NAIROBI —The top American military commander for Africa has praised Kenya’s leadership as it hosts a major continental defence conference, even as tensions simmer in Washington over Nairobi’s warming ties with China.
General Michael Langley, head of US Africa Command, is in Nairobi for the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence (ACHOD) conference a high-level gathering of senior military leaders from across the continent.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Langley said 42 African countries had been invited. “I think we’re going to get that number. We’ll see,” he said.
This year’s conference, themed “Strengthening African Security, Sustaining Unity of Effort,” is only the second time the event has been held on African soil. Langley said hosting it in Nairobi was a deliberate choice, citing Kenya’s role as a “capable, professional, and influential” partner.
“We chose Kenya because of their capability, leadership, professionalism, and their ability to export security across the region,” he told local media.
The conference is expected to focus on regional cooperation, collective security responses, and threats ranging from extremist violence to transnational crime. Langley said participants would work toward “recommendations that are holistic and respectful of civilian governments.”
Praise and Partnership
Langley emphasised that Kenya remains a critical ally in US-led security operations, particularly in counterterrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa.
“Kenya is a great partner for the US,” he said. “When President Ruto came to the US last year, we reaffirmed that partnership. What we have been doing in Somalia with Kenyan forces is another example that shows we are working together and looking forward to doing even more.”
Kenya was designated a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) by President Joe Biden in 2023 a status that reflects strategic military ties with the US. Despite that, some in Washington are growing uneasy.
Strains Over Beijing
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers have questioned Kenya’s deepening engagement with China. Senator Jim Risch, the ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently called for a reassessment of the MNNA designation.
“Kenya plays a vital role in regional counter-insurgency and stability. But as our newest Major Non-NATO Ally, Kenya’s ties with China are troubling,” Risch said in a statement last week.
The senator was reacting to recent visits by President William Ruto to Beijing, during which he described Kenya and China as “co-architects of a new world order.” That comment, made during a speech at Peking University in April, raised eyebrows in Washington.
“That’s not just alignment with China; it’s allegiance,” Risch warned. “Relying on leaders who embrace Beijing so openly is an error.”
His concerns were echoed after a meeting between Chinese Ambassador Zhou Pingjian and Cecily Mbarire, chair of Ruto’s ruling United Democratic Alliance party. Risch called the engagement “troubling” and urged the US to shift focus from individual leaders to building democratic institutions and investing in African youth.
Kenya’s Balancing Act
Kenya has defended its position, insisting it remains neutral. “We don’t look East or West,” an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on condition of anonymity. “We look forward.”
That stance is rooted in a long-standing foreign policy approach first set under President Mwai Kibaki one that seeks to balance global partnerships without aligning too closely to any bloc.
Observers say Kenya’s strategy reflects a broader trend among African nations, who are increasingly seeking to diversify alliances while retaining autonomy in international affairs.
At the ACHOD conference in Nairobi, that tightrope walk will likely be on display with military brass from across the continent weighing shared threats and shifting loyalties in an increasingly complex geopolitical arena.
For General Langley, however, the message was clear: “Kenya remains a strong and valued partner. That’s not changing.”
