The Secret Chessboard of the Superpowers: From Bretton Woods to the 21st Century, the Case of Djibouti
The Secret Chessboard of the Superpowers: From Bretton Woods to the 21st Century, the Case of Djibouti

Author(s): Moustapha Aman
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Economy, Supranational / Global Economy, Socio-Economic Research, Geopolitics
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: Exchange Rate Regimes; International Relations and Security; Geopolitics; International Debt and Financing
Summary/Abstract: Although small in size, Djibouti occupies a crucial geostrategic position in the Horn of Africa, at the intersection of global shipping routes and international currency rivalries. Since 1949, the country has been at the centre of an international compromise in which the pegging of the Djibouti franc to the dollar has enabled France to maintain its influence in East Africa while consolidating the American presence, notably with the installation of the Camp Lemonnier military base in 2002. However, the growing influence of China, marked by massive investment and a strategy of debt diplomacy, is redefining the geopolitical balance. The United States and China, pursuing distinct strategic objectives, are vying for control of Djibouti's key infrastructure, while avoiding destabilisation of the region. This analysis highlights the way in which these superpowers coexist and interact in strategic areas such as Djibouti, illustrating the complexity of global competition.

• Details
• Contents