President William Ruto
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President William Ruto on Friday engaged in a telephone conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump, marking an important development in Kenya-US relations.
During their discussion, the two leaders explored various areas of mutual interest, focusing on trade, security, and other critical matters as Trump prepares for his second term in the White House. Following the conversation, President Ruto took to social media platform X to share details of their exchange. He extended his congratulations to Trump on becoming the 47th President of the United States and emphasized their productive discussion on bilateral cooperation, including trade, investment, security initiatives, and governance matters.
A central topic of their dialogue is the ongoing Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti. The mission, which commenced in June, represents an important international peacekeeping effort to address escalating gang violence and instability in the Caribbean nation. Kenya has already established a presence of 400 police officers in Haiti, with plans to deploy an additional 600 personnel to strengthen the operation. The initiative has garnered support from several Caribbean nations including Jamaica, Bahamas, Guyana, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda, and has received backing from the United Nations Security Council.
The conversation highlights the enduring partnership between Kenya and the United States, which has flourished for more than six decades. President Ruto emphasizes the foundation of this relationship, which rests on shared democratic values, development goals, and mutual respect. He expresses optimism about enhancing this collaboration under Trump's leadership, particularly in addressing global challenges, promoting peace and security, and fostering inclusive economic growth beneficial to both nations.
This diplomatic exchange builds upon previous collaborative efforts, including the US-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue held in April 2023. The dialogue reinforced the partnership's focus on economic prosperity, defence cooperation, and public health initiatives. Kenya's role as a crucial US security partner in East Africa, particularly in combating al-Shabaab, has been instrumental in maintaining regional stability. The United States has consistently supported Kenya's military capabilities and regional security efforts.