Sub-Saharan Africa: A Focused Strategy for U.S. Policy

Abstract

The African continent is roughly three times the size of the United States with almost 700 million people its 48 independent states with 500 ethnic groups speaking 2,000 languages and dialects present a challenge to the United States that appears almost insurmountable. Huge problems in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, can lead to huge threats to the national security of the United States. However, those problems can also mean huge opportunities. It is in the United States' interest to take advantage of those opportunities. Access to resources such as gold, diamonds and uranium make Sub-Saharan Africa important to the United States. Roughly 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are important for American markets. The opportunity to have access to bases to project Amen can power from African soil is also important as was illustrated during the Gulf War Human suffering that results from natural disasters or genocidal civil war becomes important to Amen cans as events unfold. In short, the United States has significant interests in Sub-Sahara Africa and will for the foreseeable future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA441965

Entities

People

  • Jeff Remington
  • Ron Henderson

Organizations

  • National War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Africa
  • Commerce
  • Continents
  • Democracy
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Governments
  • National Security
  • Natural Disasters
  • Natural Resources
  • Saharan Africa
  • Security
  • South Africa
  • United States
  • War
  • War Colleges
  • West Africa

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Systems Analysis and Design