- In May 2024, former United States president Joe Biden pledged to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally
- The pledge came during President William Ruto’s historic state visit to Washington, the first for an African leader in 16 years
- In an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke, US-AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley assured that Kenya’s status remains intact, despite concerns after Donald Trump’s November 2024 win
Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now!
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
When President William Ruto strode down the White House lawn in May 2024, few could have imagined just how geopolitically significant the visit would become for Kenya.
In a landmark pledge, the 46th US president Joe Biden committed to designating Kenya as a Major Non-NATO Ally, making it the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to receive such status.
The announcement came during Ruto’s three-day state visit to the United States, an event described as historic, given it was the first of its kind for an African head of state in 16 years.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner 😉
Ruto, widely seen as a close ally of the Biden administration, drew both praise and criticism following the visit, with some African commentators branding him “a puppet of the West.”
During a joint address at the White House, Biden praised Kenya as an integral partner in the fight against terrorism particularly in East Africa, thus fit and ripe to join the NATO league.
It is out of this engagement that an agreement was reached to deploy Kenyan peacekeeping troops to Haiti.
However, uncertainty loomed after Donald Trump won the US presidential election in November 2024, ending the Democratic administration’s tenure and ushering in the Republicans leadership.
Known for his unpredictable foreign policy, Trump’s return sparked anxiety among observers in Kenya and across Africa, with many questioning whether Biden’s pledge would stand.
The concerns deepened in February when reports suggested the Trump administration had cut funding for the Haiti mission, claims the Kenyan government later dismissed as misleading.
Will US revoke Kenya’s major non NATO ally status?
To understand the country’s current position, TUKO.co.ke spoke exclusively to General Michael Langley, commander of the US Africa Command (US-AFRICOM).
Langley allayed fears that the Trump administration was reconsidering the decision to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally remained intact.
He added that Kenya remains an important partner in the fight against terrorism in East Africa.
“Kenya remains a major non-NATO ally and the only one in Sub-Saharan Africa. It’s an important partner in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Somalia. Kenya has also played a critical role in restoring peace in many other countries where it has exported security, and we continue working together through shared values,” said Langley.
Addressing reports that China may be planning to establish a military base along the East African coast, potentially challenging US military influence in the region, the four star general said the US is closely monitoring the situation.
“We are not worried, but we are watching closely. Time will tell,” he said.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
