Botswana denies presence of US military base

LUSAKA, Zambia

Botswana on Tuesday denied hosting a US military base, saying discussions concerning national security must be grounded in verified facts rather than speculation.

"Botswana does not host a United States military base. Thebephatshwa air base is a sovereign military installation owned, operated and controlled entirely by the Botswana government through the Botswana defence force," government spokesperson Tuduetso Mokgosi said in a statement issued in the capital Gaborone on Tuesday.

Mokgosi said the facility serves Botswana's national interests by enhancing emergency response capabilities, supporting regional peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts, and maintaining the operational readiness of the nation's armed forces.

"While robust debate on matters of national interest is both healthy and welcome in a democracy, misinformation, particularly when amplified across borders, has the potential to create unnecessary misunderstanding among citizens and between neighbouring countries. Botswana values it's strong relationships with all its neighbors and remains committed to regional cooperation, dialogue and mutual respect," Mokgosi added.