China’s little-known €515 million overseas military base aims to become the world’s largest military center

China’s first overseas military base — located in Djibouti, East Africa — has become a global flashpoint. Built in the Horn of Africa beginning in 2016 and reportedly fully operational since 2022, the facility represents a major step in Beijing’s military ambitions, according to the Australian Naval Institute.

Strategic purpose

So far, the base has primarily supported Chinese warships operating in the Indian Ocean. But its construction aligns with President Xi Jinping’s long-term goal of modernizing China’s armed forces by 2050. Analysts warn the Djibouti outpost could mark the beginning of a vast global command network.

Concerns over Taiwan

The revelation of the base has put multiple nations on alert. Reports suggest China’s purchases of advanced weapons and technology from Russia may be tied to preparations for a potential invasion of Taiwan.

US officials have interpreted Xi’s military buildup as a signal of possible large-scale conflict by 2027, urging Washington to prepare accordingly.

Pentagon response

After years of supplying arms to conflicts abroad — particularly in Europe and the Middle East — the Pentagon is now calling for US weapons production to double or even quadruple. Defense leaders stress the need to replenish America’s arsenal in anticipation of future confrontations with China.

Why Djibouti?

China invested more than $560 million (converted from €515 million) to build the base at Bab el-Mandeb, a strategic chokepoint between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Its location allows Beijing to safeguard the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most critical trade routes linking Asia and Europe.

Naval analyst H.I. Sutton describes the base as “fortified to withstand a direct attack,” comparing its layered defenses to a modern colonial fortress.

China has maintained diplomatic ties with Djibouti since 1979, and the site was first proposed in a 2013 report by the People’s Liberation Army’s National Defense University. After Xi, who also chairs China’s Central Military Commission, approved the plan, Beijing secured the area in 2015, according to Washington-based Global Security.

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