US Mulls Closing Military Outposts in Africa
The defense department is considering cutting down counterterrorism operations across the continent and leave a robust military presence primarily in Somalia and Nigeria. Will this cut include the Middle East as well?
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 04/09/2018
Photo by Senior Airman Haley Phillips - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4628293/10th-mountain-division-conducts-stx
The Pentagon is considering withdrawing nearly all American commandos from Niger following a deadly ambush that killed four US soldiers, The New York Times reported.
Three officials within the Defense Department told the Times that the plans, if approved by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, would also close military outposts in Tunisia, Cameroon, Libya, and Kenya, as well as seven of the eight American counterterrorism units operating in Africa.
This move, claimed to be part of the Pentagon’s defense strategy to focus on threats from China and Russia, represents a severe cut of Special Operations forces in Africa than initially expected, leaving a lasting, robust military presence primarily in Somalia and Nigeria. Officials said that could reverse progress that has been made against Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, while diminishing alliances across Africa as both Russia and China move to increase their influence.
The military’s Special Operations Command is authorized to spend up to $100 million annually to support partner forces around the world under the program that the counterterrorism teams fall under, known as 127e. The command spent $80 million during FY 2017 to finance 21 of the programs worldwide, Gen. Tony Thomas, the Special Operations commander, told Congress in February.
In an interview with the NYT in July, Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, head of the Africa Command, said that other combatant commands, such as those that cover the Middle East and the Pacific, will face similar changes. However, one Defense Department official familiar with the deliberations said the Pentagon’s changes would largely affect the Africa Command, which was created only in 2007.
Under the new plans, American forces would most likely work on limited missions in certain countries in Africa for what are called Joint Combined Exchange Training programs. The missions, conducted in nonhostile environments, last 30 to 60 days. There are about 1,200 Special Operations forces in Africa. The proposal calls for cutting them – and supporting troops – by 50 percent over the next three years.
The defense department is considering cutting down counterterrorism operations across the continent and leave a robust military presence primarily in Somalia and Nigeria. Will this cut include the Middle East as well?
Photo by Senior Airman Haley Phillips - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4628293/10th-mountain-division-conducts-stx
The Pentagon is considering withdrawing nearly all American commandos from Niger following a deadly ambush that killed four US soldiers, The New York Times reported.
Three officials within the Defense Department told the Times that the plans, if approved by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, would also close military outposts in Tunisia, Cameroon, Libya, and Kenya, as well as seven of the eight American counterterrorism units operating in Africa.
This move, claimed to be part of the Pentagon’s defense strategy to focus on threats from China and Russia, represents a severe cut of Special Operations forces in Africa than initially expected, leaving a lasting, robust military presence primarily in Somalia and Nigeria. Officials said that could reverse progress that has been made against Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, while diminishing alliances across Africa as both Russia and China move to increase their influence.
The military’s Special Operations Command is authorized to spend up to $100 million annually to support partner forces around the world under the program that the counterterrorism teams fall under, known as 127e. The command spent $80 million during FY 2017 to finance 21 of the programs worldwide, Gen. Tony Thomas, the Special Operations commander, told Congress in February.
In an interview with the NYT in July, Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, head of the Africa Command, said that other combatant commands, such as those that cover the Middle East and the Pacific, will face similar changes. However, one Defense Department official familiar with the deliberations said the Pentagon’s changes would largely affect the Africa Command, which was created only in 2007.
Under the new plans, American forces would most likely work on limited missions in certain countries in Africa for what are called Joint Combined Exchange Training programs. The missions, conducted in nonhostile environments, last 30 to 60 days. There are about 1,200 Special Operations forces in Africa. The proposal calls for cutting them – and supporting troops – by 50 percent over the next three years.
