Link to article: https://nation.africa/kenya/news/middle-east-crisis-iran-envoy-says-kenya-not-a-target-despite-hosting-us-base-5377482
Following the increasingly hostile conflict between Iran and the United States (and Israel), Iran’s ambassador the Kenya, Dr. Ali Gholampour, has reassured the Kenyan government that Kenya is absolutely not a target despite the fact that is hosts a US military base.
Many countries in the Middle East with US military bases have been hit by Iranian retaliatory strikes, following the US and Israel’s initial attack on Tehran and other major Iranian cities. The UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and others have experienced the direct impacts of the US and Israel’s actions.
During a media briefing in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, the Iranian ambassador said that Tehran’s missile launching capabilities are intentionally limited to a range of no more than 2000km, which places Kenya and most of eastern Africa outside the reach of its current abilities. Gholampour stressed that Iran’s actions in the conflict are purely ones made from a defensive position, and Kenya is not seen as part of the conflict, much less a threat to Iran.
The ambassador emphasized the value Iran places on its longstanding, friendly relationship with Kenya, stating that Iran values those ties and has no intention of bringing any harm to Kenya or its citizens. He also expressed his belief that he does not think Kenya would allow its territory to be a launchpad for a missile attack on Iran.
The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has placed a spotlight on the Middle East and how any issues, big or small, that originate in the region, can have far-reaching effects. Countries hosting US bases face heightened anxiety about being pulled into a conflict that does not entirely concern their national interests. Even though Kenya is not near the region, their relationship with the US and Iran places them in a middle-ground area, highlighting how interconnected global relationships surrounding security are in today’s age.
Kenya’s sovereignty in this situation has been reinforced and supported by Iran’s clear statement that its government has no plans to involve Kenya in the dispute. This allows Kenya to control its own territory even while hosting a US military base.