The topic of this article is the African vector of Russia’s foreign policy within the general course of “Russia’s Turn to the East”. One of its significant aspects is Russia’s involvement in the settlement of water disputes between African countries. The problem of fresh water shortage is becoming increasingly relevant at present, and in particular for a number of countries on the continent with an arid climate. The mechanisms of Russian water diplomacy are considered using the example of measures to facilitate the resolution of the dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam on the Nile. As a result, recommendations are offered to strengthen Russia’s role on the African continent by using both existing developments in water diplomacy and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of integrated water resources management.
Keywords: Russian foreign policy, water policy, water diplomacy, Africa, mediation in negotiations, water resources management.