What Spain Tells Us About the Future of AFRICOM. U.S. Beefs Up Military Presence in Southern Spain
The US’ decision to beef up its military presence in southern Spain indicates that a new strategy towards Africa is well underway.
Washington just clinched a deal with Madrid that will see it boosting its military footprint in the south of the country. According to the agreement, up to 2,200 Marines and possibly 40 military aircraft will be deployed within striking distance of all of West Africa, and this massive amount of firepower proves that the US is preparing its forces for engagement all across the continent in the years to come. Its deployment along the African periphery in Spain complements the existing presence it has in Italy and Djibouti, to say nothing of its mobile naval capabilities, and this arrangement may actually be the most ‘efficient’ of AFRICOM’s speculated formations. In the short term, it’s predicted that the US’ latest moves are in anticipation of an inevitable leadership transition that may soon take place in Algeria, while the constant, long-term interest is in controlling the transit of significant non-Russian gas supplies to the EU.
What’s at Stake for Spain
Spain’s collaboration is motivated by financial and political interests, but Madrid’s short-sighted thinking may inadvertently destabilize the domestic situation in the country and open it up to terrorist attacks.
