China negotiating Horn of Africa military base: Djibouti president

[Pangu]

China negotiating Horn of Africa military base: Djibouti president




China is negotiating a military base in the strategic port of Djibouti, President Ismail Omar Guelleh has AFP, raising the prospect of US and Chinese bases side-by-side in the tiny Horn of Africa nation (AFP Photo/Carl de Souza)
China is negotiating a military base in the strategic port of Djibouti, the president told AFP, raising the prospect of US and Chinese bases side-by-side in the tiny Horn of Africa nation.


"Discussions are ongoing," President Ismail Omar Guelleh told AFP in an interview in Djibouti, saying Beijing's presence would be "welcome".

Djibouti is already home to Camp Lemonnier, the US military headquarters on the continent, used for covert, anti-terror and other operations in Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere across Africa.

France and Japan also have bases in the port, a former French colony that guards the entrance to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and which has been used by European and other international navies as a base in the fight against piracy from neighbouring Somalia.

China is already financing several major infrastructure projects estimated to total more than $9 billion (8 billion euros), including improved ports, airports and railway lines to landlocked Ethiopia, for whom Djibouti is a lifeline port.

"France's presence is old, and the Americans found that the position of Djibouti could help in the fight against terrorism in the region," Guelleh said.

"The Japanese want to protect themselves from piracy - and now the Chinese also want to protect their interests, and they are welcome," he said.

Djibouti overseas the narrow Bab al-Mandeb straits, the channel separating Africa from Arabia and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, leading into the Red Sea and northwards to the Mediterranean.

Djibouti and Beijing signed a military agreement allowing the Chinese navy to use Djibouti port in February 2014, a move that angered Washington.

China aims to install a permanent military base in Obock, Djibouti's northern port city.

In recent years, Guelleh has increasingly turned to China as a key economic partner. Last year he switched the port operating contract to a Chinese company, after the previous Dubai-based operator was accused of corruption.

Link: China negotiating Horn of Africa military base: Djibouti president - Yahoo News

 

[TaiShang]

CHINA MERCHANTS INVEST IN AFRICAN PORT OF DJIBOUTI
Hong Kong-based firm acquires 23.5% share in Port of Djibouti for US$185 million


China Merchants has acquired a 23.5 percent share in Port de Djibouti SA (PDSA) for US$185 million as the company continues in its bid to become a globally recognised terminal operator.


The Hong Kong-based firm said that the acquisition, the company’s second in as many weeks, will enhance “the group’s positioning in the increasingly affluent African market”.


PDSA’s assets include a multipurpose cargo facility in Djibouti Port and a 66.7 percent stake in the Dolareh Container Terminal, which its joint owner DP World calls “the most technologically advanced container terminal in the African continent.”


In addition to its investment in Djibouti, China Merchants, along with its consortium partners China Shipping Terminal and Cosco Pacific, received approval from the Taiwanese investment committee for a 30 percent share in a container terminal operated by Yang Ming Marine Transport


According to the JOC, the two deals are expected to be proceeded by the announcement that China Merchants has agreed a 49 percent stake in CMA CGM’ s port operating arm Terminal Link, which would give the company a major foothold in both the European and North American markets.


The Port of Djibouti is vital to the country’s $982 million economy due to its strategic location on the Red Sea - one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The port is used as a gateway to landlocked-Ethiopia in the south and as a transshipment hub for trade from countries on Africa’s east coast.

 

[Pangu]

CHINA MERCHANTS INVEST IN AFRICAN PORT OF DJIBOUTI
Hong Kong-based firm acquires 23.5% share in Port of Djibouti for US$185 million


China Merchants has acquired a 23.5 percent share in Port de Djibouti SA (PDSA) for US$185 million as the company continues in its bid to become a globally recognised terminal operator.


The Hong Kong-based firm said that the acquisition, the company’s second in as many weeks, will enhance “the group’s positioning in the increasingly affluent African market”.


PDSA’s assets include a multipurpose cargo facility in Djibouti Port and a 66.7 percent stake in the Dolareh Container Terminal, which its joint owner DP World calls “the most technologically advanced container terminal in the African continent.”


In addition to its investment in Djibouti, China Merchants, along with its consortium partners China Shipping Terminal and Cosco Pacific, received approval from the Taiwanese investment committee for a 30 percent share in a container terminal operated by Yang Ming Marine Transport


According to the JOC, the two deals are expected to be proceeded by the announcement that China Merchants has agreed a 49 percent stake in CMA CGM’ s port operating arm Terminal Link, which would give the company a major foothold in both the European and North American markets.


The Port of Djibouti is vital to the country’s $982 million economy due to its strategic location on the Red Sea - one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The port is used as a gateway to landlocked-Ethiopia in the south and as a transshipment hub for trade from countries on Africa’s east coast.

Economic & military expansion goes hand-in-hand, Djibouti is going to be very busy with competitor militaries stationed there if the deal goes through.

 

[Raphael]

Good development. Another flawless pearl to string onto our stunning necklace

 

[TaiShang]

Djibuti base will take the security of China's energy shipments one notch higher, providing China with control over the cargo that passes through the Gulf of Aden.

Keep in mind that Sudan is a major oil producer and exporter in China's list of energy providing nations.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Djibouti President: China Negotiating Horn of Africa Military Base
Agence France-Presse
May 10, 2015

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh.
(Photo: Carl De Souza/AFP)

DJIBOUTI — China is negotiating a military base in the strategic port of Djibouti, the president told AFP, raising the prospect of US and Chinese bases side-by-side in the tiny Horn of Africa nation.

"Discussions are ongoing," President Ismail Omar Guelleh told AFP in an interview in Djibouti, saying Beijing's presence would be "welcome."

Djibouti is already home to Camp Lemonnier, the US military headquarters on the continent, used for covert, anti-terror and other operations in Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere across Africa.

France and Japan also have bases in the port, a former French colony that guards the entrance to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and which has been used by European and other international navies as a base in the fight against piracy from neighboring Somalia.

China is already financing several major infrastructure projects estimated to total more than $9 billion (8 billion euros), including improved ports, airports and railway lines to landlocked Ethiopia, for whom Djibouti is a lifeline port.

"France's presence is old, and the Americans found that the position of Djibouti could help in the fight against terrorism in the region," Guelleh said.

"The Japanese want to protect themselves from piracy — and now the Chinese also want to protect their interests, and they are welcome," he said.

Djibouti overseas the narrow Bab al-Mandeb straits, the channel separating Africa from Arabia and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, leading into the Red Sea and northwards to the Mediterranean.

Djibouti and Beijing signed a military agreement allowing the Chinese navy to use Djibouti port in February 2014, a move that angered Washington.

China aims to install a permanent military base in Obock, Djibouti's northern port city.

In recent years, Guelleh has increasingly turned to China as a key economic partner. Last year he switched the port operating contract to a Chinese company, after the previous Dubai-based operator was accused of corruption.

Djibouti President: China Negotiating Horn of Africa Military Base

 

[TaiShang]

I think US, Japan and France already have certain facilities there. This shows the geostrategic importance.

 

[Aepsilons]

In the end, despite the geopolitical differences of the great powers (US, China, Japan, France, UK, Russia), we are able to see these differences and work together to secure the safety and freedom of navigation of the ships that traverses through the Straits of Djibouti and the Gulf of Aden, in concurrence with those in the Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

All in all, this demonstrates the maturity of the multidimensionality of said powers' relationship with each other.

Welcome to Djibouti, Navy of the People's Republic of China ! I look for continued cooperation between the JMSDF and the PLAN in these waters.

 

[ashok mourya]

Piracy in Somalia is in rapid decline and there is no attack for a year instead the piracy sifted to south east Asia where it is increased to 40% in a year and west Africa.India japan have some agreement to use japans base in Dijibouti.

Piracy area of SE Asia

 

[Aepsilons]

Piracy in Somalia is in rapid decline and there is no attack for a year instead the piracy sifted to south east Asia where it is increased to 40% in a year and west Africa.India japan have some agreement to use japans base in Dijibouti.

Yes, that was a point of agreement between our Foreign Affairs Minister, Kishida, with the Indian counterpart, Swaraj. The JMSDF Naval Base in Djibouti (which also houses a massive air strip) can also accommodate allied air and naval presence; the Indian Navy has been invited to use our base for refueling, training purposes. At the same time, India has opened some of her naval bases for JMSDF to refueling , as well as training purposes.

The evolution of Japanese and Indian Military ties and interoperability is one that is to be considered. In fact, the relationship between both the Japanese and Indian Navies is a crucial relationship in helping secure the stability of not only the Indo-Pacific Oceans, but also the Straits of Djibouti and Hormuz.

I believe as time progresses, the said relationship will develop further in congruence with the Japanese-Indian strategic relationship.



Japan’s Djibouti base could aid India’s interests

 

[maxpayne]

Another pearl discovered. How more to come??

 

[UKBengali]

There were those who were naive to think that China won't ever have overseas military bases.

 

[Pangu]

There were those who were naive to think that China won't ever have overseas military bases.

Until the base is actually build don't bet on it. I expect opposition from the west to derail our plan...

 

[jhungary]

Until the base is actually build don't bet on it. I expect opposition from the west to derail our plan...

Don't see why not

Djibouti already hosted 5 Foreign Military bases, for the US, Japan, Italian, French, Pakistani, 1 more won't hurt.

Camp Lemonnier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Japan Opens Military Base in Djibouti to Help Combat Piracy - Bloomberg Business
Il portale dell'Aeronautica Militare - Cambio di comando alla BMNS in Gibuti
French Naval Base Hosts Recompression Chamber Drill | United States Africa Command

 

[Genesis]

In the end, despite the geopolitical differences of the great powers (US, China, Japan, France, UK, Russia), we are able to see these differences and work together to secure the safety and freedom of navigation of the ships that traverses through the Straits of Djibouti and the Gulf of Aden, in concurrence with those in the Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

All in all, this demonstrates the maturity of the multidimensionality of said powers' relationship with each other.

Welcome to Djibouti, Navy of the People's Republic of China ! I look for continued cooperation between the JMSDF and the PLAN in these waters.

China Comes to Djibouti

China’s Naval Plans for Djibouti: A Road, a Belt, or a String of Pearls? | The Diplomat

"Washington protested against the China–Djibouti pact and expressed concern over China’s plans to build a military base in the Obock region, but to no avail."

Work togethor, I'm pretty sure America wants to slam the door on our face, so let's not pretend otherwise. In the field of pettiness, Americans certainly don't lose to us. Lest we forget, ADB and IMF voting rights, and getting allies to not sign up for our bank and so on so forth.

Americans and maturity don't really mix.