US Senator Dan Sullivan has suggested that the headquarters of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) be relocated to Morocco, citing the country as an impressive ally to the US.
During his testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 16, Sullivan addressed General Michael Langley of the U.S. Marine Corps and said, “I think it’s time to have AFRICOM headquarters in Africa somewhere, Morocco, I think they’d be a great candidate.”
The idea of relocating AFRICOM to Africa has been brought up numerous times in the past, but has been blocked by members of the committee who have argued that AFRICOM is currently located in Germany because they don’t know where else to put it.
While General Langley acknowledged the utility of having AFRICOM on the continent, he stated that he could only discuss the matter further in a closed session. Langley had visited Morocco in October 2022 for the first time after taking over as the head of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he had emphasized the strong partnership between the US and Morocco in supporting regional peace and security.
“It is a great honor for me to make my first trip to the Kingdom of Morocco in my new role as U.S. AFRICOM commander. It’s clear that the U.S.-Morocco commitment to supporting regional peace and security is stronger than ever,” Gen. Langley said after meeting with Moroccan officials.
“Our military partnership is built on deep, historic ties that date back to the very founding of the United States. Our discussions today focused on how we can continue to work together on a range of critical security issues and continue to ensure regional stability.”
The relocation of AFRICOM’s headquarters would be a significant move, as the US has maintained its military presence on the continent through the command since 2007. Currently, AFRICOM is based in Stuttgart, Germany, with its mission to conduct military operations, provide assistance and training to partner countries, and support humanitarian and disaster relief efforts across Africa.
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