In a historic move, United States President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that Kenya would be designated as a major non-NATO ally (MNNA), making it the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to hold this status. This announcement came during Kenyan President William Ruto's three-day visit to the US, marking a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two nations.

President Biden emphasized that this decision was a result of years of collaboration between the US and Kenya. He highlighted their joint efforts in counterterrorism operations, citing the successful degradation of ISIS and al-Shabab across East Africa. Additionally, their mutual support for Ukraine garnered global solidarity behind the UN Charter, and their collaboration on Haiti is crucial in efforts to reduce instability and insecurity in the region.

But what exactly does the MNNA status mean? Being an MNNA signifies that a country, while not a member of NATO, shares a deep strategic and security partnership with the United States. This designation signifies a high level of trust, although it does not entail the same commitments as full-fledged treaty allies, such as mutual defense in the event of an attack. The MNNA status offers economic and military benefits, including defense trade and security cooperation.

Importantly, the designation allows Kenya to procure military technologies that may otherwise be difficult to obtain from Washington. However, it does not automatically guarantee new defense agreements or weapon sales between Kenya and the United States. The MNNA status is a recognition of the existing partnership and opens doors for further collaboration in various areas.

Currently, the US has designated 18 countries as MNNAs, including Argentina, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, and others. However, it is worth noting that in 2022, President Biden revoked Afghanistan's MNNA status, ten years after its initial announcement.

It is noteworthy that the US State Department treats Taiwan as an MNNA, without formal designation, owing to the one China policy. Although the US does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, it provides economic and military support to the territory under the framework of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

In 2016, India was designated as a Major Defense Partner, granting it license-free access to military and dual-use equipment under the regulation of the US Department of Commerce.

President Ruto's visit to Washington includes several key developments and discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Kenya and the US. While this MNNA designation is significant, it sets the stage for further cooperation and opens avenues for enhanced defense trade and security collaboration between the two nations.

As Kenya becomes the first sub-Saharan African country to hold the MNNA status, it marks a milestone in the region's relationship with the United States, demonstrating the strategic importance of their alliance in tackling shared challenges and fostering economic and security cooperation.