Djibouti

Beijing has been expanding its base in Djibouti, the tiny state that sits opposite Yemen across the Bab al-Mandab Strait. With numerous other states also in play, this is a region to watch

The presence of large armies and costly bases no longer guarantees control. The rules are now written by whoever has the will and the accessible means to enforce them

Eight countries from four continents have a military presence in this tiny country in the Horn of Africa. Those with naval bases here include nuclear-armed rivals with troops just kilometres apart.

Its strategic location at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait has incentivised various countries to establish military bases in the small African nation

Despite a population of just over a millioninhabitants and an area of 23,000 square kilometres, Djibouti, situated on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the most vital waterways in the world, is…