Potential joint defence agreement between Sudan and Turkey

Sudan and Turkey have recently discussed the possibility of expanding their cooperation and are considering signing a joint defence agreement.

The Sudanese sources explained to The New Arab, that “there is information circulating in Khartoum that suggest agents from Cairo and Abu Dhabi are seeking to stir unrest in Sudan.”

The sources said that “there have been hints of this in the Egyptian media and in the writings of those who are close to the regime”. Thus, “it is important to take immediate steps to put an end to these attempts.”

Last Thursday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry said it had decided to summon Sudan’s ambassador to Cairo, Ambassador Abdel Mahmood Abdel Halim, to Khartoum for discussions.

On Monday, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir issued a republican decree to set up a committee to follow up the implementation of the cooperation agreements between Khartoum and Ankara.

At the end of December, the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, announced that Sudan and Turkey signed agreements for military and security cooperation during the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Khartoum.

Read: A Sudan-Turkey alliance promises a new direction for the Muslim world

During a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at Khartoum airport at the end of the Turkish President’s three-day visit to Sudan, Ghandour talked about signed agreements, including the establishment of a marina for the maintenance of civilian and military vessels.

He added that “the Sudanese Defence Ministry is open to military cooperation with any party. We have military cooperation with brothers and friends, and we are ready for military cooperation with Turkey.”

The Turkish Foreign Minister said that “agreements have been signed regarding the security of the Red Sea.” He stressed that Turkey “will continue to provide all support to Sudan in this regard.”

The statements were followed by a meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his UAE counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed, during which they confirmed their rejection of what they called “any interference and presence of any foreign party in the Red Sea region,” considering it as “part of the Arab national security.”

Read: Sudan says deal with Turkey not threat to Arab nations

A few days ago, the Sudanese military deployed thousands of its soldiers on the borders with Eritrea, after Egypt, in coordination with the UAE, has pushed heavily armed forces with developed weapons and military reinforcements to the Eritrean base of Sawa.

Al-Jazeera quoted sources as saying that a meeting was held at the base which included a number of military and security leaders from Egypt, the UAE, Eritrea, and the Sudanese opposition represented in some Darfur movements and movements of eastern Sudan.

Last Saturday, Sudan announced the closure of its borders with Eritrea under a presidential decree of the declaration of emergency in the Sudanese border state of Kassala with Eritrea.