Pentagon Seeking New Access Pacts for Africa Bases

The United States influence and presence in Africa is set to increase with the signing of a series of bilateral agreements between the United States and several African countries. The US is already planning to provide troops to join an international peacekeeping force in Liberia. The US is also seeking to establish Army bases in Mali and Algeria, and sign aircraft refueling agreements with Senegal and Uganda. Although the number of US troops based in Africa will be less than those in the Korean Peninsula and the Persian Gulf, the slew of military agreements with African countries shows the growing importance of Africa in American foreign policy. Increasingly, Africa is emerging as the haven for international terrorist and militant religious groups, who espouse anti-American cause. President Bush’s trip seems to be the first tentative step in facing this new challengd. –YaleGlobal