ASSESSMENTS

The Geopolitics of Airlift Support in Africa

Feb 7, 2014 | 11:46 GMT

Western countries use their advanced military capabilities to protect interests in Africa. In most cases, especially when time is of the essence in a remote theater, there is no alternative to air transport.

A C-130 Hercules delivers supplies to Kenya. Western countries use their advanced military capabilities to protect interests in Africa. In most cases, especially when time is of the essence in a remote theater, there is no alternative to air transport.

(U.S. Air Force)

Summary

Due to geographic constraints on the African continent that force the use of air transport for military deployments over long distances, security operations in Africa have often called on foreign airlift support. As a result, delivering this capability to African forces and their Western partners operating in Africa has become an important political tool that allows international powers to secure common interests without committing sizable numbers of troops to African conflicts.

Western countries use their advanced military capabilities to protect interests on the African continent. In most cases, especially when time is of the essence in a remote theater, there is no alternative to air transport....

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