Sudan’s President, Omar al-Bashir on Thursday announced the establishment of a programme with the Russian government which is aimed at strengthening the country’s military capabilities.

The Sudanese leader, while addressing officers and soldiers in the coastal city of Port-Sudan said the purpose of the programme was to develop the Sudanese Army so that it can squarely face any internal or foreign threat.

The remarks came in the wake of the Sudanese President’s visit to Moscow in November, 2017 during which he asked his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin to protect his country from the United States.

The comments however surprised the United States at the time, especially since they came a few weeks after Washington lifted a 20-year -old trade embargo against the North African country.

The Sudanese air force is mainly made up of Russian warplanes as Russia has been Sudan’s main supplier of military equipment over the years.

Omar al-Bashir, who has been in power since 1989 is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Darfur region.