Russia is set to establish a naval base in Port Sudan after the two countries ratified an earlier agreement.
The move comes just a month after the new Syrian government terminated a lease that granted Russia its only foreign base.
Port Sudan, which sits on the Red Sea, is strategically important to Russia in achieving its defence, commercial, and geopolitical goals. The Red Sea connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, with 12% of global trade going through this vital waterway.
Under the agreement Russia will maintain on the Sudanese coast, a naval base manned by 300 sailors. It will also accommodate a nuclear vessel and warships. Last year, a senior Sudanese military officer claimed that Russia had asked to be given a place on the Red Sea to set up a naval fueling station in exchange for ammo and weapons.
Also with the imminent closure of its only foreign naval base on the Syrian Mediterranean coast, Russia has been keen to maintain its naval presence in the Mediterranean by eyeing Libya a move that has attracted strong protest from Italy.
Mediterranean is important to Russia, and having a naval base along the Libyan coast will give Moscow vital access to Africa, Southern Europe, and the Middle East, where Russia has enormous interests. Russia already has an airbase, which it uses as a staging post and a logistical hub to supply arms.
