Sudan’s foreign minister has confirmed that it is in talks with Moscow to host a Russian naval base on the Red Sea.
The announcement was made during a visit by the foreign minister, Ali Youssef Ahmed al-Sharif, to Moscow where he met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.
The two countries were in “complete agreement” on establishing a Russian base “and there are no obstacles”, Sharif said.
The Red Sea is a strategic maritime route accounting for 12% of global trade. China and the US already have bases there.
Last April, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, visited Sudan and pledged “uncapped” support for its army.