavyi said Namibia wants to “add economic substance to our relationship,” noting opportunities for both nations’ private sectors in expanding trade and investment.Legacy of cooperation and expanded engagementLavrov underscored the “enduring friendship” between Russia and Namibia, recalling repeated visits by Namibian leadership to Moscow and expressing gratitude for the bilateral relationship. He also highlighted cooperation in training medical personnel, cultural exchanges, tourism and shared positions on global issues in multilateral forums. The forthcoming visit of Lavrov and Trutnev to Namibia will coincide with the Intergovernmental Commission meeting, a platform seen as key to translating discussions into practical cooperation and economic projects that benefit both countries.International positions and shared viewsDuring the Moscow media engagement, Ashipala Musavyi was asked about developments in Venezuela. She described the alleged U.S. operation against President Nicolás Maduro as an “unfortunate event” and a violation of international law, expressing Namibia’s support for a UN Security Council emergency meeting on the matter. Lavrov reiterated Russia and Namibia’s alignment on supporting international law and reform of global institutions such as the United Nations. — augetto@nmh.com.na

Russian’s Lavrov en route to Namibia

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-14

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Russian’s Lavrov en route to Namibia

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-14

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