Rhino: Agencies – Port Sudan Authority has offered Russia what would be its first naval base in Africa and an unprecedented foothold overlooking vital trade routes in the Red Sea, according to Sudanese officials.

The Red Sea port would give Moscow a vital advantage in strategic waters, if the agreement is enforced.

According to the WSJ, the deal, if it goes through, would represent a strategic advantage for Moscow, which is struggling to establish a foothold on the continent. It would also be a worrying development for the US, which has sought to prevent Russia and China from gaining control of African ports, where they could rearm and resupply their warships and potentially choke vital sea lanes.