Pentagon Denies Plans for Base in Southern African State

Washington does not have any intentions to establish a military base in Zambia, as confirmed by General Michael Langley, the Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM). He dismissed claims suggesting otherwise and emphasized that there are no current plans for such a deployment in the southern African country.

The issue arose following concerns raised by Zambian lawmakers and neighboring countries about the potential implications of hosting AFRICOM forces.

During the press briefing on Thursday, General Langley emphasized the strong partnership between Washington and Zambia, stating that there are no current plans for a military base in the country.

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He highlighted the increased security cooperation between the two nations but clarified that there is no physical presence in the form of a base or military posture. Despite the need to withdraw military forces from certain regions, Washington aims to maintain its influence in Africa. General Langley, along with other US army officials, recently participated in an AFRICOM conference in Botswana to collaborate with African defense chiefs.

When asked about potential base locations following the exit from Niger, the AFRICOM commander refrained from disclosing specific countries but mentioned ongoing engagements across West Africa to address regional security challenges.