Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reports that the Kremlin has announced a suspension of agreements to establish a naval logistics base in Port Sudan. The base was intended to become Russia’s first full-scale naval facility in Africa since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The suspension highlights Moscow’s limited resources for expanding overseas military infrastructure, as it focuses virtually all of its capabilities on the war in Ukraine.
A strategic blow to Russia's ambitions in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea
The project, which had envisioned stationing up to 300 personnel and four ships for 25 years with an option to extend, was reportedly put on hold by Russia due to escalating civil conflict in Sudan.
Port Sudan was considered a key element for maintaining a permanent Russian presence in the Indian Ocean, controlling the Red Sea, and securing access to the Suez Canal region. Its suspension, therefore, represents a significant strategic setback for Moscow.
The war against Ukraine drains Russia's naval forces
Even if the project had been implemented, the Russian Navy’s operational capabilities would remain constrained by the war in Ukraine, the agency continues.
This is reflected in a sharp decline in activity in the Mediterranean: in recent months, Russian operations have been limited to occasional deployments of a single submarine of the 877/636 class.
This reduction is attributed to the loss of operational support at the Tartus port in Syria, which had provided repair and logistical services for Russian forces. By comparison, in 2018, Russia maintained at least two submarines and around ten surface vessels at Tartus.
“In this context, the Kremlin is shifting its focus to the Baltic Sea and the Arctic,” the intelligence service noted.
Earlier, Norwegian Defense Minister Ture Sandvik stated that Russia was strengthening its Arctic presence, directing nuclear weapons toward the US.
Oslo has detected expanded weapons development on Russia’s Kola Peninsula, home to the valuable Northern Fleet and part of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.
