Thursday February 8, 2024
Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale poses for a photo with his host United States Lloyd Austin III at the Pentagon/US Department of Defense
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The talks, which are part of Duale's ongoing visit to the US that started on February 4, centred on strategies to combat Al-Shabaab and enhance security in the strategic maritime regions of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait. These discussions underscore the commitment of both nations to address the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and ensure the safety of crucial international shipping lanes.Amid the backdrop of increased regional threats, including escalated attacks on shipping by Houthi rebels, the US Department of State designated the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group.
The strengthened Kenya-US partnership, guided by the Defense Cooperation Framework signed on September 25, 2023, seeks to provide a structured approach to shared security challenges, focusing on defeating Al-Shabaab.
Duale's visit included discussions with US senators and officials on enhancing military training and cooperation in defence.