Saudi, Sudan Conclude Joint Naval Exercise
The Falak-2 joint exercise that took place last week comes at a time when bilateral ties between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development
Dr. Shaul Shay
| 22/01/2017
Soldiers of the Royal Saudi Navy in exercise (Photo: AP)
The Navies of Saudi Arabia and Sudan have conducted their joint exercise, named "Falak 2," on January 13 -19, 2017, at King Faisal Naval Base, of the Saudi Western Fleet. The exercise comes at a time when bilateral ties between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development.
In 2015, the president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir switched alliances, joining ranks with Saudi Arabia, after nearly two decades of strained ties. That means moving away from close relations with Iran, which has long used Sudan as a transit route for weapons shipments to armed groups in the region. As a part of the alliance, Sudan has cut diplomatic relations with Iran and joined the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi rebels in Yemen backed by Iran.
Exercise "Falak 2" is a part of the military cooperation between the countries. The Royal Saudi Western Fleet Commander, who is also the commanding officer of the exercise, Admiral Saeed Al-Zahrani, welcomed the participating Sudanese Navy mission in the exercise, as they arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port.
The drills included storming and inspecting a ship to make sure that it does not smuggle weapons and landing on one of the islands carried out by speedboats with the participation of Royal Saudi Navy aircraft. The naval forces stormed a speedboat to prevent it from smuggling arms and ammunition in a mock drill. They also landed on an island as part of the security drill. Royal Saudi Navy aircraft took part in the exercise.
In February 2016, Sudanese troops participated in the “North Thunder” military maneuvers in Saudi Arabia among 20 other Arab and Islamic nations.
The first joint exercise took place in Port Sudan in 2013. The Sudanese Army revealed in February 2013 that it is conducting joint maneuvers with Saudi naval forces in an attempt to promote collaborative action, combat maritime smuggling, and unify the common language between the two states, given Saudi Arabia’s geographical proximity to Sudan. Two Saudi warships, along with members of the Saudi infantry and Marine Corps, are taking part in the exercises.
Admiral Majdi Sayid Umar, commander of the Sudanese naval forces at the Port Sudan base emphasized that the maneuvers were the first of their kind, and will be the beginning of greater efforts to safeguard the Red Sea basin and consolidate relations between the Republic of Sudan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Sudan and the War in Yemen
Sudan participates with about 2000 troops in the Saudi-led “Decisive Storm” coalition against the Iranian-allied Houthi militants in Yemen. Sudan also deployed at least two Su-24M strike aircraft to Saudi Arabia's King Khalid Air Base. The Sudanese Air Force acquired 12 Su-24M aircraft from Belarus in 2013.
In October 2015, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad bin Auf said, “There are 6,000 fighters from special forces, ground forces, and elite troops ready to participate when requested by the leadership of the coalition. […] Even if more troops and military contribution is needed, we are ready for any developments."
In October and November 2015, Assab port in Eritrea served as the logistics hub for the deployment of three Sudanese mechanized battalions to Aden. The two Sudanese battalions undertook a lengthy route movement from Kassala on the Sudan-Eritrea border to Assab port and were shuttled across to Aden by UAE vessels.
The Sudanese battalions arrived in Aden on October 17, 2015, equipped with BTR-70 armored personnel carriers. The Sudanese units assumed responsibility for security in Aden as UAE forces pulled back to their bases.
Aden became the seat of the Yemeni government earlier this year after the Shiite Houthis, based in northern Yemen, seized the capital Sanaa, and forced President Abdel Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the south.
The commander of the Fourth Military Region in the Hadi-allied Yemeni forces, Major General Ahmed Saif Muharrami, along with other army officers was seen greeting the Sudanese forces upon their arrival.
“The vanguards of our ground troops have arrived in Aden to participate with the forces of the Arab alliance in the Decisive Storm operation. The participation of the Sudanese ground troops in the Saudi-led operation comes as part of the political commitment to the conventions and decisions of the Arab League to restore the legitimacy in Yemen,” said the Sudanese army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa El Shami.
A third battalion made up of 400 officers and soldiers arrived on November 7, 2015, to provide security at Al-Anad Air Base, bringing the country's Sudanese presence to a full two-thousand-man brigade.
On December 1, 2015, the Yemeni army began a large-scale military battle in order to reclaim al-Sharija area in the province of Lahij south of the country with the participation of units of the Sudanese army. In this battle, units of the Sudanese army are participating [for the first time] with members of the Popular Resistance with an air cover from the [Arab] alliance against Houthi militias and the forces of [former President Ali Abdullah] Saleh.
In January 2016, a Sudanese colonel was killed while fighting alongside the Saudi troops and pro-Hadi militias in the region of al-Waze'iya in the coastal province of Ta'iz.
The Royal Saudi Naval (RSN) Forces
Saudi Ara¬bia is the only regional force with the ability to maintain a truly blue-water-capable, war-fighting navy. However, the Royal Saudi Navy is in need of modernization. The majority of its fleet was com¬missioned during the 1970s and 1980s and a large proportion of its vessels reaching the end of their useful service life.
The main naval headquarters located in the Saudi capital Riyadh with state-of-the-art command, control, and communication center. The Navy has one of the largest naval academies in the region, which is located in Jubail. The naval bases not only house Navy ships but also has one of the largest and most modern supply centers, naval schools, naval simulators and much more which make the Saudi naval bases the largest in the area if not the world.
The operational command is divided into two major fleets plus command of the Marine regiment. The RSN Eastern Fleet is comprised of mainly US-built vessels, al¬though the Western Fleet is mainly sourced from France.
The Arabian Gulf Division (The Eastern Fleet) is headquartered at Al Jubail and has bases at Dammam, Ras Tanura, and Al Qatif, plus a naval aviation element.
The Red Sea Division (the western fleet) is headquartered at King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah and has bases at Yanbu, Naval Station in Jazan Province and Algathimah near Jeddah. The Western Fleet includes seven French built frigates: Four French F-2000 frigates (2,870 tons), each armed with a Dauphin helicopter, eight Otomat antiship missiles having a range of 160 kilometers, torpedo tubes, and a 100mm gun.
Three al-Riyadh-class frigates that have been modified from the French La Fayette-class frigate. They are fully loaded at a displacement of 4,725 tons, are armed with eight MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II surface-to-surface missiles (SSM), two eight-cell Sylver vertical launch systems for the Eurosam (MBDA and Thales) Aster 15 surface-to-air missile (SAM), the main gun is the Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Super Rapid while there are four 533 mm aft torpedo tubes.
The Western Fleet is taking an active part in the war in Yemen against the Houthi pro-Iranian rebels.
The Saudi Navy has a Marine Corps of 3,000 soldiers. Their Amphibious Warfare ships are four LCUs and two LCMs.
Sudan – Iran Relations
Sudan joined Riyadh’s coalition despite having spent several years strengthening ties with Iran. In 2008, Sudanese and Iranian officials signed a military cooperation agreement, and in 2013, Iran stepped up its construction of naval and logistical bases in Port Sudan. Sudan and Iran share geopolitical objectives, and Sudan is a strategic gateway for Iran into the African continent. Iran supplies financial and military support for Sudan. The two countries' relationship has been deeply unsettling for Western, Gulf Arab and Israeli officials.
Since 2014, Sudan's relationship with Tehran took a new turn. In September 2014, Sudanese authorities closed Iranian cultural centers in Khartoum and other locations, citing Iran’s alleged efforts to spread Shiism in Sudan. One month after the closures, Bashir sought to further distance Sudan from Iran, declaring that Riyadh’s negative outlook on Khartoum’s true relationship with Tehran was based on “false, fabricated and exaggerated” information. Perhaps an earlier sign of Sudan’s pivot toward the GCC — and away from Iran — came in August 2013, when the New York Times reported Khartoum had provided Syrian rebels with Sudanese- and Chinese-manufactured weapons via Qatar.
Summary
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud seeks to unite the Sunni Arab world behind the kingdom to counter Iranian influence. Riyadh sees Sudan as an actor in this foreign policy strategy. Indeed, Sudan – an Arab League and African Union member situated along the strategically-prized Red Sea – plays a unique role in the Middle East’s geopolitical order.
Regime survival is the main concern for Bashir as Khartoum reaches out to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states to mitigate the risks associated with the country’s worsening economic crisis. The price Sudan pays for this financial lifeline is participation in Yemen’s civil war.
The Sudanese military participation in the military campaign in Yemen and the Islamic alliance reconciled Omer al-Bashir’s regime with the Saudi government and marked the divorce with Iran.
Sudan is the only country outside the Gulf region directly participating in the ground campaign against Houthi rebels. Khartoum’s army has a lot of experience fighting unconventional foes during which it earned a special reputation for brutality.
The Falak-2 joint exercise that took place last week comes at a time when bilateral ties between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development
The Navies of Saudi Arabia and Sudan have conducted their joint exercise, named "Falak 2," on January 13 -19, 2017, at King Faisal Naval Base, of the Saudi Western Fleet. The exercise comes at a time when bilateral ties between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development.
In 2015, the president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir switched alliances, joining ranks with Saudi Arabia, after nearly two decades of strained ties. That means moving away from close relations with Iran, which has long used Sudan as a transit route for weapons shipments to armed groups in the region. As a part of the alliance, Sudan has cut diplomatic relations with Iran and joined the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi rebels in Yemen backed by Iran.
Exercise "Falak 2" is a part of the military cooperation between the countries. The Royal Saudi Western Fleet Commander, who is also the commanding officer of the exercise, Admiral Saeed Al-Zahrani, welcomed the participating Sudanese Navy mission in the exercise, as they arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port.
The drills included storming and inspecting a ship to make sure that it does not smuggle weapons and landing on one of the islands carried out by speedboats with the participation of Royal Saudi Navy aircraft. The naval forces stormed a speedboat to prevent it from smuggling arms and ammunition in a mock drill. They also landed on an island as part of the security drill. Royal Saudi Navy aircraft took part in the exercise.
In February 2016, Sudanese troops participated in the “North Thunder” military maneuvers in Saudi Arabia among 20 other Arab and Islamic nations.
The first joint exercise took place in Port Sudan in 2013. The Sudanese Army revealed in February 2013 that it is conducting joint maneuvers with Saudi naval forces in an attempt to promote collaborative action, combat maritime smuggling, and unify the common language between the two states, given Saudi Arabia’s geographical proximity to Sudan. Two Saudi warships, along with members of the Saudi infantry and Marine Corps, are taking part in the exercises.
Admiral Majdi Sayid Umar, commander of the Sudanese naval forces at the Port Sudan base emphasized that the maneuvers were the first of their kind, and will be the beginning of greater efforts to safeguard the Red Sea basin and consolidate relations between the Republic of Sudan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Sudan and the War in Yemen
Sudan participates with about 2000 troops in the Saudi-led “Decisive Storm” coalition against the Iranian-allied Houthi militants in Yemen. Sudan also deployed at least two Su-24M strike aircraft to Saudi Arabia's King Khalid Air Base. The Sudanese Air Force acquired 12 Su-24M aircraft from Belarus in 2013.
In October 2015, Sudanese Defense Minister Awad bin Auf said, “There are 6,000 fighters from special forces, ground forces, and elite troops ready to participate when requested by the leadership of the coalition. […] Even if more troops and military contribution is needed, we are ready for any developments."
In October and November 2015, Assab port in Eritrea served as the logistics hub for the deployment of three Sudanese mechanized battalions to Aden. The two Sudanese battalions undertook a lengthy route movement from Kassala on the Sudan-Eritrea border to Assab port and were shuttled across to Aden by UAE vessels.
The Sudanese battalions arrived in Aden on October 17, 2015, equipped with BTR-70 armored personnel carriers. The Sudanese units assumed responsibility for security in Aden as UAE forces pulled back to their bases.
Aden became the seat of the Yemeni government earlier this year after the Shiite Houthis, based in northern Yemen, seized the capital Sanaa, and forced President Abdel Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the south.
The commander of the Fourth Military Region in the Hadi-allied Yemeni forces, Major General Ahmed Saif Muharrami, along with other army officers was seen greeting the Sudanese forces upon their arrival.
“The vanguards of our ground troops have arrived in Aden to participate with the forces of the Arab alliance in the Decisive Storm operation. The participation of the Sudanese ground troops in the Saudi-led operation comes as part of the political commitment to the conventions and decisions of the Arab League to restore the legitimacy in Yemen,” said the Sudanese army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa El Shami.
A third battalion made up of 400 officers and soldiers arrived on November 7, 2015, to provide security at Al-Anad Air Base, bringing the country's Sudanese presence to a full two-thousand-man brigade.
On December 1, 2015, the Yemeni army began a large-scale military battle in order to reclaim al-Sharija area in the province of Lahij south of the country with the participation of units of the Sudanese army. In this battle, units of the Sudanese army are participating [for the first time] with members of the Popular Resistance with an air cover from the [Arab] alliance against Houthi militias and the forces of [former President Ali Abdullah] Saleh.
In January 2016, a Sudanese colonel was killed while fighting alongside the Saudi troops and pro-Hadi militias in the region of al-Waze'iya in the coastal province of Ta'iz.
The Royal Saudi Naval (RSN) Forces
Saudi Ara¬bia is the only regional force with the ability to maintain a truly blue-water-capable, war-fighting navy. However, the Royal Saudi Navy is in need of modernization. The majority of its fleet was com¬missioned during the 1970s and 1980s and a large proportion of its vessels reaching the end of their useful service life.
The main naval headquarters located in the Saudi capital Riyadh with state-of-the-art command, control, and communication center. The Navy has one of the largest naval academies in the region, which is located in Jubail. The naval bases not only house Navy ships but also has one of the largest and most modern supply centers, naval schools, naval simulators and much more which make the Saudi naval bases the largest in the area if not the world.
The operational command is divided into two major fleets plus command of the Marine regiment. The RSN Eastern Fleet is comprised of mainly US-built vessels, al¬though the Western Fleet is mainly sourced from France.
The Arabian Gulf Division (The Eastern Fleet) is headquartered at Al Jubail and has bases at Dammam, Ras Tanura, and Al Qatif, plus a naval aviation element.
The Red Sea Division (the western fleet) is headquartered at King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah and has bases at Yanbu, Naval Station in Jazan Province and Algathimah near Jeddah. The Western Fleet includes seven French built frigates: Four French F-2000 frigates (2,870 tons), each armed with a Dauphin helicopter, eight Otomat antiship missiles having a range of 160 kilometers, torpedo tubes, and a 100mm gun.
Three al-Riyadh-class frigates that have been modified from the French La Fayette-class frigate. They are fully loaded at a displacement of 4,725 tons, are armed with eight MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II surface-to-surface missiles (SSM), two eight-cell Sylver vertical launch systems for the Eurosam (MBDA and Thales) Aster 15 surface-to-air missile (SAM), the main gun is the Oto Melara 76 mm/62 Super Rapid while there are four 533 mm aft torpedo tubes.
The Western Fleet is taking an active part in the war in Yemen against the Houthi pro-Iranian rebels.
The Saudi Navy has a Marine Corps of 3,000 soldiers. Their Amphibious Warfare ships are four LCUs and two LCMs.
Sudan – Iran Relations
Sudan joined Riyadh’s coalition despite having spent several years strengthening ties with Iran. In 2008, Sudanese and Iranian officials signed a military cooperation agreement, and in 2013, Iran stepped up its construction of naval and logistical bases in Port Sudan. Sudan and Iran share geopolitical objectives, and Sudan is a strategic gateway for Iran into the African continent. Iran supplies financial and military support for Sudan. The two countries' relationship has been deeply unsettling for Western, Gulf Arab and Israeli officials.
Since 2014, Sudan's relationship with Tehran took a new turn. In September 2014, Sudanese authorities closed Iranian cultural centers in Khartoum and other locations, citing Iran’s alleged efforts to spread Shiism in Sudan. One month after the closures, Bashir sought to further distance Sudan from Iran, declaring that Riyadh’s negative outlook on Khartoum’s true relationship with Tehran was based on “false, fabricated and exaggerated” information. Perhaps an earlier sign of Sudan’s pivot toward the GCC — and away from Iran — came in August 2013, when the New York Times reported Khartoum had provided Syrian rebels with Sudanese- and Chinese-manufactured weapons via Qatar.
Summary
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud seeks to unite the Sunni Arab world behind the kingdom to counter Iranian influence. Riyadh sees Sudan as an actor in this foreign policy strategy. Indeed, Sudan – an Arab League and African Union member situated along the strategically-prized Red Sea – plays a unique role in the Middle East’s geopolitical order.
Regime survival is the main concern for Bashir as Khartoum reaches out to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Arab states to mitigate the risks associated with the country’s worsening economic crisis. The price Sudan pays for this financial lifeline is participation in Yemen’s civil war.
The Sudanese military participation in the military campaign in Yemen and the Islamic alliance reconciled Omer al-Bashir’s regime with the Saudi government and marked the divorce with Iran.
Sudan is the only country outside the Gulf region directly participating in the ground campaign against Houthi rebels. Khartoum’s army has a lot of experience fighting unconventional foes during which it earned a special reputation for brutality.
