‘Our geography is our oil’: Why Djibouti hosts many foreign military bases
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Djibouti, a small nation in the Horn of Africa with few natural resources, hosts a high concentration of foreign military bases, including those of the United States, China, France, Japan, and Italy. These bases are strategically located due to Djibouti's proximity to Bab-el-Mandeb, a narrow and critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of global trade and internet infrastructure passes. President Ismail Omar Guelleh has welcomed these foreign powers for both commercial and security reasons, leveraging Djibouti's geography to advance the country's interests. The US established Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti after 9/11, making it the only permanent US military base in Africa. With ongoing conflicts in the region, Djibouti's strategic importance has increased significantly.
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Key Claims (5)
AI-ExtractedDjibouti's president said many countries emphasize protecting their commercial and investment interests.
Camp Lemonnier is the only permanent US military base on the African continent.
Bab-el-Mandeb is a narrow corridor through which roughly 12 percent of global maritime trade passes daily.
Djibouti hosts the densest cluster of foreign military bases in the world.
Djibouti sits at the centre of global trade, shipping, fibre optic connectivity, and energy.
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