Sudan rejects Iran’s proposal for Red Sea naval base
Iran’s bid to establish a permanent naval base along Sudan’s Red Sea coast has been declined, signaling intricate power dynamics in the war-torn East African nation, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Sunday. A senior Sudanese intelligence official revealed that Iran had offered advanced weaponry, including a helicopter-carrying warship, in exchange for permission to construct the base.
Ahmed Hassan Mohamed, the official, emphasized that the base would have provided Iran with the capability to gather intelligence and station warships close to the strategically vital Suez Canal and Israel. However, Sudan opted against the offer, expressing apprehensions about potential repercussions on its recent efforts to improve relations with the United States and Israel.
Despite the rejection, Iran’s pursuit highlights Sudan’s strategic significance, particularly its Red Sea coastline, attracting the attention of regional powers amid the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), creating a geopolitical vacuum.
Sudan’s military has employed Iranian-supplied explosive drones in its conflict with the RSF, resulting in widespread human rights violations and a humanitarian crisis. Simultaneously, accusations by the Sudanese government against the United Arab Emirates for supplying weapons to the RSF have been refuted by UAE officials. Egypt’s involvement, including training Sudanese troops and providing drones, has also been reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Sudanese government officials have criticized Washington for purportedly overlooking UAE’s support for the RSF, insisting that the Biden administration should address this before scrutinizing Sudan’s limited military engagement with Iran. Former U.S. Ambassador to Sudan, John Godfrey, voiced concerns in February regarding Iranian arms shipments to the Sudanese army, adding to the complexity of regional dynamics and geopolitical tensions.
