Sudan Confirms Russian Naval Base Plans Will Proceed
Moscow and Khartoum Align on Strategic Red Sea Port
Sudan’s foreign minister has confirmed that a long-delayed plan for Russia to establish its first naval base in Africa will move forward. The agreement, which has faced multiple setbacks, involves constructing a military facility on Sudan’s Red Sea coast, granting Russia a significant presence in one of the world's most vital maritime routes.
If successfully implemented, Russia will join the United States and China in maintaining a naval foothold in the region, with both nations already operating bases in Djibouti to the south.
The announcement was made following a meeting between Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed al-Sharif and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow. Sharif confirmed that both nations were in “complete agreement” regarding the base, emphasizing that there were “no obstacles” to its establishment.
The Red Sea is a crucial international waterway, linking the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean, with approximately 12% of global trade passing through it.
Sudan first proposed hosting a Russian naval facility in 2017 during a visit to Sochi by then-President Omar al-Bashir, who was later ousted in a 2019 coup. A formal agreement was signed in 2020, permitting Russia to station up to four naval vessels, including nuclear-powered ships, at the Sudanese base for a 25-year term. At the time, the draft agreement stipulated that the base would serve logistical purposes and be “defensive in nature, not aimed at any other country.”
Following his discussions with Lavrov, Sharif stated that a new agreement was unnecessary, as the 2020 deal remained valid and only required ratification by both governments.
However, Sudanese authorities had previously hesitated to move forward with the deal due to disagreements over its conditions. The situation was further complicated by Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Russia’s involvement in the crisis has been complex, as the Kremlin-backed Wagner group initially supported the RSF, while Moscow simultaneously maintained ties with Sudan’s military leadership.
According to Samuel Ramani, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and an expert on Russia’s engagement in Africa, “Russia was playing both sides.” He noted that since the death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, Moscow has gradually strengthened its relationship with the Sudanese army.
Last April, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov visited Sudan and pledged “unlimited” support for the national army. Additionally, Russia has backed Sudan at the United Nations Security Council, where it vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire on humanitarian grounds—a move condemned by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy as disgraceful. In recent months, Sudan’s army has gained ground against the RSF and appears increasingly confident of securing victory. Meanwhile, the United States has accused RSF leaders of committing genocide and imposed sanctions in January on Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for “choosing war over good-faith negotiation.”
Humanitarian organizations describe Sudan as the site of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with the largest internally displaced population and growing fears of famine in several regions.
This latest development comes amid geopolitical shifts, as Russia’s long-standing ally in the Middle East, Bashar al-Assad, was recently ousted in an armed rebellion in Syria. His fall raises questions about the future of Russia’s Tartus naval base in the eastern Mediterranean, making the Sudanese port an even more strategic asset for Moscow.
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