Fatshimetrie newspaper recently covered an important event highlighting bilateral relations between the United States and Kenya. Indeed, American Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomed Kenyan President William Ruto to the Pentagon for bilateral discussions, before going to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a medical procedure scheduled for this Friday.
Lloyd Austin, who has been dealing with bladder problems since his treatment for prostate cancer late last year, will undergo an elective, minimally invasive medical procedure unrelated to his positive cancer prognosis. However, this procedure will require a temporary transfer of power.
During his meeting with William Ruto at the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin expressed President Joe Biden’s support for Kenya for its engagement in Haiti, contrasting with the small number of countries that have offered assistance in this situation. Joe Biden also announced his intention to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally, recognizing the growing security partnership between the two countries.
“This designation highlights our close relationship and demonstrates our deep appreciation for your contributions to peace and security in Africa and beyond,” Lloyd Austin said. Kenya will become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to receive this status, symbolizing its evolution from a regional partner to a global influence, even extending its influence as far as the Western Hemisphere.
Indeed, Kenya will soon send 1,000 police officers to Haiti as part of a multilateral security support mission aimed at reducing gang violence. Other countries, including the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh, are also expected to support the Kenyan forces.
However, William Ruto’s plan to involve Kenyan police in a crisis thousands of miles away has sparked opposition in Nairobi, including legal challenges to block the deployment of police forces, as well as ongoing concerns about abuses allegedly committed by the police.
This development highlights Kenya’s growing importance on the international stage, as a key partner of the United States for regional and global security. It also attests to the challenges Kenyan leaders face in making impactful diplomatic and strategic decisions, while navigating internal and external political realities.