Credit: Africom / U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) headquarters, in Stuttgart, Germany
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON – PENTAGON – Last year, under the Trump administration, U.S. Africa Command launched a search for a new headquarters for its Germany-based unit either somewhere else in Europe or the United States as American troops pulled out. The move followed President Trump’s directive to drastically withdraw U.S. troops and resources from Germany-a key European ally. However, the Pentagon’s press secretary confirmed today at a press briefing with reporters that AFRICOM’s headquarters will remain in Stuttgart, Germany with no current plans to move. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III last Tuesday announced that, after consultations with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the United States will base an additional 500 service members in Germany by the fall. The action by the Biden-led Pentagon is a sharp reversal of former President Trump’s ordering of large-scale cuts in troops in Germany.
“I know of no plans to change the headquarters location. AFRICOM and the headquarters there are doing great work. The secretary had a chance to get a brief while he was there. And he is very confident that they’re leading, that they are working on the alliance, our partnerships in Africa. He is very comfortable that headquarters staff knows what it’s doing and knows that its mission is really important. And I certainly have nothing to speak to that would change that perspective.”
-Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, April 19, 2021.
Secretary of Defense visits AFRICOM to Recognize personnel
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III visited U.S. Africa Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, from April 13-14, 2021 (Credit: Takisha Miller)
As part of an overseas trip, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III visited U.S. Africa Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, from April 13-14, 2021, where he met with personnel and senior leaders to highlight his vision for security interests in the region.
“I know firsthand how hard it is to be stationed overseas away from your family and friends. I’m extremely grateful for everyone at U.S. Africa Command, and I want you to know how proud you make me every single day,”
-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
There are approximately 1,200 military personnel assigned to AFRICOM headquarters. The command stood up in 2008 to protect and advance U.S. national interests in Africa and develop capable, professional partner nation military forces there and has been headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany since its inception. AFRICOM is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense, headquartered at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart. It is responsible for U.S. military operations, including fighting regional conflicts and maintaining military relations with 53 African nations. Its area of responsibility covers all of Africa except Egypt, which is within the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command.
(Photo credit: Gary Raynaldo ©Diplomatic Times) Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby briefs reporters at Pentagon headquarters in Washington D.C. April 19, 2021
Why Is AFRICOM Based in Europe Instead of Africa?
Some question why AFRICOM is based in Europe rather than on the African continent. The Bush Administration announced the creation of the long-discussed U.S. Command for Africa (AFRICOM) on February 6, 2007. Some suggest that many African leaders may not be to keen on having an AFRICOM headquarters based on the African continent because its vision is really not clear. Early on in AFRICOM’s forming, “some African analysts and policy makers point out that in Africa today there is little or no transparency in discussions of AFRICOM or of U.S. military relations with African states generally” – Samuel Makinda wrote in a Nov. 24, 2007 commentary for Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) entitled: “Why AFRICOM Has Not Won Over Africans”. Makinda concludes that the main reasons for Africa’s “generally negative reaction to AFRICOM” lie in Washington, not in Africa.
“There was a long discussion years ago of when AFRICOM was established about where it was going to be based, and it was decided to base it in Europe. I’m not going to re-litigate that decision today,”
-Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in response to a question regarding AFRICOM’s European headquarters.
(Photo credit: Gary Raynaldo ©Diplomatic Times) Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby briefs reporters at Pentagon headquarters in Washington D.C. April 19, 2021
