South Africa and Africom
Reflections on a lukewarm relationship
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5725087 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Theo Neethling (0000-0003-0709-7207, University of the Free State, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 111-129 |
| Publication date | 2015-01-02 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | South African Journal of International Affairs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1022-0461 • E-ISSN: 1938-0275 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10220461.2015.1019556 |
| OpenAlex | W2042519677 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 5 |
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) was established in 2007 as a military and diplomatic entity and is intended to assist African states and military actors to address their security needs. At the same time, AFRICOM is clearly an extension of US strategic interests on the African continent. The challenge for the US Department of Defense is to project AFRICOM as a cooperative and willing partner. This implies a partner that offers needed services and resources, and supports African security and military priorities with no presumption of having a privileged role in defining the African future. However, one of AFRICOM's main challenges relates to the point that it has not been able to secure a firm partnership with South Africa as a key player on the continent: South Africa has continuously taken a lukewarm, if not cold, approach towards AFRICOM since its formation. The main aim of this article is to examine and discuss South Africa's political–military relations with AFRICOM and to assess the underlying reasons currently inhibiting AFRICOM from achieving a fully productive relationship with the South African government
Cold war · General partnership · National security · Political science · Politics · Presumption · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security · Public Administration
| Citations per year | 0.11 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2017 - 2017 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |