MOSCOW, February 13. /TASS/. The establishment of a logistics support facility for the Russian Navy in Sudan will enhance Russia's geopolitical influence in the region and the Indian Ocean as a whole, while also securing the Arabian coast, military expert Alexander Stepanov, program director of the Academy of Political Sciences and senior researcher at the Institute of Latin America of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told TASS in an interview.
"If a positive decision is made, it will lay significant groundwork for projecting our geopolitical influence in the region, providing opportunities to monitor shipping, maintain security in the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, ensure safety along the Arabian coast, and generally assert our military presence in the Indian Ocean," the expert noted.
He further emphasized that, in light of the sabotage campaign instigated by the United States against both the Russian civilian fleet and partner organizations that facilitate the logistics of hydrocarbons and other goods, this initiative is vital for Russia to preserve the balance of power. It offers the possibility of controlling maritime trade routes and ensuring the safety of its fleet. Additionally, the expert highlighted that the new logistics center would serve as a base for Russia's collaboration with regional partners, creating more opportunities for joint maritime patrols and military cooperation with China and Iran.
The agreement between Russia and Sudan to establish a logistics center for the Russian Navy was announced in early December 2020. The facility will be used for repairs, resupply, and rest and recreation for Russian naval crews. Currently, Sudan and Russia have reached a mutual understanding regarding the agreement on the Russian Navy base. Following talks in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youseff Ahmed al-Sharif stated that the parties have "agreed on everything.".