Russia’s Naval Base Deal With Sudan Under Revision — Kremlin

Russia is studying information about Sudan’s possible plans to review the agreement on Russia’s naval base on the Red Sea coast, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Wednesday.

Sudanese armed forces’ general staff chief, Muhammad Othman Al-Hussein, said on Tuesday that Sudan intends to revise the agreement, since it was signed by the former government of Sudan but was never ratified by the parliament.

“Of course, we are studying this,” Bogdanov told reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

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File Image: Russian Navy

This year’s forum takes place in person from Wednesday through Saturday at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Center in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

The Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, the umbrella media organization that includes such brands as Sputnik, RIA Novosti, InoSMI, and Baltnews, among others, is an official media partner of the event.

“Yes, we have seen these statements, we maintain constant contact with the Sudanese side via diplomatic channels. We will sort this out,” Peskov told reporters when asked if the Kremlin is aware of Sudan’s plans.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Moscow is aware of Sudan’s statement about its intention to revise the agreement on Russia’s naval base on the Red Sea coast, the countries are engaged in diplomatic negotiations.

Earlier, there were reports that Sudan had shelved plans for Russia to open a naval logistics base in a key Red Sea port.

Russia had declared the signing of a 25-year deal to construct the logistics hub for nuclear-powered warships in Port Sudan. It would have been Russia’s first naval base in Africa and its second overseas base after Syria’s Tartous.