May 13, 2004

U.S. Finds Way to Sao Tome

One of the more interesting and important - and, therefore, less covered by the American media - developments in American foreign policy is the United States' increasingly close relationship with the tiny island nation of Sao Tome & Principe, off the west coast of Africa, south of Nigeria and west of Gabon. Sao Tome is small, pro-American, and is predominantly Christian, unlike Nigeria, which is 50 percent Muslim is increasingly wracked by extremist Muslim violence against Christians.

Oh, and Sao Tome sits atop a whole lot of undeveloped oil.

There are new and interesting developments that you probably missed because the American news media usually doesn't bring you the most important news. Voice of America reports (with links added by me):

The United States is moving quickly to cement its security relations with Sao Tome, where an oil production boom is expected to make the tiny West African island nation strategically important. Defense officials have disclosed that a U.S. military liaison officer was sent to Sao Tome earlier this year on a one-year assignment on behalf of the European Command, which is responsible for most of Africa.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, tell VOA the officer's role is to coordinate and develop security cooperation programs with Sao Tome. The officials indicate those efforts will include not only military education and training for Sao Tomean forces, but also military equipment sales and transfers.

News reports from Sao Tome indicate the sales and transfers under consideration will focus on bolstering the island nation's Coast Guard. The goal is to give Sao Tome the naval means to patrol its exclusive offshore economic zone, as well as the joint development zone it shares in the Gulf of Guinea with Nigeria. Both zones are believed to be rich in oil, and production efforts are already getting under way.

The dispatch of a military liaison officer is noteworthy, as there is no U.S. Embassy in Sao Tome. Diplomatic and other contacts are handled by American officials based in Gabon.

Sao Tome Update - July 25, 2003
Sao Tome Update - July 18, 2003
Sao Tome Update - July 17, 2003
Sao Tome Coup Update - July 17, 2003
A Coup in Africa, and the War on Terror - July 16,2003
This Story Is More Important Than You Might Think- January 02, 2003