The National Interest published on 25 November 2018 an article titled "China Militarizes Its Influence in Africa" by Richard D. Fisher Jr., International Assessment and Strategy Center, an Alexandria, Virginia-based think tank.
The article speculates on the future of the China Africa Defense and Security Forum (CADSF), which met for the first time last summer in China with high-level military delegations from 49 African countries and the African Union. The author said the goals of CADSF are to increase China-Africa military cooperation, promote China's arms sales to Africa, and gain additional Chinese military access and bases in Africa.