President Biden welcomed Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House on Thursday for an official state dinner as part of his efforts to deepen relations with the East African nation, a key ally in fighting against the Islamic State and other terror groups on the continent.
During the visit, Mr. Biden notified Congress of his intention to designate Kenya a “major non-NATO ally.” The designation is bestowed on countries whose militaries have strategic working relationships with the U.S., but not necessarily a mutual defense pact.
“Kenya is one of the United States Government’s top counterterrorism and security partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and the designation will demonstrate that the United States sees African contributions to global peace and security as equivalent to those of our Major non-NATO Allies in other regions,” Mr. Biden wrote in a letter to Congress.
Kenya would be the first sub-Saharan African country to earn the designation. Mr. Ruto is the first African leader to make a state visit to the White House since 2008.
At a joint press conference, Mr. Biden said the ties between the two nations would enable the two countries to tackle challenges together, including health, security, technology and debt.
“Taken together, these are responsibilities Kenya and America must face together as partners,” he said. “For prosperity, for innovation and, most important, for democracy.”
The security partnerships will boost the two nations’ counterterrorism efforts in Africa, including battling the Islamic State and the Sunni Islamist al-Shabab organization.
Kenya has also participated in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and a maritime task force launched by Mr. Biden to combat Houthi aggression against vessels in the Red Sea.
Beyond that, Mr. Ruto is sending roughly 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti as part of a multilateral security mission to help quell gang violence. The move was welcomed by the Biden administration as a show of global leadership by Kenya.
Mr. Biden pulled out all the stops for Mr. Ruto, including an Oval Office meeting, a lavish state dinner with lobster and braised short ribs and a joint press conference, honors typically reserved only for key U.S. allies.
As part of his visit, Mr, Ruto also meet with former President Barack Obama, whose father was from Kenya.
The president has repeatedly pledged to travel to Africa but has pushed it off, and delayed that promise yet again. When asked when would visit Africa, Mr. Biden responded, “In February after I’m reelected.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.