Tag: Djibouti
America’s military presence in the Middle East remains significant even as its focus shifts to Asia-Pacific, specifically to containing China. Around 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in the Arab countries of the Middle East, including 900 troops illegally occupying the oil-rich areas of Syria. Major U.S. troop developments (estimated numbers).
From Djibouti, the US trains proxies and bombs strategically-important countries in the name of democracy and counterterrorism. To justify the country’s militarization, Washington hypes fears over China’s regional ambitions.
The policy marks a stark about-face from Trump's campaign declarations that the US can no longer afford to be the world's policeman. The military operations in Africa suggest otherwise.
The precedents set in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria – when compared with what is outlined in China’s White Paper detailing «China’s Policy in Africa» – are just too egregious for the leaders of African countries to overlook. China is sparing no expense to promote its economic interests.
