Russia hosts top diplomats from Sahel countries for talks on boosting security ties

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia on Thursday discussed ways to boost military ties with the Sahel countries, promising to train their troops and supply weapons as it seeks to expand its clout in the junta-led West African countries that have expelled French forces.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the talks with his counterparts from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that Moscow stands ready to help strengthen their military and security forces.

“I emphasized Moscow's readiness to help expand the potential of the united armed forces of Sahel, strengthen the combat capability of the three countries' militaries and train their troops and law enforcement personnel,” Lavrov said, adding that Russia could also provide military equipment.

Russia's top diplomat also accused Ukraine of destabilizing the region, declaring, without offering any evidence, that it "openly supports terrorist groups in this part of Africa while its western sponsors turn a blind eye on it.”

Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop echoed Lavrov's comments, stating that his country views Ukraine as a “terrorist state.”

“We have common views on fighting insecurity and terrorism in our region, which is supported by foreign state sponsors and regional actors," he said. "It includes Ukraine at your doorstep here, which we consider simply a terrorist state.”

Mali’s government cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine last year over allegations that Kyiv aided an attack by armed groups in northern Mali in July, in which dozens of Russian mercenaries and Malian soldiers were killed by jihadis and rebels, in what some observers described as one of the largest losses for the Russian contractors in years.

A spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence said at the time that armed groups in Mali had received information from Kyiv to launch the attack. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry argued, however, that Mali had cut ties without a thorough review of the situation and without providing evidence of the country’s involvement in the attack.

Ties between Sahel countries and the West have become increasingly strained. Following military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French and U.S forces, and turned to Russian military contractors for security assistance.

Last year, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the regional organization ECOWAS, which requires them to organize presidential elections and transfer power to civilians. Weakened by attacks from armed groups linked to al-Qaida, the Islamic State, or separatists, they created the Alliance of Sahel States to pool their military and diplomatic forces.

Russia has capitalized on deteriorating relations between the West and coup-affected Sahel nations to send fighters and assert its influence. Russian military contractors have been active in the Sahel, the vast expanse south of the Sahara Desert, profiting from the region's mineral riches in exchange for their security services.

Lavrov noted Thursday that Russia will help the Sahel countries to form a joint military force by offering “consultative services,” noting that a “significant number” of Russian military instructors have been working there already.

From left: Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore and Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare enter a hall to attend a meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov attends a meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a meeting of foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, rear right, gestures as he speaks during a meeting of foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop attends a meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore attends a joint news conference following a meeting of Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop attends a joint news conference following a meeting of Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare attends a joint news conference following a meeting of Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

From left, Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore attend a joint news conference following a meeting of Russian foreign Minister with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a joint news conference following his meeting with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

From left: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare and Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore enter a hall to attend a joint news conference following a meeting of Russian foreign Minister with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

From left, Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare, Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traore attend a joint news conference following a meeting of Russian foreign Minister with foreign Ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

NEW YORK (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $500 million, 14-year contract that starts in 2026, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press, a deal that removes what would have been the biggest star from next offseason’s free-agent market.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity early Monday because the agreement had not been announced.

Guerrero’s deal does not include any deferred money, the person said.

Guerrero agreed in January to a $28.5 million, one-year contract that avoided arbitration and the four-time All-Star first baseman had said he wouldn’t negotiate after he reported to spring training in mid-February. Still, talks with his agent continued well into the regular season.

Guerrero got the third-largest contract in total dollars behind outfielder Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets that started this season and two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers that began last year and is heavily deferred.

Guerrero's $35.71 million average annual value under the new deal ranks eighth among current contracts behind the agreements of Ohtani ($70 million), Soto ($51 million), Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler ($42 million), Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge ($40 million), Texas pitcher Jacob deGrom ($37 million), Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell ($36.4 million) and Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole ($36 million).

A son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, the Blue Jays star turned 26 last month and would have been a free agent this fall at a relatively young age.

Guerrero is a .277 career hitter with 160 homers and 511 RBIs. He's batting .256 with no homers and four RBIs in the first 10 games this season.

Seeking its first World Series title since winning championships in 1992 and 1993, Toronto notably failed to land Ohtani, Soto and Roki Sasaki. The Blue Jays agreed to a $92.5 million, five-year contract with outfielder Anthony Santander, a $15.5 million, one-year contract with right-hander Max Scherzer and a $33 million, three-year contract with reliever Jeff Hoffman.

Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette, a two-time All-Star, remains eligible for free agency after this year's World Series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returns to the dugout following eighth-inning baseball game action against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates a win over the Washington Nationals following MLB baseball action in Toronto, Monday, March 31, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates hitting a double during the third inning of MLB baseball action against the Washington Nationals, in Toronto, Monday, March 31, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) smiles after being tagged at second base by New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) looks on prior to MLB baseball action against the Washington Nationals, in Toronto, Monday, March 31, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)