The global political landscape has undergone profound transformations in recent years, particularly with the resurgence of the Trump administration in the United States and its embrace of an “America First” agenda, which has shifted U.S. foreign policy toward a more isolationist stance. This recalibration of global power dynamics has created challenges and opportunities for smaller nations, such as The Gambia.
For The Gambia, a small West African state with limited resources, strategic diversification of diplomatic and economic partnerships represents a pragmatic approach to safeguarding national interests and fostering sustainable development and growth. As The Gambia approaches a significant milestone—sixty years of diplomatic relations with Russia in 2025- these ties have largely remained symbolic, with limited substantive engagement over the decades.
This historical underperformance starkly contrasts the considerable opportunities for partnership that now present themselves in an evolving global context. The Gambia must strategically diversify its international engagements to reduce dependency on any single bloc and secure its national interests. While the traditional reliance on Western nations for development aid and diplomatic support is beneficial, it may no longer suffice in addressing the country’s multifaceted challenges.
In this context, strengthening cooperation with Russia—a key global player with significant influence in trade, defense, energy, and education—presents a strategic opportunity for The Gambia to enhance its economic development, bolster its geopolitical standing, and foster sustainable growth. The Gambia can leverage Russian expertise, technological advancements, and investment capabilities to address critical developmental challenges by engaging with Russia. This strategic realignment does not imply a departure from existing partnerships but rather a pragmatic approach to navigating the complexities of a multipolar world.
Economic relations between The Gambia and Russia remain significantly underdeveloped, presenting substantial room for growth. Current trade statistics reveal a highly asymmetrical relationship with considerable untapped potential. According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Russian exports to The Gambia reached $11.5 million in 2022, consisting almost entirely of refined petroleum products. This represents a significant increase from $2.36 million in 2017, growing at an annualized rate of 37.3% over the five years. Given Russia’s capabilities in global trade and the opportunities it can offer, it presents an untapped avenue for The Gambia. During the January 2024 meeting between Foreign Ministers Lavrov and Tangara, both officials emphasized the importance of elevating economic ties to match the quality of political dialogue. Lavrov specifically noted, “It would be important to bring trade and economic ties to the level of our good political dialogue”, identifying areas such as construction, infrastructure modernization, transport, agriculture, and tourism as particularly promising sectors for collaboration.
Opportunities for Strategic Partnership
While agriculture remains a cornerstone of The Gambia’s economy, its potential is constrained by limited access to advanced technologies, inadequate irrigation systems, and low levels of agro-processing. With its extensive experience in large-scale agricultural production and advanced technologies, Russia can play a pivotal role in transforming The Gambia’s agricultural sector. Joint ventures in agro-processing, developing modern irrigation systems, and establishing fertilizer production facilities could significantly enhance productivity, ensure food self-sufficiency, and boost export capacity. Such collaborations would address food security concerns and position The Gambia as a competitive player in global agricultural markets.
Recently, Russia has pledged to increase scholarships for African students, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This presents an invaluable opportunity for The Gambia to develop its human capital, equip its workforce with advanced skills, and foster innovation. Partnering with universities and educational institutions, The Gambia can build a cadre of professionals capable of driving economic transformation and addressing local challenges, thus meeting the National Development Plan (NDP) pillar of the Barrows administration’s broader development agenda and underscoring the importance of education as a catalyst for Gambia’s long-term growth.
Russia also expressed interest in infrastructure modernization, presenting an opportunity for The Gambia to explore partnerships to improve its national energy service provider, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC). Private Russian energy companies could also be incentivized to invest in The Gambia’s energy sector, fostering innovation and sustainability. The growth in Russia’s exports to The Gambia, particularly refined petroleum, which reached $11.5 million in 2022 and grew at an annualized rate of 37.3% over five years, underscores the potential for deeper collaboration in this sector.
Conclusion
To maximize benefits while minimizing risks, The Gambia should pursue a carefully balanced approach that integrates Russian engagement into a broader strategy of diversified international partnerships. This approach should neither privilege nor exclude any external partner based on ideological considerations but should pragmatically assess each relationship’s potential contribution to Gambian national interests and development objectives. This approach aligns with non-alignment principles and underscores The Gambia’s commitment to pursuing an independent foreign policy. The Gambia stands at a crossroads. Pursuing sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships with Russia represents a pragmatic and forward-looking approach to securing its national interests and fostering long-term growth.
By: Lamin Sanneh
MA International Diplomacy
Moscow State Institute of International Relations
MGIMO
Moscow, Russia
Laminsanneh652@gmail.com
