U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to officially acknowledge Kenya as a major non-NATO ally during Kenyan President William Ruto’s upcoming three-day state visit to the United States.
A source familiar with the plans disclosed this information. Should Kenya receive this designation, it would be the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to do so, according to Reuters. This move reflects Washington’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with the East African nation, which has traditionally had close ties with Russia and China.
Biden’s choice to recognize Kenya as a major non-NATO ally aligns with the country’s preparations to send troops to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led mission addressing the security challenges in the Caribbean. During Ruto’s meeting with business leaders at the White House, Biden shared his intention to visit Africa in February after the U.S. presidential election.
The two leaders are set to meet in the Oval Office on Thursday, followed by a joint press briefing and a state banquet. Senior administration officials indicated that Biden and Ruto will discuss various topics during their meeting, including trade, debt relief, and the future of areas like Haiti, Ukraine, and Sudan. Biden also unveiled plans on Wednesday to kick off a new era of tech collaboration between the U.S. and Kenya, focusing on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.
While not explicitly mentioning the security designation, this effort aims to enhance cooperation between the two nations in crucial technology sectors. Furthermore, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will introduce $250 million in new investments, expanding its Kenya portfolio to over $1 billion.
