Russia has reached an agreement with Sudan to establish a naval base on the Red Sea coast, the BBC reports.
The African country's Foreign Minister Ali Youssef noted that an agreement has been signed with Russia on the creation of the port. According to him, the deal only remains to be ratified. He did not provide details about the agreement, however.
The United States, China and France already have naval presences off the Horn of Africa, a key strategic and trade route.
Moscow has been seeking to establish a base near Port Sudan for years.
The Red Sea provides access to a strategic route that is vital to global trade, as well as a defense and geopolitical hotspot.
Russian interests in Port Sudan have grown amid fears of losing military assets in Syria.
Russia is also expanding its influence in other African countries, signing military cooperation agreements and displacing traditional Western allies.