The United States is recalibrating its military strategy in Africa, shifting away from its longstanding emphasis on promoting good governance and tackling the root causes of insurgencies. Instead, Washington is urging its African partners to take on increased responsibility for their own security.
This strategic shift was highlighted during the recent African Lion exercise—the largest joint military training operation conducted by the US on the continent. General Michael Langley, commander of the US Africa Command, emphasized the importance of enabling African forces to conduct independent operations. “Our goal is to elevate our partners to a level where they can operate autonomously,” Langley said during an interview on the exercise’s concluding day.
The move reflects a broader policy change initiated under former President Donald Trump’s defense leadership, focusing on “burden sharing” and empowering allied nations to manage their security challenges with less direct US involvement.
As the US steps back from direct intervention, it expects its African allies to build stronger, self-sufficient security capabilities to address ongoing threats and maintain regional stability.
