Sudan "gives green light", will Russia bring naval base to the Red Sea?

Recently, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed al-Sharif said that Russia's desire to build a naval base near the city of Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast of this North African country "has no obstacles".

A Russian naval ship anchored at the port of Port Sudan, Sudan in April 2021. (Source: Alarabiya)

Reuters news agency reported that Russia has long planned to establish a naval base near Port Sudan, Sudan's major port city on the Red Sea.

Russia and Sudan have been discussing the base for years, and signed it under Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (1993-2019). In 2019, military generals overthrew al-Bashir and announced that they would reconsider the plan.

In early December 2020, it was reported that Moscow would establish a naval logistics support point in Sudan, which would be used for repairs, supplies, and recreation of Russian ship crews. According to the agreement, the naval base would accommodate up to 300 personnel, with up to four Russian ships allowed to be stationed at any one time.

However, the fate of the base remains unclear as Sudan has been embroiled in civil war since 2023.

On February 12, Russia's TASS news agency reported that during Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed al-Sharif's visit to Russia and talks with his host counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Mr. al-Sharif stated: " We have reached an understanding on this issue. We have agreed on everything."

Meanwhile, AFP news agency reported that Sudan's Foreign Minister confirmed that discussions on the above agreement had ended successfully: "We are in complete agreement on this issue and there are no obstacles."

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stressed that despite Western sanctions, Moscow continues to expand relations with African countries and is able to maintain and strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships across the continent.

In addition to military cooperation, Sudan is expected to sign several agreements with Russian companies on industrial, commercial and oil projects, focusing on more than 20 oil wells in conflict-free areas such as the Red Sea region and western Sudan.

Russia has built ties with both sides in Sudan’s nearly two-year civil war, and Russian officials have visited the city of Port Sudan in recent months.

Last year, a senior Sudanese general said Russia had offered to set up a refueling station on the Red Sea in exchange for weapons and ammunition. Foreign Minister al-Sharif said such a refueling station posed no threat to any other country or to Sudan’s sovereignty .

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/sudan-bat-den-xanh-nga-se-mang-can-cu-hai-quan-den-bien-do-304164.html