Sudan Deepens Saudi Ties As Army Pursues Turkish Military Support

Riyadh, August 19, 2026 - Sudan and Saudi Arabia have established a supreme council for strategic coordination, a move that strengthens Khartoum's regional diplomacy as the war against the Rapid Support Forces intensifies.

The pact, signed in Riyadh, focuses officially on economic and trade cooperation across 10 sectors. Its broader significance lies in Sudan's effort to secure political backing, supply lines, and regional alignment along the Red Sea corridor.

The Saudi track coincided with a visit to Turkey by Lieutenant General Yasir al-Atta, assistant commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces. The talks in Ankara come as Sudan seeks advanced military capabilities, including drones, while fighting continues in Kordofan and Darfur.

For investors, the agreement points to a more structured Sudanese outreach to Gulf partners at a time when financial support, Red Sea security, and the balance of military power are central to the country's political trajectory.