Reliance on Russia’s military offerings has become increasingly prevalent in parts of Africa, amid an aggressive push by Moscow to lessen Western influence on the continent.

A top adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked on Friday if Moscow will be sending a representative to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration following news China's vice president will attend the event.

Just three days before US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, Russia and Iran have finally signed a “comprehensive partnership agreement,” a deal that had been in the works for months.

Russia has long used its plentiful energy resources as a tool to exert control over the region, where independence from Russian energy is tied to political sovereignty.

The two countries sign a 20-year treaty covering areas ranging from defence and technology to energy and trade.

Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran on Friday that follows similar pacts with China and North Korea. All three countries are adversaries of the United States, and Russia has used its ties with them to help blunt the impact of Western sanctions and boost its war effort in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Iranian counterpart Friday for the signing of a broad pact between Moscow and Tehran. The Kremlin says the “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will take their cooperation to a new level.

The trio were arrested as authorities intensified pressure on the jailed Kremlin critic, who died last February.

Russia will facilitate Vietnam’s participation in the BRICS bloc of developing economies as a “partner country.”

A Russian official said a recent oil spill in the Black Sea was unprecedented and could have been avoided, highlighting the age of the vessels involved.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 3,800 North Korean soldiers had been killed or injured in Kursk in an interview in early January.