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Lomé's Rising Tide:
How Togo’s Port Sparks a Geopolitical Tug-of-War

Togo’s Port of Lomé has rapidly transformed into a linchpin of West African trade and diplomacy - garnering the strategic attention of both the United States and Russia.

American interest in the port is clearly economic. With annual throughput surpassing 30 million tonnes, Lomé ranks as Africa’s fourth busiest container port, making it an ideal gateway for expanding American trade across the continent. The U.S. has actively promoted this “win-win” opportunity, inviting investment in logistics, infrastructure, and even agriculture sectors.

At the same time, Russia has been securing military ties in Togo. A cooperation pact ratified in mid-2025 includes joint exercises, training, weapons support, and collaboration on hydrography, maritime navigation, and anti-piracy operations. Analysts suggest this agreement may afford Russia unobstructed access to Lomé’s port facilities, strengthening its Atlantic logistics network and expanding its reach across coastal and Sahelian Africa.

This dual engagement reflects Lomé’s unique role - serving not just Togo’s economy, but also its Sahelian neighbors like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso who rely on the port for trade access. As both superpowers pivot toward Togo - one drawn by commerce, the other by strategic positioning - the port has become the center of a broader rivalry over trade corridors, influence, and regional security.

In short, Lomé stands as a modern-day crossroads where infrastructure meets influence, and the outcome will shape not only Togo’s future, but the broader balance of power across West Africa - between economic diplomacy and strategic military footholds.

A BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons) is mandatory for all shipments to Togo.

The R&C Desk simplifies the process and provides efficient assistance to comply with the latest requirements.
For further assistance, the R&C Desk website is available 24/7.