Sudan’s Burhan to meet Putin in Moscow ahead of Russia-Arab summit

October 3, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, will visit Moscow for a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a report on Friday by Izvestia, a long-running, high-circulation daily newspaper in Russia.

The visit is scheduled to take place ahead of the first Russia-Arab summit on October 15, with a potential Russian naval base in Sudan on the agenda for the talks, according to Izvestia, which cited Sudan’s Ambassador to Russia, Mohamed Siraj.

The diplomatic push comes as Sudan seeks partners for post-conflict reconstruction after a devastating two-year civil war that has shattered its economy and displaced millions.

Khartoum is counting on Moscow as a key partner, building on a long history of diplomatic relations that dates back to 1956. A central element of this cooperation has been a long-standing agreement to establish a Russian naval logistics facility on Sudan’s Red Sea coast, which Moscow has said would contribute to regional stability.

Grigory Lukyanov, a Middle East expert at Russia’s HSE University, told the newspaper that the conflict has expanded the agenda between the two countries, with security now paramount.

“The strategic importance of Sudan has not disappeared,” Lukyanov said, adding that while the naval base remains relevant, cooperation also extends to potential Russian investment in infrastructure and trade.

The meeting between the two leaders is scheduled on the sidelines of the inaugural Russia-Arab summit, which is expected to address regional conflicts, including the wars in Gaza and Syria, as well as global issues and economic cooperation.