Sudan could accept creation of Russian Naval Base in Red Sea

The Sudanese authorities have no general objections to the creation of a Russian naval base in the country. Sudan’s new parliament will consider the agreement with Russia on the creation of a nave base in country after the elections

Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq Ali said we have no fundamental objections to the agreements reached under the previous government. This is an obligation of the state, Ali said on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

We believe that a new parliament should be formed, which will consider the agreement and develop a recommendation for the government — a positive recommendation. We leave this issue to the parliament, which will be elected soon.

In February, Russian Ambassador to Sudan Andrei Chernovol told Sputnik that the country has not yet been able to complete the procedure for ratifying the agreement on the establishment of a Russian navy base in Port Sudan on the Red Sea.

The agreement between Khartoum and Moscow on a Russian naval logistical support point in the Red Sea was brokered in mid-November 2020. It was signed by Russia at the beginning of December 2020, but is still awaiting ratification by Sudan.

In early November 2020, the Russian government asked Vladimir Putin to approve the proposal to establish a material and logistical support point for the Russian Navy in Sudan, stating that a draft deal had already been agreed on between Moscow and Khartoum.

The base should not host more than 300 servicemen and four Russian naval vessels, including nuclear-powered warships, at the same time. Russia will have to notify the Sudanese side 12 hours before the arrival of ships and three hours before their departure.

The agreement is expected to last for 25 years, with an automatic 10-year extension provided that neither party requests that it be terminated prior to that time.

The land for the base will be provided free of charge. In return, Sudan will receive investment in the development of the port and the construction of a new landing pier for its navy.

Under the terms of the agreement, Russia undertakes to supply free of charge weapons and equipment for the organization of anti-aircraft defense of the Sudanese naval base at Port Sudan.

On November 16, 2020, Vladimir Putin approved the government’s proposal and instructed the Ministry of Defense to sign the agreement, which was completed on December 1, 2020.

The US regime did not welcome Russia entering the region and began to pressure Khartoum, causing ratification to drag on. But, on February 9, Sergey Lavrov, visiting Khartoum, announced that the process was underway.

Neighboring Eritrea, for its part, has already proposed to Russia that a naval base be established on its territory. On Saturday, February 11, the Associated Press reported that the Sudanese authorities had returned to the agreement.

Sources of the agency reported that after the visit of Sergey Lavrov, Moscow had met all the conditions of Khartoum and the army has given the green light for the entry into force of the document after the formation of a government and a legislative body and ratification of the text.

Sputnik / ABC Flash Point News 2024.