U.S. to designate Kenya as first major non-NATO ally in sub-Saharan Africa
The United States has said it would designate Kenya as its first major non-NATO ally in sub-Saharan Africa.
This came as President Joe Biden, on Thursday, welcomed Kenya’s President William Ruto for a state visit.
A senior administration official had on Wednesday revealed that Mr Biden will inform Congress of the designation, which takes 30 days to take effect.
The official said the move aims at “elevating and acknowledging that Kenya is already a global partner of ours.”
Mr Ruto’s journey to the U.S. has been billed as “historic” and is expected to mostly focus on trade and security partnership between Kenya and Mr Biden’s government.
Both countries had pledged to lead a UN-backed multinational mission seeking to restore order in Haiti, which has been wracked by gang-fueled anarchy.
The designation gives non-members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation access to military and financial advantages.
In the meantime, Messers Ruto and Biden are now using their daylong deliberations to iron out Kenya’s plan to send 1,000 security officers to the chaotic Caribbean nation of Haiti.
The initiative, toward which the U.S. has pledged $300 million in support, faces stiff political and legal challenges in Kenya.
The mission was delayed when Haitian armed gangs took control while the nation’s leader, Ariel Henry, was visiting Kenya in March.
The official said that Mr Ruto would meet with Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the mission but promised no progress.
“This is an ongoing area of collaboration,” the official said.
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