How the tiny African nation of Djibouti became the linchpin in China’s belt and road plan
- Ideally situated with good harbours, this remote country is helping China protect its growing interests as the vast infrastructure strategy takes hold.
- It is located at the gateway of the Suez Canal, through which 10 per cent of the world’s oil exports and 20 per cent of all commercial goods travel.
Djibouti, a remote country at the Horn of Africa, is at the heart of China’s multibillion-dollar “Belt and Road Initiative”, supporting Beijing’s juggling of commercial and military objectives amid Western suspicions about its motives.
The initiative – which aims to strengthen the infrastructure of land and sea routes linking Asia, Europe and Africa – is largely commercial in nature, but it has also triggered the need for China to bolster its military presence to protect its growing interests abroad.
Accordingly, China moved to set up a military base in Djibouti in 2017 – a step that elevated the African nation’s status while sparking concerns over China’s military might.
The maritime portion of the belt and road aims to connect China’s coastal areas and Europe via the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Djibouti, located at the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the gateway of the Suez Canal – through which 10 per cent of the world’s oil exports and 20 per cent of all commercial goods travel, is at the forefront of that plan.
“Many countries want to have a base in Djibouti to monitor and protect shipping in that area. The Gulf of Aden/Red Sea is a critical water space, through which a significant amount of global merchant shipping passes,” said Timothy Heath, senior international defence research analyst at Rand Corporation.
