Sudan Diplomatic Profile
The military government leans on Egypt and Iran while fighting paramilitary forces reportedly supported by the United Arab Emirates and Russian mercenaries.
Once a bridge between the Arab world and Africa, Sudan has collapsed into a nightmare of warring generals that draws in powers from nearly every compass point. Two broad coalitions are tearing the nation apart, turning local grievances into a transnational proxy war. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s military government controls the vital Red Sea coast but leans heavily on disparate allies like Egypt, which fears instability on its southern border, and increasingly Iran, which supplied Mohajer-6 drones in hopes of gaining a naval foothold near Port Sudan. Opposing them are the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. He largely dominates the western Darfur region and has reportedly received backing from the United Arab Emirates, facilitating gold exports that fuel his war chest. This conflict is tragic not just for the millions displaced but because it leaves a massive swathe of territory ungoverned. Russia watches hungrily, eyeing a naval base, while Wagner mercenaries have historically extracted wealth from Sudanese mines. Peace efforts in Jeddah stall repeatedly because outside sponsors keep the guns flowing, turning a raw power struggle into a regional conflagration.
Key Interests
- Military victory over rival factions
- Control of Red Sea ports
- Securing external funding and weapons
Sudan Allies and Enemies
Sudan's closest allies: Egypt (45), Turkey (36), Eritrea (36), Oman (33), China (23).
Sudan's top rivals: United Arab Emirates (-50), United States (-36), Ethiopia (-33), Central African Republic (-33), Libya (-32).
Of 202 countries, Sudan has 4 allies, 193 neutral relationships, and 5 enemies.
Sudan Relations by Dimension
Sudan's closest military partners are Egypt (65), Eritrea (55), Turkey (50). Most adversarial military relationships: United Arab Emirates (-65), Chad (-45), Libya (-45).
Sudan's closest diplomatic partners are Egypt (50), Oman (48), Eritrea (45). Most adversarial diplomatic relationships: United States (-55), United Arab Emirates (-55), Taiwan (-42).
Sudan's closest regime relations partners are Pakistan (45), Israel (44), Oman (42). Most adversarial regime relations relationships: United Arab Emirates (-60), Central African Republic (-40), South Sudan (-35).
Sudan's closest societal relations partners are Palestine (43), Egypt (20), Pakistan (19). Most adversarial societal relations relationships: Israel (-37), United States (-28), Denmark (-27).
Sudan's closest economic interdependence partners are China (52), United Arab Emirates (40), Djibouti (37).
Sudan's closest economic policy partners are Pakistan (11), Saudi Arabia (9), Qatar (5). Most adversarial economic policy relationships: Canada (-72), United States (-51), Switzerland (-43).
Sudan’s Allies & Enemies
Top Enemies
Sudan's closest allies are Egypt, Turkey, Eritrea, Oman, and China. Sudan's most adversarial relationships are with United Arab Emirates, United States, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, and Libya.
Global Relations
Diplomatic Profile
The military government leans on Egypt and Iran while fighting paramilitary forces reportedly supported by the United Arab Emirates and Russian mercenaries.
Key Interests
Once a bridge between the Arab world and Africa, Sudan has collapsed into a nightmare of warring generals that draws in powers from nearly every compass point. Two broad coalitions are tearing the nation apart, turning local grievances into a transnational proxy war. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s military government controls the vital Red Sea coast but leans heavily on disparate allies like Egypt, which fears instability on its southern border, and increasingly Iran, which supplied Mohajer-6 drones in hopes of gaining a naval foothold near Port Sudan. Opposing them are the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. He largely dominates the western Darfur region and has reportedly received backing from the United Arab Emirates, facilitating gold exports that fuel his war chest. This conflict is tragic not just for the millions displaced but because it leaves a massive swathe of territory ungoverned. Russia watches hungrily, eyeing a naval base, while Wagner mercenaries have historically extracted wealth from Sudanese mines. Peace efforts in Jeddah stall repeatedly because outside sponsors keep the guns flowing, turning a raw power struggle into a regional conflagration.
The military government leans on Egypt and Iran while fighting paramilitary forces reportedly supported by the United Arab Emirates and Russian mercenaries.
Of 202 countries, Sudan has 4 allies, 193 neutral relationships, and 5 enemies.
By Dimension
Military
Sudan’s closest military partners are Egypt, Eritrea, and Turkey. Most adversarial: United Arab Emirates, Chad, and Libya.
Diplomatic
Sudan’s closest diplomatic partners are Egypt, Oman, and Eritrea. Most adversarial: United States, United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan.
Regime Relations
Sudan’s closest regime relations partners are Pakistan, Israel, and Oman. Most adversarial: United Arab Emirates, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
Societal Relations
Sudan’s closest societal relations partners are Palestine, Egypt, and Pakistan. Most adversarial: Israel, United States, and Denmark.
Economic Interdependence
Sudan’s closest economic interdependence partners are China, United Arab Emirates, and Djibouti.
Economic Policy
Sudan’s closest economic policy partners are Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Most adversarial: Canada, United States, and Switzerland.
Key Questions
Egypt, Turkey, and Eritrea stand out as Sudan's strongest partners, with deeply positive ties across military, diplomatic, and regime dimensions. Egypt's relationship with Sudan is particularly robust, reflecting shared Nile water interests and Cairo's strategic investment in Khartoum's stability.
The United Arab Emirates and the United States register as Sudan's most adversarial relationships. The UAE's involvement in the Sudanese civil war on the side of the Rapid Support Forces has made that relationship especially hostile on the military dimension. Chad and Ethiopia also show friction, reflecting cross-border tensions and competing regional interests.
Sudan's dimension contrasts are striking. On regime relations, Pakistan and Israel appear among top allies -- an unusual pairing reflecting authoritarian governance alignment. But on societal relations, Israel flips to Sudan's top enemy, while Palestine becomes a top ally. Switch dimensions on the map to see how Sudan's civil war reshapes its profile depending on whether you measure government-to-government or people-to-people ties.
The ongoing conflict has left Sudan deeply isolated -- nearly all of its relationships register as neutral, with almost no strongly positive ties globally. The war has polarized its few active partnerships: Egypt and Turkey back the Sudanese Armed Forces while the UAE supports the RSF, creating a proxy dynamic visible on the military dimension.
Eritrea is among Sudan's closest military and diplomatic partners, with strongly positive ties on both dimensions. However, the relationship weakens on societal relations, where it falls to neutral. This reflects a state-to-state security alignment driven by shared border interests rather than deep cultural or popular affinity.
Sudan's regional relationships are fractured. Central African Republic, Chad, and South Sudan all appear among its top enemies on various dimensions, reflecting border disputes, refugee flows, and competing alignments in the civil war. Ethiopia, once a closer partner, has also drifted into adversarial territory amid its own internal conflicts and Nile diplomacy tensions.