The Soviet Strategy and Its Objectives in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea 1960–1979

Abstract

The study examines the Soviet strategy in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea within the context of transformations in international and regional politics. This strategy focused on securing a strategic maritime foothold, expanding ideological, military, and economic influence, countering Western powers, and safeguarding global trade routes. To achieve these objectives, the Soviet Union employed various instruments, including support for liberation movements, the use of military cooperation mechanisms, and political–military alliances, with the broader aim of reaching warm waters and the Indian Ocean. This objective is evident in attempts to establish a presence in ports and along the Red Sea in order to access the Indian Ocean through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal.

     The research outlines Soviet strategy and demonstrates that ideological considerations largely governed Moscow’s foreign relations and policies toward other states throughout four decades of the Cold War. National liberation movements and revolutionary movements constituted a central pillar of these policies, along with the support of radical regimes that emerged from such movements and the backing of communist parties.

      The Horn of Africa and the Red Sea held considerable importance for the Soviet Union due to their strategic location and influence, as they represent one of the world’s most critical maritime regions and corridors. Their direct connection to the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as well as their linkage to international trade and energy routes, significantly enhanced their strategic value.

    As a major power and the leader of the socialist bloc and the Warsaw Pact, the Soviet Union pursued political, economic, and military interests in the region. Its presence there was viewed as an extension of its broader strategic interests in Africa and the Indian Ocean, as well as part of its competition with Western influence.

      The Soviet role in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea was driven by several key motivations and approaches. Chief among these was the preservation of Soviet national security in order to safeguard its global interests. This strategy was also shaped by the dynamics of international relations with the United States and Western countries on the one hand, and with China on the other. The ideological component of Soviet policy was most evident in its confrontation with the United States and capitalist states, whereas considerations of national interest appeared more prominently in its interactions with the People’s Republic of China. Within its broader global strategy, the Soviet Union viewed Africa as an integrated geopolitical unit, alongside Asia, granting each continent particular strategic importance. At times, Soviet attention would intensify toward specific states depending on prevailing political, economic, or military circumstances.