Defense Policy Board to be briefed on Africa

The Defense Policy Board will hold a closed meeting tomorrow on national security issues related to Africa, according to a Federal Register notice published this morning.

Specifically, "the DPB will have classified discussions on national security issues regarding National Defense Strategy alignment and priorities for the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR)," the notice reads. "Topics and speakers include (1) an intel community baseline from the DIA and CIA of actions in this space; (2) policy perspectives from Dr. James Anderson, Ms. Amanda Dory, Ms. Simone Ledeen, Ms. Michelle Lenihan, and Mr. Chad Sbragia of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy; (3) perspectives from leadership at USAFRICOM; (4) perspectives from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Joint Staff on security cooperation and exercise activities happening on the continent; and (5) State Department and USAID presentations on their operations and presence in Africa."

Sbragia is the deputy assistant defense secretary for China.

Last year, AFRICOM commemorated its 10th year as a geographic combatant command, according to Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the head of AFRICOM, who testified in February before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his command's fiscal year 2020 budget request.

Read his full testimony.