Africa's Importance Grows as Global Alliances Change

By Laura Tingle

Topic: World Politics

Saudi Arabia has formed a 13-country maritime alliance for Red Sea security after announcing collective security obligations earlier this month.

A European official asked about Djibouti.

In 2017, there was concern about China's global power ambitions.

Australia was alarmed by China's actions in the South China Sea and its 'Belt and Road' initiative.

Europe was also concerned, with Poland at the center of a Chinese-funded railway and Germany noting its proximity to Beijing.

All these factors led to interest in Djibouti, where many undersea cables connect Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Between 10 and 12 international cables land in Djibouti, making it a critical digital hub.

Chinese state-owned companies invested heavily in Djibouti's ports and infrastructure from 2013, and by 2017, they had opened a significant military base.

Djibouti is crucial due to its location on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Suez Canal, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean.

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, causing anxiety about the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The rapidly changing geopolitics of the region must be considered in a broader context than just the US, Israel, and Iran conflict.

The 'Bab el-Mandeb' Strait means 'the gate of tears' in Arabic.

A new maritime alliance is forming.

Saudi Arabia had considered building a military facility in Djibouti but instead formed a 13-country maritime alliance.

The alliance includes Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Somalia, and Yemen.

A NATO-like defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan has significant implications for the Middle East.

Turkey confirmed it is joining the alliance, following the announcement of collective security obligations in the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.

The alliance's first test will be in keeping shipping moving in and out of the Red Sea.

The new alliances in the Red Sea shift focus to Africa, where there has been a surge of investment by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey.

Africa is no longer just a battleground for influence between China and Russia.

There is a new 'Scramble for Africa' with investments in infrastructure, driven by estimates of Africa's rare earth reserves.

African nations are getting better at extracting benefits from investments, such as higher revenues and manufacturing commitments.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has instituted 'super-profit' taxes, and Zambia has raised its mining levies.

Zimbabwe has banned exports of raw lithium to end the export of unprocessed wealth.

Governments across the continent have increasingly embraced resource-nationalist measures.

Saudi Arabia has pledged over $41 billion in investments in industrial zones, development finance, and export credits with African nations.

Turkey has dramatically expanded its footprint in Africa through diplomacy, air routes, trade, and infrastructure investments.

The UAE's investments and interests in Africa dwarf those of Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The UAE has announced investments worth over $168 billion in Africa since 2017.

The UAE's investments span ports, green energy projects, and industrial-scale farms across the continent.

The state-owned company DP World operates or is developing ports, terminals, and free zones in 13 African countries.

The UAE has leased millions of hectares of agricultural land to bolster food security.

The UAE has acquired mining rights to secure critical minerals for the energy transition and its defense sector.

However, this engagement comes at a price, sometimes reinforcing but also undermining the sovereignty of fragile states.

The UAE's presence in the war in Sudan is particularly troublesome, with accusations of providing military support to the Rapid Support Forces.

The expansion of strategic ambitions by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE into Africa, with competition for rare earths, shows how quickly global forces are shifting.

Laura Tingle is the ABC's Global Affairs Editor.

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