Sudan is ready to host a Russian military base on the Red Sea coast because it could help the country fight the smuggling and slave trade.
Al-Hadi Hamid, the head of the Defence and Security Committee of the Sudanese Parliament told Sputnik on Tuesday that President Omar Al-Bashir, discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu the possibility of deploying a Russian military base in Sudan.
Al-Bashir recently visited Russia for the first time.
“I think it will be reasonable and correct if the Russian leadership agrees to establish a military base on the Red Sea, which will undoubtedly be in the framework of economic and military cooperation between the countries.
“I would like to emphasize that Sudan is ready to host Russian military bases, this would be an excellent cooperation” the lawmaker added.
The visit on Nov. 23, yhe Sudanese leader told Putin that his country could help Russia develop contacts with other African nations.
“Sudan could become a key to Africa for Russia,” he said in remarks released by the Kremlin.
Al-Bashir said that he had a “very good” meeting with Russian Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu earlier Thursday to discuss modernisation of the Sudanese military.
“We agreed with the defence minister that Russia will offer assistance to that,” he added.
Al-Bashir noted that Sudan is concerned about the situation in the Red Sea and sees the U.S. as a problem there, adding that “we would like to discuss the issue from the point of view of the use of bases in the Red Sea.”
It wasn’t immediately clear from al-Bashir’s statement if the Sudanese leader meant to offer the Russian navy use of its facilities.
Russian officials haven’t commented on the issue.
Al-Bashir said that his government is also looking forward to cooperating with Russia in oil exploration, as well as transport and agricultural sector.
Putin similarly noted good prospects for cooperation in the energy sphere.
He mentioned that Sudan has been a large importer of Russian grain, voicing hope that shipments will increase.
(Source: Sputnik/NAN)