Russia’s Naval Base in Sudan: Back on Track Again?

Once again, the Russian naval base in Sudan appears to be moving forward. On February 12, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssif announced during his visit to Moscow that the long-discussed project was back on track. This marks the fourth time that the base has been declared a done deal, following previous announcements in 2017, 2020, and 2023.

If completed, the Sudanese base would likely resemble Russia’s existing naval facility in Tartous, Syria—a relatively small but strategically valuable foothold. For Russia, such a base would serve multiple purposes:

• Supporting naval operations in the Indian Ocean
• Reducing reliance on Syria for naval access
• Establishing Moscow as a key player in the Red Sea region, alongside the EU, China, and the US

Sudan’s Incentives

For Sudan, the rationale is straightforward. The country urgently needs essential goods such as weapons, fuel, and grain—commodities that Russia can provide in large quantities. Additionally, Russia’s veto power at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has been an asset for Sudan, as noted by Foreign Minister Youssif.

Moscow has been attempting to secure a naval presence in the Red Sea since at least 2014. Previous efforts included negotiations with Djibouti, Eritrea, and Somaliland, though none of these attempts materialized into a permanent base.

Djibouti’s Role and African Diplomacy

In an interesting coincidence, Djibouti’s Assembly Speaker, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, was also in Russia, meeting with Duma Speaker Viatcheslav Volodin on February 10. While this visit was likely unrelated to the Sudanese base, it aligns with Volodin’s ongoing parliamentary diplomacy with African nations.

Meanwhile, Djibouti’s influence in African affairs is set to grow. On February 15, Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssef was elected Chairperson of the African Union, further strengthening the country’s diplomatic significance. Any future developments in the Red Sea region will likely involve Djibouti in some capacity.