Русский
Khartoum and Moscow have agreed on establishing a Russian naval base in Sudan, according to Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Ahmed Al-Sharif.
In a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, Al-Sharif confirmed that discussions have successfully concluded, stating, “therefore, the matter is quite simple. I have nothing to add. We have agreed on everything.”
The agreement, which first surfaced in December 2020, outlines the creation of a logistical support facility for the Russian Navy. It will serve as a hub for ship repairs and resupply. The facility’s personnel will be limited to 300, with a maximum of four Russian vessels permitted to be stationed there at the same time.
Following the talks, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s “position on the need for a swift cessation of hostilities and the launch of an inclusive national dialogue” on Sudan’s conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), stressing the need for a resolution without external interference.
The brutal conflict has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people since April 2023 and has displaced millions.
The agreement is beneficial in several ways for Russia and Sudan:
- Russia gets a foothold on the Red Sea, obtaining access to the Indian Ocean.
- Enhances logistical support for various Russian military units in the region.
- Helps mitigate threats to Russian tankers and vessels in the Red Sea and the Suez Canal zones from bad actors as witnessed recently in the Baltic Sea.
- Provides a convenient point for intelligence monitoring as NATO, the US, and France are increasingly unwelcome in the Central African region.
- Russia’s clout and capabilities on the African continent are enhanced – elevating Sudan’s standing among neighboring countries, while solidifying cooperation with Russia.
During the press conference, the Russian foreign minister stressed that despite Western sanctions, Moscow continues to expand its engagement with African nations, adding that Russia has been able to maintain and strengthen mutually beneficial partnerships across the continent.
“Of course, we seek and, in most cases, find ways to continue our mutually beneficial cooperation with African and other countries, regardless of the criminal, unilateral, illegitimate actions of the Collective West,” he said.
Lavrov also argued that the Western sanctions expose the unreliability of those who impose them saying they undermine the key principles of globalization: “fair competition, the presumption of innocence, the inviolability of property, the free play of market forces – all of this has been instantly overturned.”
Lavrov praised the development of relations between the two countries, reiterating Russia’s support for Sudan in all international forums and expressing his country’s determination to strengthen bilateral ties. He affirmed Russia’s readiness to participate in Sudan’s reconstruction efforts and emphasized the mutual benefit of cooperation.
Sudan plans to sign agreements with Russian companies for industrial, commercial, and oil-related projects, focusing on over 20 oil wells in conflict-free zones such as the Red Sea region and western Sudan, according to the Sudanese oil and gas minister, Mohi-Eddin Naeem Mohamed Saeed. The African state has offered 22 oil fields to Russian companies and has reached strategic agreements with Rosneft and Power Machines in the areas of oil production and hydroelectric power.
Further Reading
