Russian Navy Gaining Foothold Near Red Sea? Russia Increases Military Presence in North Africa

In recent days, observers have recorded a noticeable surge in the activity of Russian government and special aircraft in the Mediterranean Sea and over North African territories. The most notable was the flight of a Tu-214PU communications and control aircraft from Benghazi (Libya) towards Russia. Simultaneously, Il-96-300 routes were detected both towards Libya and towards Iran, indicating an increase in diplomatic and, presumably, military-technical contacts.

Aviation activity coincides with reports of Russia's intention to create a permanent naval base in Sudan and aviation infrastructure in Libya.

According to available data, the new naval base on the Red Sea coast should provide the Russian Navy with a strategic presence in the region, strengthen logistics routes, and expand opportunities for deploying ship groups in the southern Mediterranean and near the Gulf of Aden.

It is also noted that the official representative of Russia in Sudan, Andrei Chernovol, stated that there has been no progress in the issue of creating a Russian naval base in the country. He emphasized that any reports of the opening of such a facility are considered premature at the moment.

According to the diplomat, the article in The Wall Street Journal, published on Monday and reporting on the Sudanese authorities' proposal to Russia to deploy a naval base on the territory of the republic, dates back to 2020. He recalled that the document signed at that time is publicly available and requires ratification.

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