By: The Odessa journal

Russia is negotiating a permanent naval base in Sudan’s Port Sudan, a move analysts describe as an effort to establish an intelligence and strategic foothold on the critical Red Sea. According to the Robert Lansing Institute, this base would significantly constrain U.S. freedom of action around the Suez Canal and enhance Moscow's military reach in Africa and the Middle East.

The proposed base, under discussion since 2017, is envisioned as a 25-year lease capable of hosting up to 300 personnel and four ships, including nuclear-powered vessels. Strategically positioned along a corridor carrying 12–15% of global trade, it would serve as Russia’s primary warm-water gateway to the Indian Ocean. Experts assert the facility would function as a full forward operating base for intelligence gathering, logistics, and naval power projection, directly challenging U.S. and NATO maritime mobility in a volatile region.

Beyond naval positioning, the base is integral to Russia's broader African strategy. It would provide a maritime lifeline for Wagner Group operations, support arms deliveries and resource extraction (notably gold used to circumvent sanctions), and enable closer coordination with Iran. The installation could eventually deploy advanced reconnaissance drones, coastal defense missiles, and air defense systems, creating an anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) bubble near vital shipping lanes.

For the United States, Russia’s encroachment in the Red Sea complicates an already fragmented diplomatic landscape among regional states and exploits a perceived power vacuum. Despite political instability in Sudan and other obstacles, Moscow views the Port Sudan base as essential for securing permanent Indian Ocean access, projecting influence beyond Europe, and challenging Western dominance over key global maritime routes.