Trump admin warns of 'serious consequences' if Russia builds naval base in Sudan
A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Fox News, 'The United States is aware of the reported deal between Russia and the SAF [Sudanese Armed Forces] on establishing a Russian naval facility on Sudan's coast. We encourage all countries, including Sudan, to avoid any transactions with Russia's defense sector, which could trigger serious consequences, potentially including sanctions on entities or individuals associated with those transactions.'
The U.S. State Department spokesperson added, 'Moving forward with such a facility or any other form of security cooperation with Russia would further isolate Sudan, deepen the current conflict, and risk further regional destabilization.'
According to Fox News, Russia appears positioned to join other global powers with a significant naval presence near the Horn of Africa as it moves forward with approved plans for a base in Port Sudan for nuclear-powered submarines and other warships. The outlet noted that the proposed base would be near the U.S. and Chinese bases located in Djibouti. Fox News also reported that Port Sudan could serve as Russia's only foreign naval base as Syria's new government is expected to push Russia out of its current naval facility in Tartus.
READ MORE: Russian warplanes enter Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, tracked by US military
Fox News reported that a deal allowing Russia to build a military base in Sudan has already been approved. Rebekah Koffler, a strategic military intelligence analyst, told Fox News that the deal was finalized between the two countries in February.
'Moscow views Sudan, because of its strategic location, as a logical place to expand Russia's footprint into Africa, which Putin views as a key place of geopolitical confrontation with the United States and China,' Koffler said. 'Russia views the U.S. and China as its top adversaries, with whom Moscow may in the long-term have a kinetic conflict. Hence, Putin wants intelligence and military capabilities stationed close to the U.S. Djibouti base and Chinese facilities.'
Pointing to the existing U.S. and Chinese naval bases in the region, Koffler suggested that Russia could use Port Sudan to transfer weapons, store military ammunition, and 'all sorts of war-fighting capabilities.'
'If Russia perceives an impending escalation against Russia, let's say in Ukraine — such as an impending deployment of NATO forces or draconian economic measures designed to tank [the] Russian economy — I would not rule out the possibility that Putin could authorize something disruptive to exploit the choke point and destabilize or disrupt global shipping, as a way of deterring Western actions threatening Russia,' Koffler said.
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