New York:The foreign ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) and Russia convened a working session on Thursday alongside the UN General Assembly, where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation and diplomatic coordination.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting is part of a cyclical consultation framework established by a memorandum of understanding for diplomatic discussions between the Confederation of Sahel States and Russia.

Burkinabe Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean Marie Traor©, who leads the Confederation's rotating presidency, stated the meeting aimed to review past actions and plan the continuation of mutually beneficial projects.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized Moscow's commitment to supporting the Confederation's armed forces and assisting in forming a unified force to counter terrorist threats.

The ministers, including Sergey Lavrov, Abdoulaye Diop, Bakary Yaou Sangar©, and Karamoko Jean Marie Traor©, examined various areas of cooperation and reiterated their dedication to achieving further strategic milestones.

Both parties also expressed their alignment on promoting a multipolar world order and pledged to continue their diplomatic efforts within international organizations, particularly the UN.

The New York session follows a previous high-level consultation held in Niamey in July 2026, where a memorandum was signed to establish a permanent framework for diplomatic consultation.