US warns Madagascar over growing military ties with Russia

The United States has warned Madagascar against deepening its military ties with Russia, after the island nation expanded defence cooperation following last year's military takeover. The warning comes as Washington raises concerns about the spread of what one senior US military official described as a "Sahel model" of security partnerships. Madagascar's location in the Indian Ocean, close to major shipping routes, was highlighted as part of the concern.

US Africa Command deputy head Lt Gen John Brennan said Madagascar's position made it strategically important to global trade and maritime security. He said Russia had increased its military cooperation with Madagascar since the military seized power in 2025, including supplying weapons and military instructors. Brennan said the US was worried about Moscow seeking to "proliferate" the model used in parts of West Africa to other countries on the continent.

Brennan pointed to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger as examples of military-led governments that have severed ties with Western partners and turned to Russia for military support against jihadist groups. He said those partnerships had not improved security, with militant attacks continuing despite the closer ties. He also raised concerns about the Mozambique Channel, which separates Mozambique and Madagascar from mainland Africa and is an important route for international shipping and trade.

The warning matters because Madagascar sits in a region where maritime security, counterterrorism and foreign influence are closely linked. Brennan said it was vital to prevent Islamic State-linked militants in northern Mozambique and other hostile actors from threatening maritime activity. He also said recent piracy-related incidents along the coast showed militant groups were adapting their tactics and developing greater maritime capabilities.

The comments come after Madagascar and Russia signed several cooperation agreements at the Russia-Africa summit last month, covering defence, tourism and trade. The row also follows a broader pattern in which Russia has expanded security ties with governments that have moved away from Western partners. Brennan said US partners were free to choose their own relationships, but urged them to understand the risks involved.

Madagascar has not publicly responded to Brennan's remarks. President Michaël Randrianirina has recently reiterated support for stronger ties between Russia and African countries, according to the supplied material. What remains unclear is whether the warning will alter Madagascar's approach or lead to any change in the pace of military cooperation with Moscow.

The next developments to watch are any official response from Antananarivo and whether the defence agreements translate into deeper operational ties.

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