US military aid to Africa will not grow significantly

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Aid ◽  
Presidential Candidates ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Foreign Operations ◽  
Military Support ◽  
Military Engagement ◽  
Security Affairs

Significance The trip to Washington by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari last month has raised questions about whether the United States plans to step up its military support to assist with counterinsurgency against Boko Haram. However, speculation on whether the United States may soften its stance on military support to Nigeria belies the broader structural obstacles that limit US military engagement to Africa. Impacts The United States prefers for other actors to lead on African security crises, such as France in Mali or the African Union in Somalia. African security affairs are highly unlikely to feature in US presidential candidates' speeches, nor national security manifestos. US military activities also remain constrained by African governments' unwillingness to host foreign operations.

US military alone cannot end Somalia militant threat

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Special Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Intelligence Services ◽  
Security Assistance ◽  
Military Engagement ◽  
Policy Risk ◽  
Trump Administration

Subject US military engagement in Somalia. Significance The United States in December announced it was suspending security assistance to elements of the Somali army, based on reports of corruption and diversion of aid. The decision came amid intensifying US military engagement in Somalia, where airstrikes against al-Qaida-linked Harakat al-Shabaab have increased dramatically since July. Special forces ground operations also appear to be on the rise. Last May, the United States suffered its first combat death in Somalia since the infamous 1993 ‘Battle of Mogadishu’, where 18 US soldiers lost their lives. Impacts The potential for more US fatalities presents a policy risk for the Trump administration given domestic memories of the Battle of Mogadishu. Collateral casualties from US actions may provide al-Shabaab with useful domestic propaganda. Deepening cooperation with Somali intelligence services may have value but will prove complicated in practice.

US to tread cautiously on security support to Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Will ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Military Support ◽  
Military Units ◽  
The Relationship

Subject Nigeria-US military ties. Significance Relations between the United States and Nigeria were strained under former President Goodluck Jonathan's government. President Muhammadu Buhari's trip to Washington in July rejuvenated the relationship, but has not amounted to substantial new military support. The congressionally imposed 1997 Leahy amendment restrictions on Nigerian military units involved in counterinsurgency still apply. A substantial amount of political will would be required to lift them for a Nigeria that is now less important to US energy needs. Impacts Boko Haram's shift back to sporadic bombings suggests continued adaptability to losing territory. However, claims over new leadership raise questions over the group's cohesion on the back of military incursions. Recent unsophisticated attacks using horses over vehicles may also suggest that the group is suffering from resource constraints.

Misusing historical analogies limits US policy options

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Middle East ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Options ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
White House ◽  
Decision To Leave ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Future

Significance The Vietnam analogy implies that President Joe Biden’s decision to leave Afghanistan will have deeply negative consequences for the United States. However, Afghanistan is not Vietnam and the Biden withdrawal needs to be considered within the wider context of his administration’s review of US commitments abroad. Impacts The White House will be pressured to clarify the future of other US military commitments, particularly in Iraq. Biden will seek to reassure allies, particularly those in NATO, that his commitment to multilateralism will not diminish. Biden may seek an opportunity for a military show of force, possibly in the Middle East, to refute accusations of weakness.

Abu Dhabi will pivot to ‘soft power’ security policies

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
The United States ◽  
Security Policies ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Special Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Engagement

Significance UAE military engagement abroad since the 1990s has earned it the nickname ‘Little Sparta’. Its activities included a lengthy mission alongside NATO forces in Afghanistan and special forces-led interventions in Libya and Yemen. Impacts Increased COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy could be an important component of the Emirati soft power approach. UAE purchases of expensive weapons and maintenance of Red Sea basing options will focus on the Iran threat. Defence industrial ties will strengthen with the United States and Israel.

India-Pakistan tensions will hit US military strategy

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Indian Ocean ◽  
The United States ◽  
Military Strategy ◽  
Military Cooperation ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Support Fund

Subject Strategic entanglement of India, Pakistan and the United States. Significance Washington is slashing Coalition Support Fund (CSF) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) payments to Islamabad, in the belief that Pakistan harbours the very militants that the United States is fighting in Afghanistan. Washington envisions deeper military cooperation overall with Delhi, which accuses Pakistan of sponsoring militants who act against India. Islamabad is being driven closer to Washington’s rival Beijing. Impacts Pakistan will step up efforts to complete an anti-militant fence on the disputed border with Afghanistan. India is likely to resist any calls from the United States to begin joint patrols in the Indian Ocean. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will face security risks from Islamist militants and Baloch separatists.

Transition is unlikely to revive the Malian economy

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Human Development Index ◽  
The United States ◽  
Economic Hardship ◽  
Development Aid ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Labour Unions ◽  
Military Aid

Significance Mali’s economy has suffered a double blow in recent months from ECOWAS sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, amidst political turbulence and ongoing insecurity. The country ranks 184th out of 189 countries, according to the most recent Human Development Index. Impacts Economic hardship could lead to renewed unrest. Labour unions are already ratcheting up pressure; several are planning to strike from October 19 over pay and working conditions. The transition may allow the resumption of development aid, although the United States has suspended military aid until elections.

US Space Force will start small and then evolve

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Marine Corps ◽  
The United States ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Us

Subject Creation of the US Space Force. Significance President Donald Trump on February 19 signed a directive ordering the Pentagon to draw up legislation establishing a Space Force as the sixth branch of the US military, alongside the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Impacts A separation of air and space budgets could positively affect future military space modernisation and development programmes. Creation of the Space Force could ultimately move the United States closer towards openly putting weapons in space. If China and Russia perceive it this way, it creates the risk of an arms race in space.

The Decline of US Military Influence in Latin America

1993 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Samuel Fitch
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Reagan Administration ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Military Aid ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Military Relations

The US military presence in Latin America has declined significantly over the last two decades, particularly in the major countries of the region. Despite the determined efforts of the Reagan administration to reverse that trend, with few exceptions the present ability of the United States to influence the Latin American militaries is far removed from the dominant role it played in the 1950s and 1960s. Given the pressures in Washington for further cuts in military aid programs, the trend toward declining US influence and increasingly divergent US-Latin American military interests is likely to continue in the 1990s. Although the United States will continue to be a major force in the region, the primary instruments of US influence are likely to be economic, rather than military-to-military relations.

Syria players’ next steps hinge on US withdrawal plans

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Military Policy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Us Military

Significance Confusion still reigns over US military policy on Syria two months after US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a withdrawal. Washington is seeking a deal between Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) -- its local allies -- and Ankara, which wants to invade areas of the north-east, but has not yet found one. Impacts Ankara will not engage in any offensive that could bring Turkish troops into conflict with US forces. If the United States leaves suddenly, the Turkish army will move quickly to seize priority targets. An emphasis on Kurdish identity by SDF elements could provoke unease among the north-east’s Arabs.

Ukraine wins US military aid but nothing on energy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Aid ◽  
Us Military

Headline UKRAINE/UNITED STATES: Kyiv secures only military aid

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