French President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced plans to close all foreign military bases in Senegal by 2025, marking a shift away from France’s long-standing military presence in the region. This decision follows a series of withdrawals from Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The implications of this withdrawal are far-reaching. While France’s strategic influence in Africa is diminishing, its military bases played a crucial role in conducting external operations and providing logistical support for French military interventions. Without these bases, projecting military strength becomes significantly more challenging.
France has questioned the cost-benefit analysis of maintaining its African bases, citing their symbolic value as a legacy of neocolonialism. However, from a strategic perspective, having pre-positioned military presence in Africa no longer serves France’s interests, given the main threats to the country come from eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The closure of these bases would signal the end of France’s capacity for intervention in certain conflicts across Africa. This would weaken its influence in the region, as African countries seek alternative security providers. The announcement by Senegalese President Faye rather than French authorities marks a significant loss of influence for France in the affected countries.
France has long been considered the “gendarme of Africa,” conducting numerous military operations across the continent. However, this withdrawal will have diplomatic repercussions beyond Africa, affecting France’s relationships with other Western powers and international organizations like the European Union and United Nations.
The reduction in French military presence in Africa will also impact its ability to protect economic interests, particularly in the mining and energy sectors. While these industries remain concentrated in countries without French military bases, their withdrawal could still have significant consequences for France’s trade and supply chains.
Ultimately, France’s decision to close its African military bases represents a shift towards a more nuanced approach to its foreign policy and security strategy, one that prioritizes diplomacy and cooperation over military intervention.
Source: https://theconversation.com/what-france-loses-by-closing-its-military-bases-in-africa-247898