Sudan Allows Russia to Build Naval Base in Africa
Sudan’s foreign minister, Ali Youssef, said on February 12 that the country will allow Russia to build its first naval base in Africa. This decision was made during a visit to Moscow.
The naval base has been under discussion since 2017. It would give Russia access to the Red Sea, which is an important waterway for trade. The Suez Canal is located at the northern end of the sea and handles a significant amount of global trade.
Russia’s move comes as the country is rethinking its military presence in Syria. After the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al–Assad in December, Russia began withdrawing assets from the country. This raised questions about the future of Russia’s naval base in Tartus and airbase in Khmeimim.
Syria’s new government will decide what to do with these bases based on national interests. The defense minister said that if Russia can benefit Syria, then it may be able to keep its military presence there.