Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attempted to allay global fears that Moscow is trying to amass access to natural resources this week during a trip through Egypt, Nigeria, Namibia and Angola as he signed billion dollar energy deals providing Russia a greater foothold in Africa .

In Angola, Medvedev emphasized that these resource contracts were important to coordinate “action in the context of the world crisis.”

In Nigeria, he boasted to his hosts about the economic benefits of the investment stating “the prospects are very good” that Russian investment within the country could be worth “billions of dollars”

In Namibia, during prepared remarks he stated “we must do everything possible to promote trade and economic ties” between the two countries, while mentioning energy only as one of the fields where Russia would invest. The list also included tourism and agriculture, hardly strategic imperatives.

Despite Medvedev’s touting of cooperation and economic benefits, it’s hard to see Mededev’s actions other than a …..click here to read more