Sudan and Russia Sign Deal to Establish Naval Base on Red Sea Coast

The Sudanese government has confirmed that a final agreement has been reached with Russia to establish a naval base on its Red Sea coast

The BBC reported that on February 13, adding that discussions about the base began during the rule of former President Omar al-Bashir.

According to the news agency, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Youssef announced on February 12 that a deal had been signed, confirming a “complete agreement” with Russia on establishing the naval base. He added that the only step left was the deal’s ratification.

“Sudan and Russia have reached an understanding on the agreement regarding the Russian naval base,” Youssif said during a press briefing with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

The potential loss of Russia’s main naval base in Tartus, Syria, threatens its military presence in Africa, Militarnyi reported, adding that it could strip Moscow of its ability to influence strategically crucial regions, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the Red Sea.

A February 11 report stated that a Russian military convoy was allegedly denied entry to a base in Tartus by the Ministry of Defense of Syria’s transitional government.