Israel- Sudan deal: Russia’s rise in Africa, especially after the Ukraine war, has been unstoppable, despite the best of Western attempts to counter it in various ways. As the Ukraine war rages on, Moscow has intensified its attempts to increase its footprints in Africa and has largely been successful as its mercenary group Wagner has driven out Western troops from one African country after another. Now, in this whole geopolitical development, the clueless Biden administration has mostly been trying to catch up with Putin. With the diminishing relevance of the West in Africa, the US has now turned to Israel and Sudan to hold its ground in the strategically important Horn of Africa region.
Israel & Sudan normalize relations
As per a report, Israel and Sudan have finalized a deal to normalize relations during a visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.
After generations of non-recognition, Sudan has now pledged to take steps towards normalizing diplomatic ties with Israel as part of a 2020 deal brokered by then-U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Cohen’s visit to Khartoum was the first by an Israeli official acknowledged by Sudanese authorities and “was made with the consent of the United States” as per an Israeli foreign ministry statement. So, as the power struggle between major powers in Africa is at an all-time high, what is the significance of such a deal?
Russia-India outreach to Horn of Africa via Egypt
It is a known fact that, in the HoA, the biggest players are Egypt, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. After the end of the Tigray crisis, these regional players continue to conflict over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam involving Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
Read More: NATO takes the Nordic highway to Africa
We previously told our readers, that India by inviting the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the guest of honor for the former’s 74th Republic Day celebration played an excellent geopolitical move, as it is likely that India could be silently helping Russia to gain foothold in the Horn of Africa region. Further, It might very much be a possibility that India and Russia may join hands to sort out the differences between Egypt, Ethiopia & Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and finally turn the region into a one solid geopolitical unit ridding it of any Western influence.
US following Russia everywhere
Additionally, in this battle for influence in Africa, the US has mostly been clueless, while Russia has made significant inroads into the continent, leaving the US to mostly give knee-jerk late-responses to Russia’s advancements. For example, recently the US Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, set off on her tour to South Africa, Senegal, and Zambia after South Africa announced that it will hold joint military drills with Russia and China off its coast.
Moreover, the Cat & mouse chase between Russia and US is such that as soon as Russia’s FM met Eritrea’s President, IMF too announced its intentions for “constructive and meaningful engagements” with Ethiopia. The list is too long. However, one thing that’s evident here is that Russia has been able to outsmart the US in almost all of its foreign policy moves.
Read More: South Africa foils USA’s latest military strategy
Huge win for Israel
The Israel, Sudan deal is historic and a sure shot win for Israel after years of non-recognition of Israel’s sovereignty. The UAE, Bahrain and Morocco have officially normalized relations with Israel since 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. In this regard, Sudan now would become the latest Arab League country to establish such ties. Thus it’s a huge win for the Jewish nation, as historically, members of the Arab League had refused to recognize Israel which is also a factor in perpetuating the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Read More: The Chad-Israel Bond to Create Surprising Opportunities for Unexpected Entities
Further, Israel too has of late been trying to expand its footprint in Africa. Recently, Chadian President Mahamat Deby met with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
We have explained it to our readers that with Netanyahu’s “love-hate” relationship with the US and the recent deterioration in ties can prove to be fatal for the US as Israel & Russia may join hands to increase their footprint in the Sahel region via Chad.
Considering the scenario, it is more or less proved that the US is once again trying to sweeten its ties with the two countries through the grand “Israel-Egypt-Sudan patch-up” and although it’s no denying that it does help all the three countries but their loyalty for Russia will not wean in any way. It will just be yet another late response from the Biden administration to Russia’s advancements.
