Washington: Good afternoon to everyone from the U.S. Department of State's Africa Regional Media Hub. Today, we are pleased to have U.S. Africa Command's Deputy Commander, Lt. Gen. John W. Brennan, and the Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement, Ambassador Robert Scott, joining us for a digital press briefing. They will discuss their recent engagements in Angola and Namibia, highlighting the importance of U.S.-Africa security cooperation and the ongoing commitment to fostering partnerships that promote regional stability.
According to EMM, Lt. Gen. Brennan and Ambassador Scott emphasized the significance of African-led solutions to security challenges, aiming for minimal direct U.S. military involvement. The briefing underscored the strategic outcomes of such collaborations, which are facilitated through joint training exercises and initiatives like the Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET). These exercises, led by African partners and supported by allies, are designed to strengthen collective defense capabilities across the continent.
Ambassador Scott highlighted the interconnectedness of security, economic development, and prosperity, using Angola's Lobito Corridor and Namibia's Walvis Bay as examples. These projects aim to enhance regional trade and logistics, with the U.S. playing a supportive role in their development. Such initiatives are complemented by efforts to improve maritime domain awareness, ensuring secure coastlines through technology like SeaVision.
During the briefing, specific questions from journalists addressed the empowerment of local military and civil institutions in Angola and Namibia. Lt. Gen. Brennan reiterated AFRICOM's approach of enabling African nations to address their security issues with U.S. support, contrasting this with other international actors' strategies.
Ambassador Scott and Lt. Gen. Brennan also discussed the broader implications of U.S. military engagement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. They highlighted the benefits of programs like the State Partnership Program, which facilitates collaboration between U.S. states and African countries, fostering military-to-military and civil engagements that extend beyond security to socioeconomic development.
In response to questions about the U.S. strategy in regions without immediate jihadist threats, Lt. Gen. Brennan noted the preventive nature of their engagements, aiming to prepare countries like Angola and Namibia for potential future threats. The U.S. strategy in Southern Africa involves expanding military and defense cooperation, with a focus on exercises and high-level discussions to enhance regional security.
The briefing concluded with insights on AFRICOM's efforts to counter misinformation campaigns by foreign actors and the ongoing commitment to building partner capacities in Africa, particularly in counterterrorism efforts. Ambassador Scott and Lt. Gen. Brennan emphasized the importance of African countries taking ownership of their security challenges, supported by U.S. assistance in training, equipping, and strategic guidance.