Michael Baker was a 2009-2010 International Affairs Fellow (IAF) in residence at the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Baker was based in Washington, DC, and studied African political and maritime security issues. He spent the first portion of his IAF fellowship at the Africa Partnership Station and Africa Union.
As a U.S. Navy foreign area officer, Mr. Baker most recently held the position of branch chief for West Africa engagements, where he was responsible for the development and coordination of all U.S. military capacity-building efforts in West Africa. Previously, he served as the Southeast Asia political-military action officer for the chief of naval operations. From September 2006 to January 2007, he was the U.S. liaison officer to the Turkish Special Forces in Silopi, Turkey, and held eleven posts throughout Northern Iraq, working to improve interagency cooperation and U.S.-Turkish military communication along the Turkey-Iraq border area. Mike is one of the founding members of the U.S. Africa Command, where he served as the desk officer for Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and Mali.
Mr. Baker holds a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MA from Istanbul Bilgi University, as an Olmsted Scholar.
Mthuli Ncube and Michael L. Baker argue that the African maritime commercial sector is often ignored by African leaders in their efforts toward economic develoment.
See more in Africa, Economic Development
Michael L. Baker argues that support and financial aid for improving the maritime economy and infrastructure of the African shores is in the best interests of the international community and the African Union.
See more in Africa, African Union, Border and Ports, Economic Development
Somali pirates have been resilient against efforts to stop them, but a new approach that includes legal measures, controlling financial flows, building regional capacity and more could be the combination that defeats piracy, writes CFR's Michael Lyon Baker.
See more in Somalia, Defense/Homeland Security
Michael Baker discusses the challenges inherent in the creation of the Security Assistance Force (SAF).
See more in International Peace and Security
Michael L. Baker discusses the seventh anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Istanbul.
See more in Turkey, Terrorism, Terrorist Attacks
Michael Lyon Baker discusses the recent U.S. focus on African maritime development.
See more in Africa, Border and Ports, International Peace and Security, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Pakistan's floods could presage a series of troubling natural disasters of direct concern to U.S. national security interests. Planning for them now is essential, writes CFR's Michael L. Baker.
See more in United States, Climate Change
A global naval coalition has failed to halt Somali-based piracy. More effective would be a broader approach to maritime policing that integrates African authorities, writes CFR's Michael L. Baker.
See more in Somalia, Border and Ports, International Crime
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