(22 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington, DC – 22 May 2024
1. Sens. Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell (flanking William Ruto) and group GOP and Democratic senators with Kenyan President William Ruto
STORYLINE:
Kenyan President William Ruto met with a bipartisan group of senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Capitol Hill Wednesday as part of his three-day state visit to the United States.
President Joe Biden is planning on several events with the Kenyan leader as the East African nation prepares to deploy forces to Haiti The deployment is apart of U.N.-led effort to try to calm a spiraling security crisis in the Caribbean country.
Some 1,000 Kenyan police officers are set to arrive soon in Haiti, part of a multilateral security support mission that aims to help quell gang violence. Other countries expected to back up Kenyan forces include the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Bangladesh.
The United States for years has partnered with Kenya on counterterrorism efforts in Africa, including battling the extremist group al-Shabab. Kenya has participated in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and an international maritime task force launched by the Biden administration in December in response to Houthi attacks against vessels operating in the Red Sea.
Kenya is the first African nation since 2008 to be honored by the U.S. with a state visit.
In addition to a joint news conference with Biden, and a state dinner at the White House Thursday, Ruto is also set to participate Friday in an event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The U.S. and Kenya are marking their 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. White House officials said the leaders’ agenda will include trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health and security.
Ruto is looking to use the visit to bolster his standing on the world stage and he believes sending Kenyan police to Haiti will go a long way toward that broader goal, said Macharia Munene, a professor of international relations at the United States International University-Africa.
But Ruto’s plan to involve Kenyan police in a crisis thousands of miles away has also been met with some opposition in Nairobi, including legal challenges aimed at blocking the deployment of police forces and long-standing concerns over alleged abuses by police.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/70b664890435412e8ceff24b73ca141e
