As China rapidly expands its footprint along the Red Sea, one small African nation constitutes an important focal point in great power competition.

Despite only being about the size of the state of New Jersey, Djibouti hosts at least eight foreign military bases, including ones from the United States, Japan, and France. This can largely be explained by Djibouti’s strategic location along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime channel where an estimated 10 to 12 percent of global trade passes through every year.

China has also been expanding its military presence in the country in recent years. Beijing established its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017. Although the Chinese government insists this facility is for logistics, international observers have long called this

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