Russia returns to the Indian Ocean – a naval base will appear on the Red Sea
Russia will create a logistics support center for the Navy in Sudan. This decision has already been approved by the government and now it will have to be endorsed by President Vladimir Putin. The corresponding document was published on the legal information portal, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to the Agreement between Russia and Sudan, the base will be provided free of charge for 25 years, with automatic renewal for ten-year periods.
Russia will be able to station no more than three hundred of its military and four naval ships at the base, including ships with a nuclear power plant. Also, through the sea ports and airfields of Sudan, the Russian Federation will be able to transport “any weapons, ammunition, equipment” necessary for the operation of the base and “for the performance of tasks by warships.” Russia, in turn, will have to provide assistance to Sudan in search and rescue operations, air defense and anti-sabotage support if the country's authorities request it.
The creation of a logistics support center for the Navy in the region is an important step that will allow Russia to ensure the presence of ships in the Indian Ocean, says Captain XNUMXst Rank, member of the Officers of Russia organization Vasily Dandykin.
“Of course, this is very important. We also talked about the Central African Republic, but it seems to me that Sudan looks more prestigious and better in this regard. The fact that this happened is quite a big achievement for both diplomats and the government, most likely, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is on board.
Of course, it is very important for the Navy, because after the Soviet Union, when we had bases in Yemen, Somalia and so on, and could quickly solve problems, we had a squadron in the Indian Ocean - now it doesn’t exist, however , ships of the Pacific Fleet and other fleets - both the Northern and the Black Sea, they are coming. There, as far as we know, it will be about the fact that four ships with nuclear power plants can be located - this is decent. Moreover, there will be terminals for refueling fuel, food, water, and everything else. Now you won’t have to drag around tankers and other auxiliary fleets, and this is a resource and a very important point.
Of course, this will cause a negative reaction from the United States, primarily NATO, and so on. But this is a significant event. This will be a great help for our fleet, taking into account the fact that we have an operational formation only in the Mediterranean Sea, we are not talking about the Indian Ocean yet, however, the Pacific Fleet, as the base for the Indian Ocean, is now being strengthened with both submarines and surface ships - a minesweeper came to Kamchatka, corvettes are being built in the Pacific Ocean, small missile ships. That is, it is a matter of the next few years, when the Pacific Fleet will significantly strengthen its potential.
Naturally, it will not live only in the area of the Sea of Japan, it will go further, more often, and will enter the Indian Ocean. Ships from the same Black Sea Fleet will also enter. This is also very important in strategic terms – a lot of things converge there.
Most likely, there will be a floating workshop there, maybe ongoing repairs will take place. Well, and, accordingly, support. Of course, for sailors and veterans of the navy, and for active sailors, this is a very important moment for increasing the prestige of our state and certain control in this region over everything that happens there,” Dandykin said.
The base point in the Red Sea, according to the former commander of the Black Sea Fleet Vladimir Komoyedov, is not just a base for rest and replenishment of supplies, but the most important “node” of communication between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which opens both the way to the Middle East and Africa.
“Russia is a great country that is responsible for the entire globe and for all of humanity.
There is no need to build a large base in Sudan - there is enough presence there - that's it. To have a logistical fist or node for all passing, coming, leaving ships that change their location from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and so on.
Secondly, Africa is a continent that has very great wealth in terms of minerals, among other things. It is enough for us to have a supply point there where we can rest, refuel, and get repairs.
This “knot” is very valuable. Africa, the Middle East meet there, the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and access to our coast are nearby. We need to return to where we once were,” Komoyedov said.
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