This photo provided by the Tunisia presidency shows Tunisian President Kais Saied, right, shaking hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Thursday Dec. 21, 2023 in Tunis. Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Tunisia received roughly half of its total wheat imports from Ukraine. He also contrasted Russia's positions with those of the United States in the Middle East. “We see Russia as a partner.”Morocco and Tunisia have historically hewed more closely to the United States and NATO than Russia. “The (North African) countries have positioned themselves in ways to maximize their relations to the great powers — Russia, United States, Europe,” he said.
