US tightens ties with key Horn ally Djibouti
The United States and Djibouti last week inaugurated a “bi-national forum” enabling regular high-level talks between the two countries on counter-terrorism initiatives and other issues.
Djibouti hosts a former French military installation that about 4,000 US Marines, Navy and Special Forces troops use as a base for operations throughout the Horn.
The US is reported to have conducted drone strikes against Al Shabaab in Somalia and Al Qaeda in Yemen from the Djibouti base, known as Camp Lemonnier.
Djibouti also contributes nearly 3,000 troops to the 22,000-strong African Union force fighting Al Shabaab in Somalia. The small country also serves as a bulwark against neighbouring Eritrea, which is not friendly towards the United States.
The great value the US places on its relationship with Djibouti was illustrated last week when recently appointed Defence Secretary Ash Carter held his first bilateral meeting at the Pentagon with a group of senior officials from Djibouti.
The two delegations also announced a new partnership between a US National Guard unit and Djibouti’s armed forces.
