U.S. Plans To Designate Kenya As Major Non-NATO Ally

If Kenya is accepted, it would be the first major non-NATO U.S. ally in sub-Saharan Africa.

The U.S. is expected to designate Kenya as a major non-NATO ally.

President Biden plans to inform Congress that he will designate the country with the title describing it as an acknowledgment that “Kenya is already a global partner.”

Major non-NATO allies are eligible for benefits including being a candidate for U.S.-owned war reserve stockpiles, which is a priority delivery of excess weapons and defense equipment. They are also eligible for loans related to cooperative research, development or testing.

Only 18-countries are designated as major non-NATO allies, including Israel, Japan and Australia. However, if Kenya is accepted, it would be the first major non-NATO U.S. ally in sub-Saharan Africa.