[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6084914,"mediaKeyId","2906955-c98442343fa98d4d0b1e8fc7578821d6","parentId",2906955,"title","AFRICOM commander warns of rising Chinese, Russian influence in Africa as U.S. development presence contracts","audioSeconds",4773,"startMs",1213000,"endMs",5986000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906955-c98442343fa98d4d0b1e8fc7578821d6&start=1213&end=5986","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906955-c98442343fa98d4d0b1e8fc7578821d6/thumbnail_1213000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6084914/AFRICOM-commander-warns-of-rising-Chinese-Russian-influence-in-Africa-as-US-development-presence-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084914-f4620f5b6639432159294e2e9992fb03/orig.mp4?Expires=1770777278&Signature=XGA2nKxTCxCXFeBRnP6YpJTt4Kbdq8OhHZNFUsFZHvMCqcGh8vW1fEqZwf3RVIaEa9fqRROn1OF-QPBYu2VncZ8HWyqEGH2fB9DkmhEZymOJwZhqh-VEi0b-ilTC7RY67TWs1ZoyNSAu5QDj0iVqNU7k7Dpj-7vvywgl8gqFY6hfZ6ROSISc1FkPy8lVM7DCwSFyGl9dCK2VM2KnYzuUB~pYkA4RdkPoth3Q5d~y3MQk2UZIxromT6KgNK6BeD3uX-2C7CFBS3NiQ-nps4yDDMmLg0t7Cw6-Z1PPA1EUON2e3UCHq2eHXH61fKDpjJRd5qoJkY5lY3LODgH6hiaB8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services","date","2025-04-03T00:00:00Z","article","General Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Africa is a strategic theater where China and Russia are increasing presence through basing, infrastructure investment and security assistance.

“Everything we do at United States Africa Command has one overarching goal in mind: achieving peace through strength,” Langley said in his opening remarks. He described three lines of Chinese effort — basing initiatives, geostrategic influence in international bodies, and geoeconomic access to critical minerals — and said those activities pose long-term challenges to U.S. interests in the region.

Langley warned that Russia has sought to expand its footprint through private military companies and security relationships, noting coverage of Wagner-affiliated structures and their logistics nodes in Libya. He also highlighted China’s base in Djibouti and potential Chinese pursuit of additional Atlantic coast access that “would change the whole calculus” of maritime posture, echoing committee concerns.

On development and soft power, both Langley and senators said the recent consolidation of USAID programming and a reduced in-country U.S. presence have created openings that Chinese and Russian actors are trying to exploit. “They’re trying to replicate what we do,” Langley said of Chinese efforts to fill gaps in health and development programs; he added the United States “owns the facts” about what works but must better shape the narrative.

Langley described AFRICOM’s operational needs as prioritizing force protection, integrated air and missile defense and more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to monitor terrorists, maritime threats and malign actor activity. He said additional armed ISR platforms would improve targeting and protection for partners in regions such as Somalia and the Sahel.

Ending note: The AFRICOM commander urged Congress and interagency partners to consider how to sustain U.S. influence and build partner institutional capacity in Africa as Beijing and Moscow deepen economic, military and information ties across the continent.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","To receive testimony on the posture of United States European Command and United States Africa Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense Program ","oneSentenceSummary","General Michael Langley told the Senate Armed Services Committee that China and Russia are expanding military, economic and information operations across Africa and that recent reductions in U.S. USAID presence risk ceding influence; he urged continued security cooperation and more ISR and integrated air defenses for partner protection.","taxTitle","Armed Services: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1987,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6084920,"EUCOM commander: Ukraine remains resilient; U.S. air-defense and intelligence support 'indispensable'",734,2450000,3184000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906955-c98442343fa98d4d0b1e8fc7578821d6&start=2450&end=3184","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906955-c98442343fa98d4d0b1e8fc7578821d6/thumbnail_2450000.jpg","/articles/6084920/EUCOM-commander-Ukraine-remains-resilient-US-air-defense-and-intelligence-support-indispensable","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084920-9b893e77c122312d5be01ccfc7306122/orig.mp4?Expires=1770777278&Signature=kWdp2J1y45U3XOu7wZZl6iop8w1EejujZuGVlmRtDGdGVBi1lG~q5TplRLWM6ZsyrKmD0myMZvgpJdRvyJvTOnOp4B19q5KnPpBP~K6n-jwWK4yjEBT32vJ40WLmnhxINzUw0K6wlUQACmeQFO0-F932NNq7v72FT8y2NT5mNMJwhIp1THrf46qlctqvlqw-Ai7CHoRgnyy0h92DMRCS72Y5gVeFmysweOsrizL46fHksKKmO~AEchgatMUPrUDVBiNMiCdogNIpGr-Bmv82bnmjR2CcA367oudK7~xIDFZKVl3nLd4he5sXsPP3JJ7CsgQcuBMciL6NaFz4e821Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","General Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Ukraine’s armed forces have evolved markedly since 2014 and that they continue to hold territory despite sustained Russian attacks.

“There's nothing inevitable in war,” Cavoli said when asked whether Ukraine was destined to lose. He described Ukrainian improvements in force generation, digging in defensive positions and converting to Western equipment, and added that those gains make a Ukrainian collapse unlikely.

Cavoli emphasized that Ukrainian operations rely heavily on U.S. supply lines for certain high-end systems. “The Ukrainians depend on us principally, uniquely, I should say, for their high end anti aircraft systems,” he said, adding that loss of U.S. intelligence support or materiel would have “a rapid and deleterious effect” on Ukraine’s ability to target operational-level objectives.

The witness outlined lessons from the war for U.S. forces, including large-scale attrition of armor and the rapid institutional adaptation on both sides. He cited extensive use of drones and electronic warfare, and said the U.S. Army’s modernization initiatives draw on those lessons.

Senators pressed Cavoli about specific capabilities. He said Patriot and F-16 systems have been effective in theater and described Ukrainian forces as leveraging both air defenses and long-range attacks; he said many F-16s operating in Ukraine were supplied or flown by U.S. partners and had been trained in allied countries and U.S. locations.

Cavoli also warned that Russia retains the ability to reconstitute forces during pauses in fighting, aided by foreign partners, and that Russia’s demonstrated ability to adapt made a sustained U.S. presence and allied buildup essential to deterrence.

Ending note: Cavoli told senators that continued allied unity and sustained materiel and intelligence support remain central to Ukraine’s ability to hold and contest Russian forces on the battlefield.

","General Christopher Cavoli told senators Ukraine has adapted and is holding ground, but remains dependent on U.S. high-end air-defense systems and intelligence; he warned withholding materiel or targeting intelligence would have rapid, deleterious effects on Ukrainian capabilities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6084925,"Senate hearing: EUCOM commander urges sustained U.S. posture in Europe, warns against relinquishing SACEUR role",7101,949000,8050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2906955-c98442343fa98d4d0b1e8fc7578821d6&start=949&end=8050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2906955-c98442343fa98d4d0b1e8fc7578821d6/thumbnail_949000.jpg","/articles/6084925/Senate-hearing-EUCOM-commander-urges-sustained-US-posture-in-Europe-warns-against-relinquishing-SACEUR-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6084925-4e98a8b8d5a6c2b220f2e2843dfab4e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770777278&Signature=UBZxdciUYGnN~mVSsbwI3VnTi48W4ugj0SbtgaQgOk6QHBTrNmdrfjbqTmlGSH-polk1h2iSEsINCOHeaffreSH2abZKO8SQ~67RQqwbtCMh16cXw8ZvF-ls1ZshFGaPzcnRup5~99W0YI0I-r-VyyoIDeITb8eltvsseK4hut1QxlBEoC72lwUQY7lLy1qultF6SsE~nTfecl~dK4yKSci3vbnTKTAIAqVgmGD61R9S8dehi8tl7Eg0H5ztQnfgaE4tsqBEcMxZY3Jd8UljFqO2hYQyTkNJgvT1Ak1rxWjkpsEsm3mHcy1kWyCaHbp-UpXgJFDW0aCZJ74Ku-N1-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","General Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that Russia remains a “chronic and growing threat” and urged the United States to keep a robust forward military posture in Europe.

“Russia is now mobilized for permanent war,” Cavoli said, arguing that a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would risk encouraging Russian adventurism before European allies finish rebuilding their forces. He said NATO deterrence has held and that EUCOM and allied efforts have enabled Ukraine’s defense while accelerating allied modernization.

Why it matters: Cavoli and senators on both sides of the aisle flagged the strategic link between U.S. forces in Europe and allied efforts to deter and, if necessary, respond to Russian aggression. Maintaining a U.S. presence, he said, provides access, basing and intelligence vital to collective defense while Europe ramps up spending.

Cavoli described concrete capabilities where the United States remains indispensable, including high-end air and missile defense, long-range fires, and intelligence collection. “We use [the 3.1–3.45 GHz] band principally in our air and missile defense systems,” he said when asked about spectrum needed for radar and tracking systems, noting loss of that bandwidth would require classified mitigation.

Several senators raised the administration’s reported consideration of structural changes to the combatant commands — specifically proposals to merge U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) into EUCOM and to remove the U.S. officer holding the SACEUR dual hat. Cavoli cautioned that changing the SACEUR arrangement could pose challenges for nuclear command-and-control and that any major reorganization would require detailed study. “Giving up this command, in fact, could really endanger our national security,” he said in response to questions.

Cavoli and senators also discussed the strategic importance of the Greenland–Iceland–U.K. (GIUK) gap and the Arctic. Cavoli said Greenland forms the western boundary of the GIUK gap, a maritime choke point through which Russian submarines transit to the Atlantic, and described the area as critical to tracking and holding potential targets at risk.

On burden-sharing, Cavoli said many European allies are increasing defense budgets — citing a roughly 40% rise in allied defense spending since February 2022 — but that converting budgets into industrial capacity and fielded capability will take time. “There’s more money available than stuff right now,” he said, urging attention to the defense industrial base.

The open hearing also included discussion of readiness, force placement, and alliance contributions. Cavoli emphasized that U.S. forces provide unique capabilities and mobility and that locations for U.S. basing should enable rapid deployment and sustainment.

Ending note: The senators framed the discussion around the tradeoffs of American global commitments and the pace at which European allies can convert spending into credible forces. Cavoli, who said this would be his last committee testimony before retirement, urged continued U.S. leadership in NATO while pressing allies to shoulder a larger share of defense responsibilities.

","General Christopher Cavoli told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia remains a chronic threat and that the United States should maintain a forward military presence in Europe while European allies increase spending; he warned that removing the U.S. dual-hat SACEUR role could complicate nuclear command-and-control and allied defense.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

AFRICOM commander warns of rising Chinese, Russian influence in Africa as U.S. development presence contracts

EUCOM commander: Ukraine remains resilient; U.S. air-defense and intelligence support 'indispensable'

Senate hearing: EUCOM commander urges sustained U.S. posture in Europe, warns against relinquishing SACEUR role