U.S. President Joe Biden is set to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally during a three-day state visit by Kenyan President William Ruto this week, Reuters reports, citing a source familiar with the plans.
This will make Kenya the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation, reflecting Washington’s drive to deepen relations with Nairobi amidst South Africa’s pursuit of a more independent foreign policy.
The United States grants this designation to close, non-NATO allies with strategic working relationships with the U.S. military.
In March, for example, President Biden designated Qatar as a major non-Nato ally of the US, fulfilling the promise he had made to the Arab country earlier in the year.
For Kenya, the designation comes at a time is preparing to send forces to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led force deploying to address the security crisis in the Caribbean nation.
On Wednesday, President Biden revealed plans for a new era of technology cooperation with Kenya, focusing on areas like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Notably, the U.S. will invest $250 million through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), expanding its financial support for Kenya to over $1 billion.
Additionally, the U.S. intends to establish a semiconductor partnership with Kenya and aims to secure funding for Kenya through the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, making it the first African nation to benefit from this program.
Cameron Hudson, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Reuters that the move would formalise a shift that has seen Kenya “move more squarely into a US orbit” in recent years, including greater cooperation on Somalia.
“It’s very significant. No other sub-Saharan African country has it,” he said.
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