Russia Seeks Naval Bases in Africa
This Wall Street Journal article reports that Sudan’s military junta has offered Russia a 25-year deal for its first African naval base at Port Sudan. This move would grant Moscow up to four berths for warships and access to lucrative gold concessions in exchange for aircraft and other arms. From this Red Sea foothold, Russia could monitor and potentially threaten the Suez Canal, which carries roughly 12% of global trade, extending its reach alongside China’s existing naval base in Djibouti and deepening its influence along critical sea lanes.
Together, these dynamics underscore Joel Richardson’s argument in “Why AFRICOM Should Remain Independent,” where he asserts that Africa is now a “nexus theater” for great power competition and sustained US engagement remains essential to avoid ceding strategic sea lanes, partners, and populations to Russian and Chinese leverage.
