Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Russia's commitment to strengthening the defense capabilities of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso following a meeting with his counterparts from all three countries in Niger's capital, Niamey, Le Monde reported on July 9. Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported that Lavrov had extended Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to the junta leaders of all three countries to attend the upcoming Russia-Africa summit, scheduled for late October.