Coup in geostrategic Niger confronts France — and U.S. — with Russia’s expanding footprint

Coup in geostrategic Niger confronts France — and U.S. — with Russia’s expanding footprint

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, August 13, 2023 PARIS — The recent military coup d’etat in Niger, a vast and arid land on the southern tier of the Sahara, underscores the widening political crisis in Africa’s Sahel region, where instability, dire poverty and Islamic jihadi terrorism, have stalked the land. Thus, when Gen. […]

Admiral hits China’s ‘intrusion activity’ near key Africa port: ‘Holds over 88 percent’ of Djibouti debt

Admiral hits China’s ‘intrusion activity’ near key Africa port: ‘Holds over 88 percent’ of Djibouti debt

by WorldTribune Staff, June 17, 2019 Since building its first overseas military base in Djibouti, in close proximity to a U.S. base, China has engaged in a series of “irresponsible actions” toward American forces, a senior U.S. military intelligence officer said. China has tried to “constrain international airspace” by barring aircraft from flying over the […]

Chinese ‘military grade’ lasers injure two U.S. airmen in Djibouti

Chinese ‘military grade’ lasers injure two U.S. airmen in Djibouti

by WorldTribune Staff, May 4, 2018 The United States filed a formal diplomatic complaint after two U.S. airmen were injured by a Chinese laser in Djibouti, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) said. Pentagon spokeswoman Maj. Sheryll Klinke said the injuries were the result of an incident in which two pilots of a C-130 aircraft […]

Who’s who: Vote tally on UN resolution slamming U.S. on Jerusalem

Who’s who: Vote tally on UN resolution slamming U.S. on Jerusalem

Special to WorldTribune , December 21, 2017 Yes: 128 No: 9 Abstain: 35 Y  AFGHANISTAN Y  DOMINICA Y  LITHUANIA SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE Y  ALBANIA A  DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Y  LUXEMBOURG Y  SAUDI ARABIA Y  ALGERIA Y  ECUADOR Y  MADAGASCAR Y  SENEGAL Y  ANDORRA Y  EGYPT A  MALAWI Y  SERBIA Y  ANGOLA EL SALVADOR Y  MALAYSIA […]

Satellite images reveal massive underground bunker at China’s naval facility in Djibouti

Satellite images reveal massive underground bunker at China’s naval facility in Djibouti

by WorldTribune Staff, July 28, 2017 Satellite images show that China may be gearing up to use its new military base in Djibouti as far more than just the naval logistics hub Beijing claims it to be, analysts say. Other than a noticeable lack of docks at the facility, one feature that stood out in […]

Why communist China’s first foreign military base? Location, Location, Location

Why communist China’s first foreign military base? Location, Location, Location

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Nearly six hundred years ago, huge Chinese fleets plied the Indian Ocean sailing as far as Arabia and the East African coast. The epic seaborne expeditions carried out between 1405 and 1432 under Adm. Cheng Ho and during the glorious Ming Dynasty were larger and […]

China deploys troops to first overseas base at strategic site in Djibouti

China deploys troops to first overseas base at strategic site in Djibouti

by WorldTribune Staff, July 13, 2017 China continued the rapid extension of its global military reach this week as ship transporting troops set sail for Djibouti to be stationed at the nation’s first overseas military base. Djibouti’s strategic position on the northwestern edge of the Indian Ocean and the southern entrance to the Red Sea […]

Djibouti: Tiny strategic hub plays host to armies from seven nations

Djibouti: Tiny strategic hub plays host to armies from seven nations

Special to WorldTribune.com By Backgrounder, Geostrategy-Direct.com Djibouti, a former French colony, is a country of searing heat (summer temperatures average over 100 degrees) and little rain (17 days a year on average). The population of the East African state is 900,000, which ranks 159th in the world. But the tiny state on the Horn of […]