The president of the United States, Joe Biden, named Kenya this Thursday as a ‘main non-NATO ally’ to strengthen the alliance between both countries, while Nairobi prepares to deploy the multinational security mission in Haiti.
Biden announced it at a press conference at the White House together with Kenyan President William Ruto, who was received with full honors in the first state visit by an African leader to Washington since 2008.
“I am proud to announce that we are working with Congress to designate Kenya as a ‘major non-NATO ally,’” the US president said.
Kenya, key in the fight against the Islamic State
Biden explained that he made this decision due to Kenya’s collaboration in the anti-terrorist fight against the Islamic State (IS) and Al Shabab, as well as its support for Ukraine and the deployment plan of the security mission in Haiti.
This special status that Kenya will obtain entails economic and military privileges, such as the possible delivery of defense items and the organization of joint training, and occurs in the midst of the rise of China’s influence in Africa.
This is the first designation of a sub-Saharan African nation as a major non-NATO ally.
With this announcement, Kenya joins the list of 17 countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Qatar, that were designated last March.
Other countries that have that status are Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Kenya will lead campaign to regain security in Haiti
The announcement comes just as Kenya prepares to lead a multinational security support force in Haiti to end armed gang violence and return control to the state.
The mission is the result of a resolution of the United Nations Security Council, has the financial support of the United States and will be subject to the control of the Haitian National Police.
The designation of Kenya as a special ally of the United States is also part of Biden’s strategy to strengthen ties with key African leaders and compete with Chinese influence on that continent.
The American president received dozens of African leaders in Washington in 2021 at a summit in which he promised investments in the continent and a trip to Africa that he has not yet carried out.
Source: EFE
