UAE is likely building a permanent military base in Eritrea

Satellite imagery (right) showing the new military camp and the construction of a new port facility at Assab airport in Eritrea on 4 March. Al Khatem, a dredger operated by the UAE's National Marine Dredging Company, can be seen operating at the site. The image on the left shows the same area in 2013, before the development began. (2016 CNES/Astrium/GoogleEarth/IHS)

By Jeremy Binnie |  IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) appears to be constructing a new port next to Assab International Airport in Eritrea, which could become its first permanent military base in a foreign country.

Satellite imagery shows rapid progress has been made since work began sometime after September 2015. A square of coastline measuring about 250x250 m has already been excavated and dredged, while a pier and/or breakwater is being constructed and already extends over 700 m from the original coastline.

IHS Maritime & Trade data show that two vessels are currently working at the site. While neither have IMO numbers, one that has been at the site since 16 February is using the MMSI number 470331100 and the name Al Khatem.

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Lots of #UAE naval traffic at Eritrea's Assab port. x1 Baynunah-class corvette, x1 Al Futaisi landing ship [1/2] pic.twitter.com/JlwcISXYST

— Alex M. (@Alex_de_M) April 11, 2016

.@Alex_de_M Likely UAEAF C-17 Globemaster and C-130 on the tarmac at Asmara Intl Airport back in Jul 2015: pic.twitter.com/oURBwpSlu6

— Alex M. (@Alex_de_M) April 11, 2016

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