While the existential threats in the Indo-Pacific and Europe command the headlines, there are other significant hotspots across the globe that cannot be ignored. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command, and Army Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command recently outlined threats in the Middle East and Africa.
They stressed that China, Russia, Iran and terrorist organizations continue to engage in malign activities in the Middle East and Africa.
In the Middle East, “Iran continues to pose the greatest threat to U.S. interests and the security of the region as a whole,” General McKenzie said. “They supply weapons to proxies and client states in an arc from Yemen through the Arabian Peninsula, across Iraq and Syria into Lebanon, and up to the very borders of Israel. Saudi Arabia endures regular attacks from the Houthis, who — courtesy of the Iranians — have some of the most advanced unmanned aerial systems and cruise missiles in the region. Recently, the Houthis have expanded these attacks to include urban centers and bases where U.S. forces reside in the United Arab Emirates.”
Iran’s ballistic missile forces can constitute a threat to the security of every state in the region, and perhaps globally, as well. There are estimates that the terrorist state could soon have nuclear weapons.
U.S. intelligence sources note that “Iran will continue to threaten U.S. interests as it tries to erode U.S. influence in the Middle East, entrench its influence and project power in neighboring states, and minimize threats to regime stability.Tehran will try to leverage its expanding nuclear program, proxy and partner forces, diplomacy, and military sales and acquisitions to advance its goals. The Iranian regime sees itself as locked in an existential struggle with the United States and its regional allies, while it pursues its longstanding ambitions for regional leadership.
Tehran has a long-term vision of molding itself into a pan-Islamic power that will threaten U.S. persons directly and via proxy attacks, particularly in the Middle East. Iran also remains committed to developing networks inside the United States—an objective it has pursued for more than a decade.Iranian-supported proxies will launch attacks against U.S. forces and persons in Iraq and Syria, and on other countries and regions.
China and Russia are also watching closely for any sign that the U.S. commitment to the collective security of the region is wavering, and they’re poised to capitalize on whatever opportunities emerge.
Further south, Russia and China see Africa’s rich potential in terms of resources and strategic partnerships, note Department of Defense officials. Both countries seek to convert soft- and hard-power investments into political influence, strategic access, and economic and diplomatic engagements. They also seek to buttress autocracies and change international norms in a patient effort. The Pentagon notes that “terrorism has metastasized to Africa.”
Threats include terrorist groups al-Qaida and al-Shabab in East Africa and al-Qaida and ISIS in West Africa and elsewhere, representing one of the world’s fastest growing, wealthiest and deadliest terrorist groups. They remain grave and growing threats that aspire to kill Americans, both abroad and within the U.S. itself.
Over 1 billion people reside in Africa, a figure that may double by 2050, when the continent will represent a quarter of the world’s population. 60 percent of that vast population will be under 25 years old.
Photo: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Harth 55 vessel, (background) conducted an unsafe and unprofessional action by crossing the bow of the U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat Monomoy, as the U.S. vessel was conducting a routine maritime security patrol in international waters in the southern Persian Gulf, April 2, 2021. (DoD photo)