US To Designate Kenya As Major Non-NATO Ally During Ruto- Biden Talks: 10 Benefits
The major non-NATO ally (MNNA) status is given by the United States to countries that have strategic relationships with the U.S. Armed Forces but are not NATO members.
Prudence Murithi 
United States (US) President Joe Biden is set to designate Kenya as a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally.
This is according to a US government official who revealed that President Biden will extend the invite to Kenya after bilateral talks with President William Ruto at the White House.
NATO is an intergovernmental security alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe which was formed in 1949. It is the largest military alliance in the world, with other powerful members of NATO including; the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Canada.
The major non-NATO ally (MNNA) status is given by the United States to countries that have strategic relationships with the U.S. Armed Forces but are not NATO members.
President William Ruto (left) and US President Joe Biden during a technology roundtable meeting at the White House on May 22, 2024. /PCS
This designation does not imply a mutual defence pact like NATO membership but offers several military and financial benefits otherwise unavailable to non-NATO countries.
Countries designated as MNNAs can:
- Engage in cooperative research and development projects with the Department of Defense (DoD) on a shared-cost basis.
- Participate in certain counterterrorism initiatives.
- Purchase depleted uranium anti-tank rounds.
- Receive priority delivery of military surplus, from rations to naval ships.
- Hold War Reserve Stocks of DoD-owned equipment outside U.S. military bases.
- Borrow equipment and materials for cooperative research and development projects.
- Use American financing for purchasing or leasing certain defence equipment.
- Engage in reciprocal training programs.
- Benefit from expedited export processing of space technology.
- Have their corporations bid on specific DoD contracts for military equipment repair and maintenance outside the U.S.
Kenya would become the first sub-Saharan African country to receive this designation, signifying Washington's intent to deepen its relationship with the East African nation, which has historically maintained close ties with Russia and China.
During his welcome of Ruto to the White House, Biden mentioned his plan to visit Africa in February, following the U.S. presidential election. The two leaders will hold another meeting in the Oval Office on Thursday, followed by a joint news conference and a state dinner.
Senior administration officials stated that Biden and Ruto would discuss various topics, including trade, debt relief, and strategies for addressing issues in Haiti, Ukraine, Sudan, and other regions.
On Wednesday, Biden and Ruto announced a new era of technology cooperation between the two countries, focusing on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. However, the security designation was not mentioned.
The U.S. also plans to announce $250 million (Ksh33 billion) in new investments through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), expanding the DFC's portfolio in Kenya to over $1 billion (Ksh132 billion)
A U.S. official highlighted the shared commitment of both nations to developing and deploying technology that promotes transparency, accountability, and human rights.
Kenya, like the U.S., has become "an engine for innovation," with its $1 billion “Silicon Savannah” technology hub housing over 200 startups across various sectors, including clean energy, microelectronics, financial technology, and e-commerce.
Participants in the business discussions included Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Baylis Emerging Markets (a private equity firm specializing in African markets), BasiGo (a Kenyan electric bus company), Teneo (a global CEO consulting and advisory firm), and Gearbox Software (an American video game development company).
Washington also plans a new semiconductor partnership with Kenya and is working with Congress to make it the first African country to benefit from funding through the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
President William Ruto received by US President Joe Biden at the White House on May 23, 2024. /PCS
Biden's designation of Kenya as a major non-NATO ally coincides with Kenya's preparations to send forces to Haiti as part of a U.N.-led mission to address the security crisis in the Caribbean.
Gyude Moore, head of the Africa Initiative at the Center for Global Development, noted that Kenya has proven to be a reliable partner for the U.S., especially as South Africa pursues a more independent foreign policy. Cameron Hudson, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said this move would formalize Kenya's increasing alignment with the U.S., including greater cooperation with Somalia.
The White House had no immediate comment. In March, Biden designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, fulfilling an earlier promise to the Gulf nation.
There are 19 countries that have been accorded non-NATO ally status and only three in Africa including Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia
