While China has heavily been involved
in the economic and infrastructure development of the region through the Lamu
port and the wider Lapsset corridor, the US has now launched deliberate efforts
to expand its presence beyond security and counterterrorism engagements.
US Africa Command chief Gen Dagvin Anderson
reiterated these efforts during the digital press briefing on Tuesday.
“…we went to Kenya, where I had the
great opportunity to accompany the deputy secretary [Christopher Landau] down
to Manda Bay for the groundbreaking for the new runway that both the US and
Kenya are investing in," he said.
“Again, part of the security
investment that is in Lamu county is the head of or the start of an economic
corridor as well. So again, the confluence of economics and security and
where those come together.”
During his meeting with Foreign CS
Musalia Mudavadi, Landau announced fresh impetus by Washington to explore
economic and infrastructure interests in the Coast, particularly Lamu, where
China has had massive presence.
Speaking about deepening economic
cooperation, Landau said there is much that can be done for the prosperity of both
states.
“We spoke about some infrastructure
projects, different corridors in Mombasa, maybe up in Lamu. We are very excited
about the possibilities here in Kenya and believe that having strong economic
and commercial relations can be a foundation of building better political and
military relations,” Landau said.
Following the groundbreaking, Mudavadi
said the expansion of the Kenya Navy base, Manda Bay in Lamu marked a major
step forward in Kenya–US. security and development cooperation.
This, he noted, translates partnership
into “concrete infrastructure, stronger regional security, and lasting
strategic impact”.
China has been the primary partner in the
Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, with the China
Communications Construction Company constructing the first three berths of the Lamu
Port.
The $71 billion infrastructure
initiative, which is part of Vision 2030, is aligned with China's Belt and Road
Initiative and aims to connect Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia via railways,
pipelines and roads.
Washington language mirrors the
strategic logic that has historically defined China’s engagement in Lamu: That
infrastructure shapes economic interests, with the departure that the US is incorporating
security.
The renewed US focus on Lamu through Manda
Bay expansion and infrastructure development proposal places Washington and
Beijing in the same location with parallel strategic positioning.
“To counterbalance China, the US needs
to enhance diplomatic engagement, increase security cooperation with regional
partners, and pursue economic initiatives that offer alternatives to Chinese
investment,” Tewodros Woldearegay of Lingnan University opines.
Tewodros argues that this would be a
reaction to China’s infrastructure diplomacy and economic integration efforts,
which threaten to reorient regional alliances and trade routes, potentially
limiting US strategic options.
This competition along the Kenyan Coast
extends to critical minerals.
In line with President Donald Trump’s
National Security Strategy 2025, Washington has intensified its engagements
with Kenya to secure these minerals, which are mainly in Kwale.
Mining CS Hassan Joho is among delegations
from 50 states who were on Wednesday hosted for the inaugural Critical
Minerals Ministerial at the Department of State in Washington, DC. The State
Department said the meeting seeks to advance efforts to strengthen and
diversify critical minerals supply chains.
“This
historic gathering will create momentum for collaboration to secure these
critical components vital to technological innovation, economic strength and
national security,” it said.
Joho’s
trip comes days after the US-Kenya Critical Supply Chains Conference in
Nairobi.
The
meeting that coincided with Landau’s visit was convened by the US Embassy and
the American Chamber of Commerce to discuss the vital infrastructure, logistics
and workforce enablers in the critical minerals supply chains.
Kenya holds significant deposits of
critical minerals, including rare earth elements along the Coast and other
resources essential for electronics, renewable energy and electric vehicles —
sectors central to the global green and digital transition.
On Wednesday, Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui revealed Kenya is advancing
a bilateral trade agreement with the US even as it seeks an extension of Agoa. At
the centre of this partnership is mineral exploration and processing.
Kinyanjui said Nairobi is positioning
Kenya as a critical minerals processing centre for the region and for Africa
because of Mombasa being a strategic exit point.
“We are partnering with the US on
mineral exploration and processing to avoid exporting raw minerals,” Kinyanjui
said.
China, for its part, is a dominant
global player in rare earth processing and mineral supply chains. Its
infrastructure footprint through Lapsset strategically positions it close to
these emerging resource zones, particularly in Northeastern, which are yet to
be exploited.
