Future Directions International published on 9 February 2021 an analysis titled "Djibouti at a Crossroads: China's African Engagement and an Adversarial Beijing-Washington Relationship" by Karl Ragas.
The author argues that Djibouti is critical to China's long-term strategic interests. Beijing will continue seeking to improve its relations with Djibouti given the country's economic and security value to China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Despite frictions between China and the United States concerning their respective military bases in Djibouti, the country presents a potential opportunity for Sino-American cooperation because instability and insecurity in the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean region are equally threatening to both.
