Foreign Bases in Djibouti-Is there a struggle for strategic space?
Djibouti lies in Eastern Africa bordering Eritrea to the north Ethiopia to the west and Somalia to the South. It rests on the Bab El-Mandeb strait which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Due to its strategic importance, larger number of foreign powers have stationed their military base in the country. For instance, the small island nation hosts France, USA, Japan, China, and Saudi Arabia plans to set up a base.
The poor African country with no resources of its own, has utilized its geography, allowing it to generate more than $300 million annually. The purpose herein is to find out if there is a struggle for strategic space among the foreign powers deployed on the island.
France:
Paris has been operating its military base in Djibouti since 1932 when it was a French colony. Upon granting Djibouti independence in 1977, they signed a Mutual Defence Treaty which gave Paris the right to station soldiers, fighter jets and in exchange provided air defence. Along with these terms, $40 million was paid for operating the base. It is largest overseas military base operated by France.
The two countries signed defence cooperation treaty on 21 December 2011 when President Ismail Omar Guelleh arrived in France on an official visit. The treaty had set out operational facilities granted to French forces who train African troops and along with it, monitor Horn of Africa and Yemen.
The Chinese threat seemed to have reignited Djibouti’s importance in French thinking as President Emmanuel Macron became only the second leader to visit the country in last twenty years. The French President arrived on 12 March 2019, recognising the threat from Beijing, he said “I would not want a new generation of international investments to encroach on our historical partners’ sovereignty or weaken their economies”. Inspite of recognizing the threat, Paris did not shore up its economic engagement as no commercial deals were inked during the visit.
USA:
Camp Lemonnier is an expeditionary base home to marine-based Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), which is the joint task force of US Africa Command. CJTF-HOA was instituted in November 2002, the base houses about 1650 CJTF-HOA troops, along with coalition forces the total population is about 3000. This base proved to be instrumental for Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa to defeat Al Qaeda network and the associated forces. US had signed an agreement to use the base for ten-years and the rent was $38 million per year.
US forces began conducting operations in May 2003 and the focus has been on security, stability, conflict prevention in the Horn of Africa. The port of Doraleh is used as refuelling point for US and coalition ships which perform maritime security operations. Camp Lemonnier is a former French base, and it has been leased by the US government for the long-term to counter Islamic extremism.
In January 2007, US planned to increase the size of the base from 88 acres to 500 acres to make it a long-term facility. US President Barack Obama secured the renewal of Camp Lemonnier for ten years in 2014, under which Washington had to pay $63 million annually and it also has the option of extending the agreement when the present deal expires.
Japan:
Tokyo established its first post-war overseas military base in 2011 with the goal of eradicating piracy off Northeast Africa particularly to defeat pirates operating from Somalia. The base was equipped with docks for warships, an airfield, two Kawasaki P-1 patrol aircraft, a destroyer and about 180 ground troops. Japan in partnership with other countries was successful as piracy was reduced from 237 incidents in 2011 to mere 9 incidents in 2017. The original size of the base was 12 hectares but the government plans to expand it to 15 hectares which could be due to the desire to play a larger role in international security and peacekeeping missions.
The threat posed by China could also be a factor as it is readily expanding on the continent. Japan seems to be employing smart power strategy wherein they are utilizing their soft power tools such as official development assistance, organising cultural events such as Japanese folk dances. It could be augmenting its hard power through the base wherein it participates in maintaining international security. Moreover, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga could be following the predecessor, Abe in augmenting hard power projection through the Djibouti base.
China:
President Xi Jinping made the decision to develop the first overseas military base back in 2013 and construction began at Doraleh Port in 2016. Within a year the base was developed, and the opening ceremony was held on 1st August 2017 and after that, it became operational. China pays $20 million a year in rent to operate the base and the lease agreement is of 10 years and can also extend the agreement when the present accord expires.
Beijing classified it as a logistical facility in 2015 to not draw too much attention. It has been used to participate in UN peacekeeping operations, anti-piracy operations in Gulf of Aden. The Chinese base is 10 km away from Camp Lemonnier and the size is about 90 acres.
Although the base was initially used for anti-piracy operations, but it is no longer limited to it as the infrastructure has been expanded and now it can serve as resupply hub for the PLA-Navy. The plan was to build nine piers at the base with four specially for the marine force. A 1200-foot pier was completed last year, it can accommodate aircraft carriers, large warships as well as nuclear-powered submarines. Given the expansion of the base, one can safely assume that there is a larger strategy at play here.
Saudi Arabia:
Riyadh planned to set up a military base in 2016 and as part of the effort, it is negotiating with the Djibouti government. The desire to establish a military base was a signal of its assertive foreign policy which is to counter Iranian proxies politically and militarily. It cooperates with Djibouti to fight Iran backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and has expanded cooperation bilaterally in security, military, economic and political realms. The Kingdom faces regular attacks by Houthi rebels for instance on March 7 this year the group targeted oil facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia. Building a military base could allow Riyadh to deter the terrorists and support its war effort in Yemen.
Although the construction for the base has not begun yet but considering that the planned area would be close to Yemen, it seems that the main agenda in the short term for Riyadh would be to support the war effort. The base would be beneficial for two reasons, one being the opening a new front to counter the terrorist forces. Secondly, Iran the regional rival has been utilizing the Gulf of Aden to supply Houthis with weapons, through military presence Riyadh could thwart such efforts.
Final Analysis:
Djibouti is important for Paris to maintain its international influence and for the defence of the Red Sea. Although France was the first country to set up a naval base in the tiny African country, but its influence reduced after US set up its base in early 21st century. Paris known to chart an independent foreign policy may work with US given the threat from Beijing.
Washington whose main objective for the base was counterterrorism in light of 9/11 attacks may change its strategy due to China’s rise. With focus shifting towards east Asia, the base may be utilised for “free and open Indo-Pacific”. Since the Biden administration intends to work with allies, it may work alongside France and Japan to thwart China’s attempt at augmenting its hard power in the Indo-Pacific.
Tokyo which has been practicing state pacifism ever since the defeat in second world war, may slowly and surely expand power projection due to China’s belligerence. We need to bear in mind, that Japan cannot singlehandedly challenge Beijing, but it could utilise the American umbrella to keep China’s aggression in check.
Beijing whose rise has been peaceful so far is slowly turning militaristic as the first ever overseas base has been set up in Djibouti and it is closer to the American camp Lemonnier. China seems to have a grand strategy to reform the liberal international order and set it in its own eyes. While at present, Beijing cannot challenge Washington in the military realm, but it is using its economic power to gain strategic foothold.
Riyadh also plans to have a base in Djibouti for two reasons, one being to thwart Iran’s attempt at regional leadership. Secondly, to support the war effort in Yemen where Saudis are fighting against the Iranian supported Houthi rebels. Moreover, the base would open a new front for the war and to prevent Iran from using the Red Sea to support the terrorist group.
End Notes
1)https://medium.com/@LongTwentiethCentury/why-are-there-so-many-military-bases-in-djibouti-f8c579e961d5
2)https://insidearabia.com/djibouti-a-busy-hub-of-foreign-military-bases-on-the-horn-of-africa/
3)https://intpolicydigest.org/france-s-strategic-footprint-in-east-africa/
4)https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/djibouti/
5)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-djibouti-france-idUSKBN1QS2QP
6)https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/camplemonnier/
7)https://codebookafrica.wordpress.com/operations/recent-us-military-operations-relating-to-africa-2000-present/recent-us-counter-terrorism-operations/operation-enduring-freedom-horn-of-africa-operation-octave-shield/
8)https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2014/5/6/us-secures-10-year-deal-for-djibouti-base
9)https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=f0d56c2ff8104e97b7bf99d207a5c170
10)https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/construction-fast-tracked-at-china-pla-s-first-overseas-base-in-djibouti-1736703-2020-10-30
11)https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/05/16/chinas-djibouti-naval-base-increasing-its-power/
12)https://news.usni.org/2021/04/20/africom-chinese-naval-base-in-africa-set-to-support-aircraft-carriers
13)https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/31/china-military-to-set-up-first-overseas-base-in-djibouti.html
14)https://www.dw.com/en/japan-to-expand-djibouti-base-despite-decline-in-piracy/a-46356825
15)http://www.hscentre.org/africa/a-long-way-from-home-the-unexpected-smart-power-role-of-japan-self-defence-force-base-djibouti/
16)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-military-djibouti-idUSKCN12D0C4
17)https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-to-open-military-base-in-djibouti-1.1686291
18)https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171128-djibouti-welcomes-saudi-arabia-plan-to-build-a-military-base/
19)https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/april-2021-map-update-al-houthi-attacks-on-saudi-arabia
20)https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/saudi-arabia/saudi-arabia-will-continue-to-treat-houthis-as-terrorists-says-saudi-u-n-representative/articleshow/80909278.cms?from=mdr
21)https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/196444/Djibouti%20is%20Jumping%20-%20Foreign%20Policy%20Research%20Institute.pdf
22)https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/strategic-attractions-djibouti
23)https://www.ejinsight.com/eji/article/id/2090759/20190325-why-djibouti-hosts-naval-bases-of-various-foreign-powers
Pic Courtesy- Michael Afonso at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
