US Reshapes African Military Strategy: AFRICOM Splits from Europe, Eyes Morocco Base

– bySaid · 1 min read
US Reshapes African Military Strategy: AFRICOM Splits from Europe, Eyes Morocco Base

The United States has undertaken a reorganization of its military command structure for Africa (AFRICOM) in order to make it independent of its European counterpart. This decision, validated by the confirmation of a new commander by the US Senate, formalizes the separation of AFRICOM from the United States Army in Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF).

This reorganization is motivated by a context of growing geopolitical competition on the African continent, mainly with China and Russia. The new leadership of AFRICOM has emphasized that these two powers are extending their influence, requiring a more agile American response, according to Defence24.com. The structure shared with the European command was considered a constraint, limiting autonomy and speed of decision-making in the face of threats specific to Africa.

In the context of this restructuring, unofficial reports indicate that Morocco is being considered as a potential site to host the new command headquarters. The establishment of a dedicated and physically separate structure should allow for more direct strategic planning and decision-making, fully adapted to the African theater of operations.

The possible choice of Morocco would be based on several strategic factors. Its geographical position in North Africa offers significant logistical advantages and facilitates the rapid deployment of resources. In addition, Morocco is a long-standing security partner of the United States, regularly hosting large-scale joint military exercises, such as the "African Lion" maneuvers.

The establishment of a permanent command in Morocco would strengthen bilateral defense ties and significantly improve the overall US military posture on the continent.