US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday embark on a tour of Africa, where he will visit Djibouti, Kenya, and Angola.

This visit underscores US commitment to strengthening partnerships and counter-terrorism efforts.

A senior official at the US Department of Defense (the Pentagon) indicated that the visit aims to build bilateral defense partnerships, combat violent extremism, and build the capabilities of partners so that they can deal with security challenges.

She pointed out that the tour seeks to strengthen the role of the United States as an ideal partner on the continent, to confront the influence of some parties.

Regarding the coup attempts in some African countries, the official indicated that these attempts represent a challenge to the United States and impose legal restrictions that make military cooperation difficult.

She also affirmed Washington’s support for the role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the steps it took to put pressure on the coup leaders in Niger to return to the constitutional order.

Source: Qatar News Agency