Russia in talks with Sudan to establish presence on Red Sea in addition to possible return to Syria

The military government in Sudan is offering Russia to establish a naval base in Port Sudan, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Monday.

This comes shortly after reports that the Russian military could soon return to southern Syria. This would mean that Russia could establish military bases on Israel’s northern border, as well as on the trade routes connecting the Israeli port of Eilat to the outside world through the Red Sea.

According to the WSJ’s report, which cited Sudanese officials, Russia received a proposal to station up to 300 troops and dock as many as four warships, either at Port Sudan or another yet-to-be-named Red Sea facility, for 25 years.

In addition, Russia would be in a prime position to get mining concessions in Sudan, which is the third-largest gold producer on the continent.

In return, the military regime of Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan would receive Russian antiaircraft systems and other weaponry to try and reverse the tide against the Rapid Support Force (RSF) that has recently captured the entire Darfur region in the west of the country.

A port in Sudan would give Russia the ability to monitor the vital Red Sea trading routes that connect to Egypt’s Suez Canal, which carries around 12% of global trade. 

The northeastern end of the Red Sea is Israel’s only southern outlet with the port of Eilat. However, the port has been severely impacted by the Yemeni Houthi rebels’ attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in recent years, demonstrating Israel’s vulnerability to hostile forces in the region.

The growing ties between Israel and the breakaway state of Somaliland, on the horn of Africa, stem from the same considerations.

According to the WSJ, the government in Khartoum declined a proposal by the Iranian regime to establish a naval base on its coast, fearing the response from the U.S. and Israel.

The possible presence of Russian forces in the Red Sea is also troubling to the U.S., which has sought to keep Russia and China out of the area.

A senior U.S. official said a Russian base in Sudan could allow it to project power, while also increasing “Russia’s leverage by giving them more international prestige and clout,” retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Hicks, who commanded U.S. special-operations units in Africa, told the newspaper.

A Sudanese official acknowledged that the deal with Russia might alienate the U.S. and the European Union but noted that the military regime needs new weapon supplies.

Earlier this month, Syrian sources told Israel’s Kan News that a recent unusual visit by a Russian military delegation to southern Syria was part of an initiative to restore military police patrols in the area as a buffer between Israeli and Syrian forces.

During the Assad regime’s control over Syria, Russia had a large military presence in the country. Israeli and Russian forces maintained close but tense relations to avoid confrontations over Syrian airspace, as Israel increased its airstrikes on Iranian-affiliated forces operating in the area.

A Russian proposal to redeploy in southern Syria was reportedly raised with the new Damascus regime several months ago, but the matter remains under review.

The Sudanese regime has been reaching out to Israel several times in recent years to put the Abraham Accords back on track.