U.S. Reevaluates Military Role in Africa

(MENAFN) The United States’ Africa military division, known as AFRICOM, is planning to reconsider its operations on the African continent.

This development comes as numerous nations are increasingly reassessing their defense relationships with Western powers and forming new international partnerships.

General Michael Langley, the head of AFRICOM, revealed this strategic review during a press briefing held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

He explained that he had already engaged in discussions with various African military leaders and national presidents.

Langley stated, “I’ve talked to a number of ministers of defense and a few presidents and told them we were assessing,” emphasizing the consultative nature of the process.

He further noted, “That’s what I tell them… if we’re that important to [you], you need to communicate that and we’ll see,” highlighting that continued cooperation depends on the value African leaders place on U.S. involvement.

This reconsideration follows American media reports suggesting that the Trump administration might be planning to combine AFRICOM with the European Command headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.

The potential merger is reportedly aimed at improving operational efficiency.

AFRICOM was founded in 2008, initially promoted as a centralized strategy to coordinate U.S. military actions across Africa in response to intensifying security threats, such as Islamist militancy.

Over time, however, its presence has waned in several regions.

Despite previous American efforts to maintain a military foothold in Africa, Washington has faced pushback, leading to the withdrawal of forces from vital areas, including the Sahelian countries of Niger and Chad.

Nonetheless, U.S. officials have consistently expressed their intention to sustain some level of engagement in the region.

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