Satellite analysis says China upgraded Djibouti base, potentially widening regional monitoring

CSIS says commercial imagery shows two communications compounds appearing since mid-2024, with differently oriented antennas, satellite-communications equipment and supporting infrastructure. Researchers assess that the mix could cover a wider range of signals and improve links between the base and command authorities in China.

China opened the base in 2017 and officially describes it as a support facility for escort, humanitarian and naval operations around the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and Africa. It is near the Bab al-Mandab Strait; US, French, Italian and Japanese military bases are all within roughly 16 kilometres.

CSIS says the equipment could help observe the direction, origin, frequency and tempo of nearby military communications, offering operational clues even when content is encrypted. The researchers explicitly say satellite imagery cannot establish whether the base is actively intercepting communications.

Reuters reviewed the report and sought comment from the Chinese embassy in Washington, which had not responded by publication. N Globe therefore treats the visible facility changes as imagery-supported observations and labels their purpose and effect as CSIS analysis.