ABSTRACT
Current Soviet naval operations began along the West Coast of Africa in 1970 when Soviet ships responded to a request by Guinea's president Akmed Sékou Touré after a Portuguese-inspired raid, staged from Portuguese Guinea, was made on Conakry in November 1970. Touré requested Soviet assistance to deter further attacks. However, Guinea's relationship with the USSR dates back to 1958, when the former country gained independence from France and Touré was declared president. Guinea became a socialist country and accepted both military and economic assistance from the Soviets. This relationship was not always a smooth one, however, as on two occasions, in 1961 and 1969, the Soviet ambassador was expelled.
