Special forces perform during the Northern Thunder military exercises in Riyadh on March 10, 2016.

As Riyadh becomes more involved in leading the regional security effort, its reach will extend to the Horn of Africa with a military base in Djibouti, reports Financial Times.

Strategically located on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Djibouti already has American and French military bases.

Djibouti is finalizing an agreement with Saudi Arabia to allow the Gulf state to build a military base in the Horn of Africa nation as Riyadh takes a more assertive approach to regional security.

China also is opening its base there this year, according to Mahmoud Ali Youssef, the foreign minister of Djibouti.

Youssef said that Riyadh inked a security agreement with the government last year and followed up with a judicial co-operation accord this month as it prepares to set up its base.

Djibouti faces Yemen across the Red Sea, where Saudi Arabia is the leading the Arab coalition against the Houthi militias.

The Arab coalition forces support Yemen’s exiled government which is in control of Aden and other parts of Southern Yemen.

Youssef said the military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia will be signed soon in Riyadh, without giving details.

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