External powers involvement in the Horn of Africa: implications for Ethiopia’s security

Abstract

ABSTRACT External power penetration in the Horn of Africa (HoA) is an enduring phenomenon that affects states in the region. The post-9/11 period saw a return of foreign military bases in the HOA region on an unprecedented scale. Ethiopia, as a landlocked state, depends on its coastal neighbors for sea outlets. Ethiopia’s security is inextricably linked to that of its neighbors; events in neighboring countries influence Ethiopia and vice versa. The aim of this article is to examine the implications of foreign military bases/presences in HoA for Ethiopia’s security. The study employed a qualitative method, relying on primary and secondary data from expert interviews, journal articles, documents, and other sources. This study contends that extra-African military bases and actors in the region complicate Ethiopia’s relationship with both its littoral neighbors and the basing states, with mixed geopolitical, economic, and security ramifications.