Russia may soon solidify a potentially destabilising agreement with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for a significant weapons exchange, aimed at bolstering a Russian logistics hub in Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
The development has sparked concerns about escalating tensions and geopolitical realignments.
Yassir Al-Atta, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the SAF, announced on May 25 that a delegation of Sudanese military officials would travel to Russia to finalise an agreement.
The deal involves the exchange of “vital weapons and munitions” in return for support of the Russian logistics centre in Port Sudan.
Al-Atta emphasised that the proposed Russian centre is “not exactly a military base”.
In a related development, a Kremlin-awarded Russian military blogger reported on May 27 that the Sudanese Armed Forces had reclaimed several areas in Khartoum, using Iranian-made drones.
This indicates a growing military cooperation between Sudan and external powers, including Russia and Iran.
Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Representative for Africa and the Middle East, held meetings with Sudanese officials, including Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, during a visit to Sudan from April 28-29.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested that Russia might shift its support in the Sudanese civil war to back the SAF, facilitating the establishment of its naval base on the Red Sea.
ISW analysts believe that Russian support for the SAF could significantly benefit Iran by aligning Russian and Iranian strategies in the region. This alignment is seen as part of a broader geopolitical strategy that could increase tensions in an already volatile area.
In a broader context, the ISW’s key takeaways on May 27 highlight several critical developments, including NATO’s call for lifting prohibitions on Ukraine using Western-provided weapons within Russian territory and Spain’s signing of a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Ukraine. Additionally, Ukrainian forces continue to target Russian military infrastructure, and there are claims of Russian sabotage operations in Europe aimed at disrupting arms supplies to Ukraine.
Further complicating the geopolitical landscape, Russian officials are considering delisting the Taliban as a prohibited organisation, indicating possible future cooperation.
