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U.S. Signs New Lease to Keep Strategic Military Installation in the Horn of Africa U.S. Signs New Lease to Keep Strategic Military Installation in the Horn of Africa
(4 months later)
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Monday that it had signed a 20-year lease on its military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, the only American installation on the continent and a staging ground for counterterrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia. WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Monday that it had signed a 20-year lease on its military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, the only American installation on the continent and a staging ground for counterterrorism operations in Yemen and Somalia.
Djibouti, a country of fewer than one million people the size of New Jersey that borders the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, has played an increasingly significant role in seeking to stabilize regional crises. The deal reflects the small country’s outsize strategic importance in helping the United States and other Western allies combat terrorists, pirates and smugglers in the region.Djibouti, a country of fewer than one million people the size of New Jersey that borders the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, has played an increasingly significant role in seeking to stabilize regional crises. The deal reflects the small country’s outsize strategic importance in helping the United States and other Western allies combat terrorists, pirates and smugglers in the region.
In a 40-minute meeting in the Oval Office, President Obama and Ismail Omar Guelleh, the president of Djibouti, covered a range of security and development issues, aides said. But the talks centered on the critical role played by Camp Lemonnier, a sprawling base of 4,000 American service members and civilians that serves as a hub for counterterrorism operations and training.In a 40-minute meeting in the Oval Office, President Obama and Ismail Omar Guelleh, the president of Djibouti, covered a range of security and development issues, aides said. But the talks centered on the critical role played by Camp Lemonnier, a sprawling base of 4,000 American service members and civilians that serves as a hub for counterterrorism operations and training.
“Obviously, Camp Lemonnier is extraordinarily important not only to our work throughout the Horn of Africa but throughout the region,” said Mr. Obama, who visited Djibouti in 2006 as a United States senator.“Obviously, Camp Lemonnier is extraordinarily important not only to our work throughout the Horn of Africa but throughout the region,” said Mr. Obama, who visited Djibouti in 2006 as a United States senator.
The renewal of the long-term lease illustrates the base’s rise from an expeditionary way stop for American troops in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, to the focus of a Pentagon plan to invest nearly $1 billion to upgrade the camp and other facilities. Defense officials envision Camp Lemonnier as a major regional base supporting operations throughout Africa, as well as part of the Arabian peninsula and the Indian Ocean.The renewal of the long-term lease illustrates the base’s rise from an expeditionary way stop for American troops in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, to the focus of a Pentagon plan to invest nearly $1 billion to upgrade the camp and other facilities. Defense officials envision Camp Lemonnier as a major regional base supporting operations throughout Africa, as well as part of the Arabian peninsula and the Indian Ocean.
The agreement reinforces strategic ties between the two nations, which were strained last year after the Pentagon was forced to relocate a large fleet of drones from the base in Djibouti’s congested capital to a desert location several miles away after a string of crashes heightened local fears that the remotely piloted aircraft might collide with passenger jets.The agreement reinforces strategic ties between the two nations, which were strained last year after the Pentagon was forced to relocate a large fleet of drones from the base in Djibouti’s congested capital to a desert location several miles away after a string of crashes heightened local fears that the remotely piloted aircraft might collide with passenger jets.
“Our relation is a relation of strategic partnership,” Mr. Guelleh told reporters. “The fact that we welcome U.S. forces in our country shows our support for international peace, and for peace in our region as well.”“Our relation is a relation of strategic partnership,” Mr. Guelleh told reporters. “The fact that we welcome U.S. forces in our country shows our support for international peace, and for peace in our region as well.”
The deal also appears to end speculation that Djibouti might lease a small parcel of land to Russia and grant it military landing rights at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow have badly deteriorated over the crisis in Ukraine. Russia has been an active contributor to the international antipiracy effort in the region since it first deployed warships in 2008.The deal also appears to end speculation that Djibouti might lease a small parcel of land to Russia and grant it military landing rights at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow have badly deteriorated over the crisis in Ukraine. Russia has been an active contributor to the international antipiracy effort in the region since it first deployed warships in 2008.
Terms of the lease renewal were not disclosed, but officials from both countries said the United States would pay a total of about $70 million a year — $63 million in lease fees and the rest in development aid — more than double the current leasing fees of roughly $30 million a year. Djiboutian officials said the increase reflected the base’s expanded operations.Terms of the lease renewal were not disclosed, but officials from both countries said the United States would pay a total of about $70 million a year — $63 million in lease fees and the rest in development aid — more than double the current leasing fees of roughly $30 million a year. Djiboutian officials said the increase reflected the base’s expanded operations.
Camp Lemonnier is on the southwest side of Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, between the runway overflow areas and a French military munitions storage facility.Camp Lemonnier is on the southwest side of Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, between the runway overflow areas and a French military munitions storage facility.
The base has grown from the several hundred Marines and members of Special Operations forces that landed in 2003 when the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa relocated. It had been based on a warship when the mission was conceived a year before, dedicated to hunting for remnants of Al Qaeda in the wake of the Taliban’s ouster from Afghanistan.The base has grown from the several hundred Marines and members of Special Operations forces that landed in 2003 when the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa relocated. It had been based on a warship when the mission was conceived a year before, dedicated to hunting for remnants of Al Qaeda in the wake of the Taliban’s ouster from Afghanistan.
In January 2007, the United States and Djiboutian governments announced that a lease agreement had been signed to expand Camp Lemonnier from 88 acres to nearly 500 acres.In January 2007, the United States and Djiboutian governments announced that a lease agreement had been signed to expand Camp Lemonnier from 88 acres to nearly 500 acres.
In the past several years, the Pentagon has spent more than $500 million on an array of construction projects that signal Washington’s plans to stay in Djibouti for the long haul. The facilities include aircraft hangars, two new taxiways for aircraft, housing, a second recreation center, a water production and distribution center and a wastewater treatment plant.In the past several years, the Pentagon has spent more than $500 million on an array of construction projects that signal Washington’s plans to stay in Djibouti for the long haul. The facilities include aircraft hangars, two new taxiways for aircraft, housing, a second recreation center, a water production and distribution center and a wastewater treatment plant.
In recent months, the American base in Djibouti has taken on new missions. In response to the fatal attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, the Pentagon created a 150-member rapid response force at Camp Lemonnier.In recent months, the American base in Djibouti has taken on new missions. In response to the fatal attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012, the Pentagon created a 150-member rapid response force at Camp Lemonnier.
Four days after arriving from Kansas, a team of 45 soldiers from the larger force in Djibouti was sent to Juba, the South Sudanese capital, on Dec. 18 to reinforce the seven Marines and State Department officers providing security at the embassy.Four days after arriving from Kansas, a team of 45 soldiers from the larger force in Djibouti was sent to Juba, the South Sudanese capital, on Dec. 18 to reinforce the seven Marines and State Department officers providing security at the embassy.
Mr. Guelleh’s visit underscores the strength of the strategic partnership between the two allies, officials from both countries said. Mr. Guelleh, who has led Djibouti since May 1999, met with President George W. Bush during a visit to Washington in 2003.Mr. Guelleh’s visit underscores the strength of the strategic partnership between the two allies, officials from both countries said. Mr. Guelleh, who has led Djibouti since May 1999, met with President George W. Bush during a visit to Washington in 2003.
Djibouti has dispatched security forces to Darfur, Ivory Coast, Western Sahara, Somalia and, in coming weeks, the Central African Republic, Mr. Guelleh said. It has also joined a regional diplomatic effort to end the fighting in South Sudan.Djibouti has dispatched security forces to Darfur, Ivory Coast, Western Sahara, Somalia and, in coming weeks, the Central African Republic, Mr. Guelleh said. It has also joined a regional diplomatic effort to end the fighting in South Sudan.
Its strategic importance has drawn interest from not only the United States, but also France, Japan and Italy, all of which have security forces in Djibouti.Its strategic importance has drawn interest from not only the United States, but also France, Japan and Italy, all of which have security forces in Djibouti.
Russia wanted to establish a presence in Djibouti but was stymied by the Djiboutians, an American official said.Russia wanted to establish a presence in Djibouti but was stymied by the Djiboutians, an American official said.
“The Russians came to see us; they wanted facilities in our country,” Mahmoud Ali Youssef, Djibouti’s foreign minister, said in a telephone interview.“The Russians came to see us; they wanted facilities in our country,” Mahmoud Ali Youssef, Djibouti’s foreign minister, said in a telephone interview.
With the American lease renewal pending final approval, Mr. Youssef said his government wanted to avoid “conflicting interests between those countries,” and did not strike a deal with Russia. American officials including Susan E. Rice, Mr. Obama’s national security adviser, who visited Djibouti in March, had not pressured his government about that decision, Mr. Youssef said.With the American lease renewal pending final approval, Mr. Youssef said his government wanted to avoid “conflicting interests between those countries,” and did not strike a deal with Russia. American officials including Susan E. Rice, Mr. Obama’s national security adviser, who visited Djibouti in March, had not pressured his government about that decision, Mr. Youssef said.