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Russia is planning to establish a military base at the port of Berbera, Somaliland, according to unnamed US Department of Defense officials.
Both China and the United States, with military bases in Djibouti, share the same coastline as the potential Russian port.
The port is at the Gulf of Aden, in the self-proclaimed state within Somalia.
Russia has also expressed interest in building a naval logistics center in Eritrea, but it is unclear how far along those negotiations are, according to other unnamed US officials.
All of these were reported by the New York Times, in a piece focused on the worrisome expansion of Russian (and Chinese) interests in Africa.
US Defense Department officials have analyzed Moscow’s move highlighting great power competition and expressing their concern by Russia’s growing influence in Africa. US also faces same competition from China as Washington struggles to establish its security and economic goals in Africa.
This campaign for influence in Africa in playing a huge role even as US has hinted of withdrawing hundreds of its forces from West Africa with an intent of deploying them to counter threats from China and Russia closer to their borders.
Essentially, the report is based on very little fact, apart from the very obvious spreading of Russian and Chinese influence in Africa.
A report by the NewAfrican magazine in December 2018 stated that Russia was in negotiation ns with Somaliland leaders for a naval base to support its warships and submarines to operate in the region and the busy shipping lanes carrying most of Europe’s goods.
It was reported that the naval base would be staffed by 1,500 people and service destroyers, frigates and submarines and would be located outside Zeila city, in Somaliland, on the border with Djibouti – near the location of China’s first overseas base, which opened in 2017.
The report further stated that Russia had proposed that it will recognize the breakaway Republic of Somaliland in return for being allowed to establish the base and ensure security in the breakaway country by training the Somaliland military.
Russia previously had a military base in Somaliland but they were forced to exit by former Somali dictator Siad Barre.
Russia has, for a while now, been attempting to reignite its Soviet-era relationships with African countries and has had relative success so far, with the Russia-Africa summit being a massive success, leading to billions of dollars in signed deals on various infrastructure projects, as well as military cooperation.
China works in a somewhat similar manner, except that military cooperation agreements with African countries are much less common, and unlikely. Beijing provides long-term loans, and even released some African countries from their accrued debt, or at least part of it.
Both China and Russia fall “victim” to frequent accusations by the US and Co. for wishing the exploit the African nations. That is mostly due to the success they have in cooperating with them so far, unlike the US, whose influence appears to be waning, at least in Northern and Western Africa.
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- Russia and Zimbabwe to Sign $1.4Bn Trade Contract, Queue “Russians in Africa” Propaganda
Can anybody maybe explain to me why Russia needs anti-ship coastal defenses on the Caspian coast? If they already have by far the strongest navy in Caspian sea? And who on earth can challenge Russia there ?
Would be experts, lunatics, haters (majority of this forum) please abstain from comments… PS Good move by Russia . They have probably “paid” by ship load of AK-47 and older tanks + bribes for the military base! While the same thing in Djibouti has costed Chinese a FORTUNE in billions of loans!
I don’t know about the Caspian sea, but something about Djibouti. Djibouti base was not a costly entertainment for China, but a counter to US activities in Djibouti. US tried to strangle the exports of Ethiopia through Djibouti, which would have impacted Chinese companies in Ethiopia. With the investment guarantees given to Djibouti, and the building of a naval base in Djibouti, China rendered Camp Lemonnier under threat. In case of a heating conflict, this camp could be attacked immediately and rendered out of operation, whereas US would not be able to provide support, as their next bases are not close by. Ethiopia became important to China, as it is meanwhile develloping to a cheap workbench of Chinese manufacturing companies. Monthly labor costs there are only 60$ in comparrison to Chinas 180$ in the shoe industry. The majority of Chinese shoe production is coming nowadays from Ethiopia. Infrastructure development focuses on labor housing, roads and railway to connect the industrial zones of Ades Abeba to Djibouti. An impression could be gathered from Google maps satellite pictures of Ades Abeba, even if these pictures are quite old already, and don’t show the development of the recent years. I was there last year, and it is always amazing, how fast Chinese development transforms the country.
OK You stick to the topic. I must admit that I have learned plenty on Chinese shoe production! Their outsourcing of low payed (small added value production) jobs from China to Africa. On rapid development in Ethiopia. All that is because of Chinese effort (China 2025) to modernize China and make electronics and high tech hub (like Japan and South Korea) out of China. They will either outsource low paid jobs themselves or those are already moved from China to places like Vietnam and South East Asia in general. But I have learned nothing new really on Chinese adventure in Djibuti. Which is normal. What can happen there if not incident and conflict with Americans.
Aren’t juvenile lefties funny when they think they are smart when say that Religion is the reason of all wars, when the whole history was about who controls the commerce, as Silk Road or the Straits from the Indian Ocean? Good move, Russia!
Goody, goody, Putz Putin spends more to play big guy with his delusional attempts to recreate the Soviet Empire. Yet another step closer to the RF’s bankruptcy. At least this will help him get closer to the Soviets in the dustbin of history.