U.S. President Joe Biden has designated Kenya as a “major non-NATO ally.” A statement from the White House cited the authority vested in him by the U.S. Constitution and laws, including Section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, to declare Kenya as such under the Arms Export Control Act. Kenya thus becomes the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation of “major non-NATO ally.”
The statement highlighted Kenya’s efforts in combating terrorist organizations like ISIS and Al-Shabaab in East Africa, its support for Ukraine, and its deployment of security forces to Haiti amidst instability, all contributing to U.S. national security priorities.
This move by Washington is seen as a response to increased Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
Other major non-NATO allies include Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia.