President Biden will designate Kenya on Thursday as a “major non-NATO ally,” according to a U.S. official, a move that reflects the president’s determination to deepen relations with the East African nation even as other countries — including Russia and China — are racing to do the same.
Mr. Biden will inform Congress of his intention, as required by law, as he hosts President William Ruto of Kenya with a formal state dinner at the White House on Thursday, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to allow Mr. Biden to make the announcement.
The designation is given to countries whose militaries have a strategic working relationship with the United States, though not necessarily a mutual defense pact.
Kenya would be the first sub-Saharan African country to be so designated.
As he greeted Mr. Ruto upon his arrival in Washington on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Biden officially reneged on that promise, telling him that he intended to visit the continent “in February, after I am re-elected.” For months, Mr. Biden’s aides had ducked questions about whether he would travel to Africa during a busy election year.
Persons:
Biden, ”, William Ruto of, Ruto, Biden’s
Organizations:
Kenya, U.S, East, White, U.S .
Locations:
NATO, Russia, China, William Ruto of Kenya, United States, Kenya, U.S, Africa, Washington