Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports of increasing (a) air force and (b) naval cooperation between Russia and the coup authorities in Sudan.

We are aware of longstanding engagement between Russia and Sudan, including the agreement in principle for a Russian naval base in Port Sudan. I have regularly voiced UK concern at Russia's influence across Africa, which capitalises on instability for their own interests. This message has been relayed at the highest levels in Sudan.