* Africa is incredibly important to the US * We partner with governments in Africa to build security environment * US military presence in Botswana at the invitation of BDF and Govt.
The United States government has waded into the crisis of Gender Based Violence (GVB) currently besieging the country including the armed forces, Botswana Defence Force (BDF).
Last week through the bilateral cooperation that exist between Botswana and the US governments, the BDF and the US military held a symposium where they discussed gender, GBV and women’s role in security.
In a wide ranging interview, the US Ambassador to Botswana, Howard Van Vranken, revealed that last week’s symposium formed part of the way forward for US on bilateral cooperation with the BDF on training.
The newly-arrived envoy Van Vranken never had time to rest but instead folded his sleeves and hit the ground running, declaring war against the GBV monster.
He told Botswana Guardian that since arriving in Botswana six months ago, he has realiseed the GBV problem they experience in the United States is also rampant here in Botswana.
"I want to find a way to help address this," he said.
As for US bilateral engagements on training and cooperation with BDF, Vranken said it is important for US to focus on bilateral engagement.
"Yes, we did a legal collaboration with the BDF in 2022 and earlier this year we did a symposium on the security implication on climate change, where we had leaders from the US military, the BDF, as well as other African partners from all across the region," he said.
The discussions included how climate change is going to change issues of security.
"We do not have solutions, that is why it is important and good for us to sit and talk with our partners, with people who recognise these kinds of problems and want to work on now so that they can mitigate the impact as we go forward.
“Those are the kind of collaborations and discussions that we have with our most important partners including Botswana."
Asked to clear the mist regarding claims that the US owns the Thebephatswa military base, Van Vranken unequivocally stated that the US does not have an airbase in Botswana.
“Everything that the US does in Botswana, we do it in collaboration with and at the invitation of the government here. We do it in partnership, where it benefits the US, but also benefit Batswana," he said, adding that Botswana also sends people from its military and security community to the US for training as well.
Vranken said among a variety of other activities that they do in different areas they train the Department of Wildlife and National Parks on areas of poaching and trafficking. He said this is one of the areas that Botswana has requested for support in.
"It is also important to the US because the goal is to make the world more prosperous and a more secure place. When Botswana is stronger the US is stronger."
AFRICOM Commander, General Michael Langley recently visited Zambia and donated helicopters to the Zambian Defence Force.
Asked whether a similar gesture will be extended to Botswana, Vranken said in working with their partners, they are often responsive to their needs.
He said the United States will continue to work with Botswana to ensure that it has the capacity to meet its needs, even in missions that they have associated with, like the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMMIM).
Ambassador Vranken said the US government is a committed partner to the government of Batswana in the fight against HIV-AIDS.
"Our primary focus has been on the President Emergency Program for Aids Relieve (PEPFAR) and through PEPFAR, the US has invested more than US$1billion for the past 20 years in Botswana.
“We are committed to helping the government where they deem appropriate. This is not something that we do for Botswana only, we do this all over the world. On the African continent, we spend more than US$100 billion in the fight against HIV-AIDS."
He highlighted that Botswana has done well, thanks to the leadership shown by the government in commitment to Batswana. He said the country has achieved remarkable outstanding results, especially with the 95.95.95.
As Botswana grows more capable of handling the HIV/AIDS fight, US efforts are being redirected elsewhere in coordination with the government.
"I think Botswana can be rightly proud of the achievement that they made."
Ambassador Vranken said the US previously had programmes to assist Botswana, for instance, in male circumcision and distribution of condoms.
"I think we have more than US$56 million in PEPFAR this year, we are going to continue to fight as long as the government wants us to assist. I think the fact Botswana is close to epidemic control is testimony to the power of that collaboration."
Asked to unpack the nature of US interests in Africa on security issues, and why the US is investing so much in the security sector in Africa, Vranken explained that Africa is incredibly important to the United States and their goal overseas is to make the world a more prosperous and safer place that is characterised by the rule of law, appreciation for human rights where individuals are free to pursue their dreams and to build their lives.
"We recognise that the future of Africa is tremendously important to the future of the United States, that is why we have interest in the security environment here in Africa, it is based on shared values that we do things in collaboration with our partner countries and, I think partnership is really the key concept here.
“In Botswana, we have a number of various areas where we work side-by-side with Botswana partners and we always do so at their request, and invitation because they would have identified areas where we can work together to solve common problems”.
Last week through the bilateral cooperation that exist between Botswana and the US governments, the BDF and the US military held a symposium where they discussed gender, GBV and women’s role in security.
In a wide ranging interview, the US Ambassador to Botswana, Howard Van Vranken, revealed that last week’s symposium formed part of the way forward for US on bilateral cooperation with the BDF on training.
The newly-arrived envoy Van Vranken never had time to rest but instead folded his sleeves and hit the ground running, declaring war against the GBV monster.
He told Botswana Guardian that since arriving in Botswana six months ago, he has realiseed the GBV problem they experience in the United States is also rampant here in Botswana.
"I want to find a way to help address this," he said.
As for US bilateral engagements on training and cooperation with BDF, Vranken said it is important for US to focus on bilateral engagement.
"Yes, we did a legal collaboration with the BDF in 2022 and earlier this year we did a symposium on the security implication on climate change, where we had leaders from the US military, the BDF, as well as other African partners from all across the region," he said.
The discussions included how climate change is going to change issues of security.
"We do not have solutions, that is why it is important and good for us to sit and talk with our partners, with people who recognise these kinds of problems and want to work on now so that they can mitigate the impact as we go forward.
“Those are the kind of collaborations and discussions that we have with our most important partners including Botswana."
Asked to clear the mist regarding claims that the US owns the Thebephatswa military base, Van Vranken unequivocally stated that the US does not have an airbase in Botswana.
“Everything that the US does in Botswana, we do it in collaboration with and at the invitation of the government here. We do it in partnership, where it benefits the US, but also benefit Batswana," he said, adding that Botswana also sends people from its military and security community to the US for training as well.
Vranken said among a variety of other activities that they do in different areas they train the Department of Wildlife and National Parks on areas of poaching and trafficking. He said this is one of the areas that Botswana has requested for support in.
"It is also important to the US because the goal is to make the world more prosperous and a more secure place. When Botswana is stronger the US is stronger."
AFRICOM Commander, General Michael Langley recently visited Zambia and donated helicopters to the Zambian Defence Force.
Asked whether a similar gesture will be extended to Botswana, Vranken said in working with their partners, they are often responsive to their needs.
He said the United States will continue to work with Botswana to ensure that it has the capacity to meet its needs, even in missions that they have associated with, like the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMMIM).
Ambassador Vranken said the US government is a committed partner to the government of Batswana in the fight against HIV-AIDS.
"Our primary focus has been on the President Emergency Program for Aids Relieve (PEPFAR) and through PEPFAR, the US has invested more than US$1billion for the past 20 years in Botswana.
“We are committed to helping the government where they deem appropriate. This is not something that we do for Botswana only, we do this all over the world. On the African continent, we spend more than US$100 billion in the fight against HIV-AIDS."
He highlighted that Botswana has done well, thanks to the leadership shown by the government in commitment to Batswana. He said the country has achieved remarkable outstanding results, especially with the 95.95.95.
As Botswana grows more capable of handling the HIV/AIDS fight, US efforts are being redirected elsewhere in coordination with the government.
"I think Botswana can be rightly proud of the achievement that they made."
Ambassador Vranken said the US previously had programmes to assist Botswana, for instance, in male circumcision and distribution of condoms.
"I think we have more than US$56 million in PEPFAR this year, we are going to continue to fight as long as the government wants us to assist. I think the fact Botswana is close to epidemic control is testimony to the power of that collaboration."
Asked to unpack the nature of US interests in Africa on security issues, and why the US is investing so much in the security sector in Africa, Vranken explained that Africa is incredibly important to the United States and their goal overseas is to make the world a more prosperous and safer place that is characterised by the rule of law, appreciation for human rights where individuals are free to pursue their dreams and to build their lives.
"We recognise that the future of Africa is tremendously important to the future of the United States, that is why we have interest in the security environment here in Africa, it is based on shared values that we do things in collaboration with our partner countries and, I think partnership is really the key concept here.
“In Botswana, we have a number of various areas where we work side-by-side with Botswana partners and we always do so at their request, and invitation because they would have identified areas where we can work together to solve common problems”.
