During President William Ruto’s state visit to the United States in May, US President Joe Biden promised among other pledges that he would make Kenya a Non-NATO Ally.
NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation currently has 32 member countries, called NATO allies.
True to his word, on May 24, 2024, he announced the designation of Kenya as a major non-NATO ally.
"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2321k) (the “Act”),
"I hereby designate Kenya as a Major Non-NATO Ally of the United States for the purposes of the Act and the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.)," a presidential determination dated June 24 reads.
This historic move by Biden marked a significant milestone for Kenya as it became the first sub-Saharan African nation to receive this status. It is also the fourth country in Africa.
Others are Egypt awarded by former President Ronald Reagan (1987), Morocco by George W. Bush (2004), and Tunisia by Barack Obama in 2015.
The status is issued only by the United States.
Being a Non-NATO ally comes with several benefits to countries granted the status and with Kenya’s designations the country will benefit especially in the Defence sector as a partner state.
This is in terms of military and economic privileges.
The status, however, does not include any security commitments to the designated country.
Kenya, with status, is now eligible for loans of material, supplies, or equipment for cooperative research, development, testing, or evaluation purposes, from the US government.
The government can now enter into agreements with the United States for cooperation in training on a bilateral or multilateral basis. However, direct costs by the US must be reimbursed.
Kenya, through the status, qualifies for priority delivery of excess defence equipment from the US and also enters into an agreement with the US Department of Defence to conduct cooperative research and development projects on defence equipment and munitions.
“Excess defence articles provided to partner nations at a reduced price (based on the condition of the equipment) or as a grant.
“Partner nations pay for packing, crating, handling, and transportation (PCH&T), as well as refurbishment if applicable,” the Defence Security Cooperation Agency states
According to the US government, the status symbolizes the close relations a country has with the US.
“Non-NATO Ally designation is a powerful symbol of the close relationship the United States shares with those countries and demonstrates our deep respect for the friendship for the countries to which it is extended.”
Currently 19 countries are designated as Major Non-NATO Allies.
They include Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia.
