Thu Sep 26 14:06:55 UTC 2024: ## Russian Navy Ship Docks in Cameroon for First Time, Marking Historic Milestone
**Douala, Cameroon** – The Russian Navy ship Smolny has made history by becoming the first Russian military vessel to dock in Cameroonian waters. The ship, a Baltic Fleet training vessel, arrived at Douala, Cameroon’s largest port, as part of an Atlantic tour.
The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Cameroon and is seen as a significant step in strengthening defense ties between the two nations. Sergey Ustinov, Charge d’Affaires of Russia in Cameroon, described the event as a demonstration of “mutual desire to deepen bilateral cooperation in the interests of strengthening international peace and security.”
The Smolny’s mission is to provide maritime training for over 300 cadets from Russian naval educational institutions. The long-range sea voyage has already seen the ship make stops in Cuba, Venezuela, and South Africa.
This event follows a similar initiative by the Russian Federal Agency for Fisheries (Rosrybolovstvo). The agency launched a “Great African Expedition” in August, with the training ship Kruzenshtern conducting marine biology research along the coasts of 18 African countries, including Cameroon.
The arrival of the Smolny in Cameroon signifies a growing presence of Russia in the region, particularly in the maritime domain. This development is likely to be closely observed by regional and international powers, given the complex geopolitical dynamics in the African continent.
First Piper 