Sudan remains open to a military base agreement with Russia in the Red Sea

Sudan held meetings with Russian officials to welcome a military base agreement. Russia can establish a naval base on the Red Sea under the agreement. Deputy Chairman of Sudan Sovereignty Council, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalu Hmidti, said that he discussed cooperation with Russian authorities on national security and political issues.

Hmidti held a press conference at Khartoum Airport after his 8-day visit to Russia. He also said that he has no objection if Russia or any other country wants to open a base on Sudanese territory. He further said that meetings with Russian authorities were productive.

Hmidti and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak discussed the issues of economy and cooperation between Sudan and Russia. Hmidti also met with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev. Both leaders discussed the issue of national security in Russia and Sudan. They also discussed measures to fight against terrorism.

While talking about the naval base that Russia wants to establish in the city of Port Sudan in the Red Sea, Hmidti said, “We have 730 kilometres along the Red Sea. If any country wants to open a base and it is in our interests and doesn't threaten our national security, we have no problem in dealing with anyone, Russian or otherwise.”

The original military base deal was signed in 2017 under the deposed Omar al-Bashir government. The deal allowed Russia’s navy to establish a 25-year lease on a site at Port Sudan. In 2017, the two countries signed cooperation agreements on military training.

According to Russia Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the establishment of a Russian military base in Sudan on November 16, 2020. However, the arrangement was put on hold in June 2021 by the joint civilian-military transitional government in Khartoum, which came to power following Bashir’s overthrow in a nationwide pro-democracy uprising in 2019.