(Reuters) - Russia and Niger, under military rule since a coup last year, have agreed to develop military cooperation, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday. According to Russian news agencies, Russian Deputy Defense Ministers Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and Alexander Fomin met Niger's junta-appointed Defense Minister Salifu Modi on Tuesday. Niger's military council, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, took power after ousting President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023. Niger's junta-appointed Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine has also arrived in Moscow. During the visit, Zeine intends to discuss widening a partnership with Russia in the areas of defense, agriculture and energy.

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Persons: Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Alexander Fomin, Salifu Modi, General Abdourahamane Tiani, Mohamed Bazoum, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, Zeine, Maxim Rodionov, Ron Popeski, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, Russian Defense Ministry, Russian, Niger's, European Union Locations: Russia, Niger, Russian, Niger's, Moscow, United States, Europe, China