US Africa Command Told to Prepare to Move Out of Germany

Officials say planning will take 'several months'

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has been ordered to make plans to potentially move its headquarters out of Stuttgart, Germany, as part of a US pullout of forces from Germany.

AFRICOM chief Gen. Stephen Townsend says that it will take “several  months” to plan and consider alternative locattions before anything happens, saying AFRICOM activities will continue throughout this process.

This was bound to happen, as there has long been a suggestion that Africa Command might make more sense being based in Africa. Djibouti has been considered a possible host, since they are close to active operations in Somalia.

Historically AFRICOM pushed for existing infrastructure in Europe instead, basing in Germany and at times Italy. Moving out of Germany might just mean another European host country, or it might be the chance to finally be inside Africa itself.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.