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U.S. Defense Secretary Wraps Up Tour of North Africa With a Parting Shot Towards China

by Eric Olander

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper wrapped up a low-profile five-day, four-country tour of the Mediterranean and North Africa over the weekend and just before he left, he fired off one final diss against China and Russia, accusing them of engaging in “destabilizing actions on the continent.“

In fact, countering growing Chinese and Russian military influence in the MENA region was a key theme of Secretary Esper’s visit. He warned his hosts at each stop of the dangers of becoming too close to these countries. 

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