WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has declared Kenya as a major non-Nato ally, making it the first African country from sub-Sahara to receive that title.
Biden announced the move during a three-day visit by President of Kenya William Ruto to the United States.
It is the first such tour to Washington by an African leader in more than 15 years and comes at a time when China and Russia have enhanced their influence across the continent.
Several countries in the Sahel region and western Africa have also fallen to military coups, which also led to the removal of missions with Western states.
The designation of major non-Nato ally status will allow Nairobi to engage in closer security cooperation with Washington and procure more sophisticated US weapons.
Kenya has emerged as an important security ally to the US in East Africa and is also part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group coalition, which meets to coordinate how to help Kyiv against Moscow.
Washington faces setbacks in other areas of Africa
The strengthening of Kenya’s alliance with the US comes as Washington faces setbacks in other areas of Africa.
The Pentagon this week confirmed a complete withdrawal of around 1,000 troops from Niger by September after the breakdown of security cooperation.
Niger has grown closer to Russia and Iran after its elected president was removed in a coup last year.
Washington has been pleased by Kenya’s recent commitment to send 1,000 of its police officers to Haiti.
The only phone call President Biden made to a sub-Saharan leader in Africa last year was to Ruto, about Nairobi’s pledge to head a multinational force to the Caribbean state.
“Our joint counterterrorism operations have degraded Isis and Al-Shabaab across East Africa,” Biden said during a joint press conference with Ruto.
He added the mutual support of both Nairobi and Washington for Ukraine has rallied the world to stand behind the UN charter.
Ruto expressing his views termed Biden as a strong and committed friend of Kenya and Africa.
After the approval by the US Congress, Kenya will become the 19th country to be named a major non-Nato ally.
