Graham, Scott Write Defense Secretary Esper in Support of Possible Relocation of AFRICOM Headquarters to Charleston

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) have written to the Secretary of Defense Mark Esper recommending that if a suitable location cannot be found on the African continent the AFRICOM headquarters should be moved to Charleston, South Carolina. 

 “We write to you regarding the Department of Defense’s plan to relocate the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which is currently stationed in Stuttgart, Germany,” wrote the senators.  “Geographically aligned combatant commands provide a focused capability to protect America’s interests around the world and it is our belief that AFRICOM should, if at all possible, be located within the African continent to illustrate the commitment of the United States to strengthening security forces and partnerships while countering transnational threats and promoting prosperity. 

 “However, we acknowledge the logistic and strategic challenges associated with this relocation and should a suitable location not be found on the African continent, we would recommend that AFRICOM headquarters be relocated to Joint Base Charleston (JBC) or the surrounding Charleston, South Carolina area.”

FULL TEXT OF LETTER:  

 Dear Secretary Esper:

 We write to you regarding the Department of Defense’s plan to relocate the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which is currently stationed in Stuttgart, Germany.  Geographically aligned combatant commands provide a focused capability to protect America’s interests around the world and it is our belief that AFRICOM should, if at all possible, be located within the African continent to illustrate the commitment of the United States to strengthening security forces and partnerships while countering transnational threats and promoting prosperity.  However, we acknowledge the logistic and strategic challenges associated with this relocation and should a suitable location not be found on the African continent, we would recommend that AFRICOM headquarters be relocated to Joint Base Charleston (JBC) or the surrounding Charleston, South Carolina area.  

 The importance of our nation’s ability to rapidly respond to the increasing influence of adversaries on the African continent cannot be overstated.  China and Russia, near-peer competitors to the United States, continue to expand their influence both militarily and economically on the continent and the ever-increasing number of violent extremist groups pose a direct threat to our partners and allies in the region.  To coordinate a unified and effective response to these unique challenges, AFRICOM will require access to an established infrastructure network.  JBC provides the existing infrastructure to meet these operational needs while providing cost savings opportunities.  One specific benefit is that JBC offers direct airlift and sealift to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, as well as road, and rail assets to provide a rapid response should immediate actions be required.  Additionally, the community of Charleston itself is another promising aspect of relocating AFRICOM to JBC.  The area would offer the personnel assigned to AFRICOM headquarters and their dependents a lower cost of living with a diverse range of options for housing, educational opportunities and spousal employment.

  In conclusion, while we believe that AFRICOM should be stationed on the African continent if at all possible, we also believe that the benefits to the mission and the national security of the United States by positioning AFRICOM at a secure and established instillation, such as JBC, are substantial.  We ask that you consider this during the relocation process.