The Russian Embassy in Sudan has downplayed recent media reports concerning the potential establishment of a Russian naval base in the country, dismissing them as a rehash of old, unfounded claims. The embassy’s statement comes in response to a report published earlier this week alleging that Sudanese authorities had proposed the idea of a naval facility on the Red Sea coast to Russia.
According to the Russian state news agency, RIA Novosti, the embassy stated that in the absence of any new developments, the aforementioned report serves only to revive a five-year-old ‘horror story’ regarding Russian presence in the Red Sea region. This assertion follows a report which suggested that Sudan offered Russia the opportunity to construct a naval base along its Red Sea coastline.
Previous agreements, dating back to November 2020, reportedly granted Russia the right to utilize a section of Port Sudan and its adjacent waters. These agreements stipulated a maximum of 300 Russian personnel stationed at the base, enjoying diplomatic immunity, and allowed for the presence of no more than four Russian vessels simultaneously, including those powered by nuclear energy.
The report further claimed that the establishment of such a base would provide Russia with an unprecedented vantage point overlooking vital trade routes in the Red Sea. In return, Sudan would allegedly receive preferential access to advanced Russian anti-aircraft systems and other weaponry.
A Sudanese military official, speaking to the original news source, acknowledged Sudan’s need for updated arms supplies but conceded that finalizing a deal with Russia could potentially strain relations with the United States and the European Union. The situation remains fluid as geopolitical interests continue to intersect in this strategically important region.
