Sudan: struggle for US-Russian influence on the shores of the Red Sea
The Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich on the left and the American destroyer USS WInston Churchill on the right, both moored in Port Sudan.
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US-Russian military competition is in full swing in the Red Sea, off the Sudanese coast.
Last December, Russia announced an agreement with Khartoum providing for the construction of a naval base in Port Sudan.
But, since its exit from the American black list of countries supporting terrorism, the United States also covets this strategic place that is Sudan.
And it is not excluded that Washington will also install a naval base there.
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The Port-Sudan naval logistics center, the first in Africa for Russia, is intended to accommodate up to four vessels and 300 soldiers.
It should serve, according to the Russian authorities, as a “
logistical support center
” and for “
repairs and supplies
”.
The strategic position of this maritime crossroads will strengthen Russia's power of action in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
As for the United States, they also seem to want a foothold in post al-Bashir Sudan, in a context of rapprochement between Washington and Khartoum, and while military cooperation with Sudan is gaining momentum.
Since the end of January, the date of Africom's number two visit to Khartoum, information has been leaked on an agreement for a US naval base.
It would be located in Aqiq Kabir, not far from the border with Eritrea.
The policy of the American outstretched hand in Khartoum aims, according to several observers, to cut the road to Russian interests.
In less than a week, two US military ships docked in Sudan.
The latest, the destroyer Winston Churchill, arrived in Port Sudan on Saturday.
And since Sunday, the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich has been moored 4 kilometers from the American building.
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