US Military Pullback in Africa Opens Door for China and Russia
NewsweekMAY 24
The restructuring aligns with President Trump's vision to build a leaner, more lethal force focused on homeland defense while reducing foreign military footprints. This approach promotes self-reliance among African partners and eliminates bureaucratic layers, potentially saving millions in defense spending while maintaining strategic influence through more efficient command structures.
ScalingThe Trump administration's scaling back of US military engagement in Africa risks creating security vacuums that extremist groups could exploit. Many African militaries remain ill-equipped to handle growing terrorist threats independently, and reducing AFRICOM's presence could diminish America's ability to counter expanding Russian and Chinese influence across the continent.
There is a 30% chance that there will be a successful coup in Africa or Latin America before July 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.