NAIROBI -- Targeting East Africa as an area of vital strategic interest, Israel is heightening its regional presence, most notably through a security pact signed last week with Kenyan political and security leaders. The move comes at a critical time for Kenya. The country’s military campaign aimed at eradicating al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab in Somalia has now entered its sixth week, and domestic security concerns continue to escalate.
Speculation over the nature of the enhanced bilateral ties emerged after Kenyan political leaders provocatively declared the alliance. Officials from both nations have since been tight-lipped, and details remain murky. But Israeli officials in recent days have sought to downplay concerns that Israel will militarily engage in the Somali operation.
“We will help with homeland security, and whatever Kenya is doing internationally is its business,” Israeli Ambassador to Kenya Gil Haskel told a recent security seminar in Israel.