Geopolitics

Camp Lemonnier —The U.S Base At The Gate To The Red Sea

Overlooking the ‘Gate of Tears’ it’s the only permanent US military base in Africa — and China has a growing base nearby

An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), takes of. Credit: By Sgt. Austin Hazard — https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1218904/22nd-meu-harrier-pilots-train-with-french-mirage-pilots, Public Domain,

Camp Lemonnier, in Djibouti, is the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa and occupies a unique position in the geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa. I first wrote about it in my 2011 novel ‘Gate of Tears’ when I explored the consequences of China secretly basing Dong Feng carrier-busting missiles in Yemen, which led to a face-off with NATO in the Red Sea.

Although Djibouti extends into the Red Sea, the Camp is not technically on the Red Sea, but is close the Bab-el-Mandeb (Gate of Tears) which guards the entrance to the 1000 mile long Sea.

The base’s crucial importance has become obvious as Houthi rebels in Yemen have started targeting commercial shipping with drones and virtually stopped traffic through the Gate of Tears as Christmas 2023 approaches. Western governments have combines to create a join task force in operation ‘Prosperity Guardian’, but that will take many weeks to become effective.

Meanwhile, Yemen has issued belligerent statements which amount to ‘Bring it on’.