Djibouti

Countries

Independent since 1977, Djibouti is a small and semi-desertic country. Located in East Africa, it borders with Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somaliland. With a population of over 900,000 inhabitants, its official languages are Arabic and French.

Its strategic position on the Bab el Mandeb Strait, which separates the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden, allows it not only to operate as a key logistics hub for international trade, but also to play an important role for security in the region. The country hosts various foreign military bases, including an Italian one.

Total trade with Italy amounts to $18.9 million (2021). In 2020, Djibouti signed a military cooperation agreement with Italy. The treaty sets several objectives directly affecting Italy and security in the broader Mediterranean, such as the strengthening of mutual defensive capabilities, the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa and the development of the supply and logistics sectors of both countries. Other areas of cooperation include humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, the organisation of Djiboutian armed forces, military training and military health.

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