U.S. Africa Command’s General Michael Langley presented the command’s annual posture statement to the House Armed Services Committee on March 21, accompanied by Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander and U.S. Central Command’s General Michael Kurilla.
In his address, General Langley highlighted pressing concerns such as the impact of global events like the Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine and the Houthis’ attacks in the Red Sea on millions of Africans.
He emphasized the interconnected challenges of terrorism, poverty, food insecurity, climate change, and mass migration, which contribute to violent extremism and Russian exploitation across the continent.
General Langley outlined AFRICOM’s three-part strategy involving diplomacy, development, and defense to achieve a synchronized whole-of-government approach.
He emphasized the importance of strategic access, countering threats, crisis response, and supporting allies and partners in the region.
The discussion during the hearing also focused on strategic competition from China and Russia.
General Langley stressed the need for a comprehensive approach, citing the intrinsic value of U.S. engagement in Africa, particularly in health diplomacy and aid programs such as PEPFAR.
In his written statement submitted to Congress, General Langley emphasized the importance of building partnerships with sovereign African nations to address underlying issues and promote security and prosperity. He highlighted AFRICOM’s approach of prioritizing security cooperation, capacity building, and intelligence sharing over kinetic military force.
Ultimately, General Langley emphasized the goal of a continent of free, safe, prosperous, and resilient nations as crucial to America’s national security interests.
