Tunisia: Tunisia and Russia are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. This occasion marks a historical partnership initiated in 1956, shortly after Tunisia's independence, and has continued for seven decades based on mutual respect and shared interests.

According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, Tunisia's Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov exchanged congratulatory messages reaffirming the depth and strength of their friendship and cooperation. They emphasized the long-standing historical and economic ties between the two countries and commended the development of bilateral relations over the past seven decades, which are grounded in mutual respect and fruitful cooperation in numerous fields, including agriculture, economy, science, culture, and technology.

The Russian Embassy in Tunis recalled that the Soviet Union and Tunisia began their diplomatic relationship in the 1960s with reciprocal ambassadorial appointments, which marked the gradual development of political and economic relations. The embassy highlighted the tourism sector as a significant area of cooperation, noting that nearly 650,000 Russian citizens visited Tunisia in 2019. It also acknowledged the Tunisian-Russian intergovernmental joint commission's role in advancing trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation.

Regular high-level contacts have further cemented the partnership, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Tunisia in December 2023, where he met with President Kais Saed and Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti. Both countries agree on the importance of establishing a just and multipolar world order based on the principles of international law and non-interference in internal affairs.

Russian Ambassador to Tunisia Alexandre Zolotov described Tunisia as a traditional and reliable partner for Russia in North Africa and the Middle East. In an interview with TAP, he noted a significant increase in trade volume between Tunisia and Russia, reaching more than USD 1.8 billion, with a growing presence of Tunisian products like olive oil in the Russian market. Despite the lack of direct flights, there is renewed interest from Russian tourists in visiting Tunisia.

Russia remains a key supplier of petroleum products and grain to Tunisia, highlighting the continued economic ties between the two nations.