MOSCOW. Nov 18 (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma plans to consider a bill on the ratification of the agreement on the construction of a Russian naval base in Sudan in November, according to the tentative program of the State Duma's legislative work published in its electronic database.
The bill deals with the ratification of the agreement between Russia and Sudan on the creation of the Russian Navy's logistics point on the Sudanese territory, which was signed in Khartoum on July 23, 2019 and in Moscow on December 1, 2020.
The agreement outlines the conditions for the creation of the naval base. Under the agreement, the authorized bodies of the sides are the Russian Defense Ministry and the Sudanese Defense Ministry.
The document states that the maximum number of troops serving in the logistics point and civilians (civilian personnel) working in the logistics point will not exceed 300 people. This number may be increased by Russia upon coordination with the Sudanese side, the agreement said.
The maximum number of Russian warships that are allowed to be present in the logistics point simultaneously is "four, including warships with nuclear power units, on condition that the norms of nuclear and environmental safety are observed."
The agreement also envisages that Russia uses Sudan's air space for flights under the agreement in accordance with the legislation of Sudan and the international treaties signed by both countries.
Retired Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov, former commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, told Interfax that the creation of the base is "expansion of our Navy's capabilities."
Russia will get another naval base abroad amid "the dominance of the United States and NATO in the Atlantic, the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the air, in the water and underwater," he said.
Komoyedov called the Red Sea a region that is important for Russian military presence. "Russia has its own interests there. It's Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It's access to the Indian Ocean, and also access to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic via the Suez Canal. We don't need to keep a lot of forces in Sudan. It will be enough to have a maneuver base and a logistics point," the admiral said.
Russia now has a naval base abroad in the Syrian port of Tartus. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on September 30 the Tartus naval base could take dozens of warships.
The Russian squadron is permanently present in the Mediterranean. It comprises up to 15 warships and supply vessels, the Russian Black Sea Fleet press service said. Russian frigates and diesel submarines from the permanent unit of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean have more than once hit militants in Syria with Kalibr cruise missiles (Almaz Antey).