Kenya has become the fourth African nation, and the first in sub-Saharan Africa, to attain the status of a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) ally. This designation cements Kenya’s position as one of the United States’ closest allies on the continent.
The announcement was made by US President Joe Biden, during Kenyan President William Ruto’s historic state visit to the US in May 2024. The visit included bilateral talks on key issues, including the anticipated deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti.
Experts suggest that this designation elevates Kenya’s role in regional and international security, coinciding with Kenya’s plans to send 1,000 police officers to help stabilize Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Washington has pledged $200 million to Nairobi for the UN-backed Haiti mission, drawing on Kenya’s extensive experience in supporting regional peace initiatives.
Kenya is currently overseeing a peace deal that ended Ethiopia’s two-year civil war in the northern Tigray region and has been mediating conflicts in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Since 2011, the Kenyan military has also been combating the al-Shabab Islamist group in neighbouring Somalia. A US military base in Kenya’s coastal county of Lamu has been pivotal in these counterinsurgency operations.
This designation is significant for the US as it seeks to maintain its influence in Africa amid increasing competition from Russia and China. As a major non-NATO ally, Kenya will gain access to sophisticated military equipment, training, and loans to enhance its defense capabilities. However, the US is not obligated to provide direct military assistance, and Kenya is not required to participate in NATO operations.
Despite the ongoing threat from al-Shabab, Kenya’s military spending has been relatively moderate compared to its East African Community (EAC) neighbors. The elevated security status could enhance Kenya’s focus on intelligence gathering and strategic deployments. The US continues to leverage Kenya’s influence in mediating regional conflicts.
As part of the new status, President Ruto is expected to receive 16 US-made helicopters and 150 armored vehicles, which could significantly bolster Kenya’s military capabilities. The non-NATO ally status has previously transformed the militaries of Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. Tunisia, for example, saw substantial changes in its military strength after earning the status in 2015, alongside budgetary and operational reforms. Egypt, designated since 1989, has become a cornerstone of US diplomatic efforts in North Africa and the Middle East. Morocco has gained extensive counterterrorism experience and has hosted the continent’s largest military exercise, “African Lion,” since 2007.
The US State Department treats Taiwan as a major non-NATO ally without formal designation, based on a 2002 statute, effectively granting the benefits of the status without legal recognition due to the one-China policy. Similarly, in 2016, the US designated India as a Major Defense Partner, allowing license-free access to military and dual-use equipment.
Kenya’s new designation as a major non-NATO ally marks a significant milestone in US-Kenyan relations, promising enhanced security cooperation and strengthened defense capabilities.