The United States military is signaling a major shift in its approach to security cooperation in Africa, moving away from a broad strategy that emphasized good governance and holistic development toward a more focused message: African partners must be prepared to shoulder greater responsibility for their own security. This pivot was clearly illustrated during African Lion 2025, the largest joint military exercise on the continent, which concluded recently in Tan Tan, Morocco, involving troops from over 40 countries.
Gen. Michael Langley, the top U.S. military official in Africa, underscored this shift in an interview with the Associated Press on the exercise’s final day. “We need to be able to get our partners to the level of independent operations,” Langley said. “There needs to be some burden sharing.” This pragmatic stance marks a departure from past rhetoric, which often combined military support with diplomatic and developmental initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of instability, such as poor governance, environmental degradation, and economic hardship.
For four weeks, African Lion showcased coordinated efforts to counter diverse threats from air, land, and sea. Participants flew drones, engaged in close-quarters combat simulations, and launched satellite-guided rockets across desert terrains. While the exercise’s operational components mirrored those of previous years, the underlying message had clearly shifted from idealistic capacity building toward practical self-sufficiency for African militaries.
This change in tone reflects broader strategic priorities within the Trump administration’s Department of Defense, which is emphasizing homeland security and seeking greater contributions from allied nations in managing global hotspots, including Sudan and other parts of Africa. “We have our set priorities now — protecting the homeland,” Langley explained. “And we’re also looking for other countries to contribute to some of these global instability areas.”
The recalibration comes amid mounting competition with other global powers in Africa, notably China and Russia. China has aggressively expanded its military training programs on the continent, while Russian mercenaries have entrenched themselves as preferred security partners across North, West, and Central Africa. These developments have raised concerns in Washington about America’s diminishing influence and the growing sway of rival nations that offer military assistance without conditions on governance or human rights.
Only a year ago, Langley championed a “whole of government approach,” emphasizing that military force alone cannot stabilize fragile states or safeguard U.S. interests. He cited factors like desertification, crop failures, and violent extremism as interconnected threats best addressed through coordinated defense, diplomacy, and development efforts. However, he acknowledged that such comprehensive efforts have yielded mixed results. “I’ve seen progression and I’ve seen regression,” Langley reflected.
Indeed, the challenges facing African militaries remain daunting. Many national armies are poorly equipped, lack advanced air capabilities, and struggle with weak infrastructure, limiting their ability to patrol vast and often inaccessible territories. Meanwhile, terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State continue to expand, turning parts of East and West Africa into some of the deadliest regions for terrorism globally. The Sahel region alone accounted for more than half of the world’s terrorism victims in 2024, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
The U.S. military maintains approximately 6,500 personnel across Africa, engaging in security assistance programs and targeted operations such as airstrikes in Somalia against IS and al-Shabab militants. Yet, Langley admits that even with this support, partner forces like the Somali National Army remain far from capable of independently maintaining security. “The Somali National Army is trying to find their way,” he said. “There are some things they still need on the battlefield to be very effective.”
In West Africa’s Sahel, the situation is even more precarious. Beverly Ochieng, a security analyst specializing in the region, notes that Western powers have gradually reduced their presence—either voluntarily or after being forced out by local governments hostile to foreign influence. Many Sahelian militaries lack the necessary air power and technological capabilities to monitor and respond to militant movements in the region’s challenging terrain. “Local militaries were left without the tools to confront them,” Ochieng explained.
This drawdown of Western involvement amplifies the urgency behind the U.S. military’s new burden-sharing narrative. The message to African partners is clear: enhanced self-reliance is imperative, not optional. Yet, given the persistent deficiencies in equipment, training, and governance, questions remain about how realistic this expectation is in the near term.
Moreover, this recalibration raises strategic and ethical concerns. As African nations are pressed to take on more responsibility with fewer resources, the risk of failing to contain insurgencies grows, potentially destabilizing broader regions and undermining international security. Critics worry that abandoning the comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to security and development risks repeating past mistakes that allowed extremist groups to exploit governance gaps and social grievances.
The shift also reflects broader debates within U.S. defense policy about the size and scope of overseas commitments. The Trump administration’s focus on streamlining military forces and prioritizing homeland defense aligns with growing skepticism about long-term engagement in regions like Africa, which traditionally have been low on the Pentagon’s priority list.
Nevertheless, the stakes in Africa remain high. The continent is increasingly viewed as a strategic arena in the contest between global powers. Controlling access to resources, markets, and political influence in Africa will shape global geopolitics for decades to come. The ability of African countries to manage their security challenges independently will not only determine regional stability but also impact global efforts to counter terrorism, migration, and transnational crime.
Experts stress the importance of balancing realism with continued support for African partners. While expecting complete self-sufficiency in the short term may be unrealistic, gradual capacity building combined with political and economic reforms remains vital. Success stories such as Ivory Coast, where coordinated defense and development efforts have reduced jihadist attacks, highlight the potential of integrated approaches when adequately supported.
As the U.S. military redefines its posture in Africa, cooperation with regional organizations like the African Union and multilateral partnerships will be crucial. Leveraging local knowledge and fostering inclusive governance can enhance the effectiveness and legitimacy of security initiatives.
In summary, the U.S. military’s recent statements and actions underscore a strategic pivot from idealistic nation-building toward pragmatic burden-sharing. African Lion 2025 served as a platform to showcase this new reality—where African militaries are expected to assume more direct responsibility amid ongoing threats and international competition. While this shift reflects changing priorities and fiscal constraints, it also poses significant challenges for regional stability and global security.
The coming years will reveal how effectively the United States and its African partners can navigate this transition. Ensuring that African forces are adequately equipped, trained, and politically supported to confront growing insurgencies will be critical. Likewise, addressing underlying governance and socio-economic issues remains essential to sustainable peace and security. The evolving U.S. approach to Africa will undoubtedly shape the continent’s trajectory and the broader international order for years to come.
The post U.S. Military Shifts Strategy in Africa: From Nation-Building to Burden-Sharing Amid Rising Security Challenges first appeared on Trusted and Verified USA News.
The post U.S. Military Shifts Strategy in Africa: From Nation-Building to Burden-Sharing Amid Rising Security Challenges first appeared on Voxtrend News.
