Sudan has confirmed the completion of a final agreement with Russia to establish a naval base on its Red Sea coast, stating that there are “no obstacles” to its implementation.
Discussions on the agreement date back to the rule of former President Omar al-Bashir, but Sudan’s military government, which ousted him, had previously put the deal under review.
On Wednesday, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef announced that the agreement had been signed, with both countries in “complete agreement” over the establishment of the port. The remaining step, he noted, was ratification.
Several global powers, including the United States, China, and France, already maintain a naval presence in the seas off the Horn of Africa, a crucial strategic and trade route.
At a press briefing in Moscow, alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Youssef stated: “Sudan and Russia have reached an understanding on the agreement regarding the Russian naval base. The matter is very simple… We have agreed on everything.”
Lavrov did not provide any additional comments on the matter.
Originally discussed under Bashir’s rule, the naval base agreement was signed in November 2020 following a military takeover. However, its fate remained uncertain, particularly after the outbreak of war in Sudan in 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in an ongoing power struggle that has claimed thousands of lives.
Moscow has long sought to secure a presence near Port Sudan, a key Red Sea gateway. Under the initial terms of the 25-year agreement, Russia was set to establish a naval logistics hub, accommodating warships, including nuclear-powered vessels, and hosting up to 300 personnel.
The Red Sea is a vital route for global trade and a significant geopolitical hotspot. Russia’s interest in Port Sudan has intensified, particularly after losing key military assets in Syria, where a new government recently terminated Moscow’s long-term lease for a naval port—previously Russia’s only foreign naval base.
In recent months, Russian officials have reportedly visited Port Sudan—which has become the de facto capital of Sudan during the ongoing conflict—seeking to build relations with both warring factions.
Beyond Sudan, Russia has been strengthening its influence across Africa, signing military cooperation agreements and challenging traditional Western allies for strategic partnerships on the continent.
