But in reality, Rubio’s call fits perfectly with how United States foreign policy works.

To understand that phone call, you must understand how America thinks, what America prioritizes, and which international partners they coordinate with before taking any position on Cameroon.

Let’s break it down clearly.

1. America Does Not Call Because They Support Someone. They Call to Protect Stability.

When elections are contested and a region is tense, the US does not pick moral winners. They reach out to whoever controls the state machinery at that moment.

Why?

Because:

• he controls the military

• he controls the security apparatus

• he controls the territory

• he holds the constitutional instruments of power

The United States cannot ignore the sitting president during a crisis.
A call does not mean endorsement.
A call means the US is managing risk.

2. Before Making a Call, the US Checks With Their Key Partners

America never acts alone in Africa. Before making a strategic call like this, they quietly assess the positions of:

1. France

Because France has deep military, economic, and intelligence influence in Cameroon.
Rubio’s team would have looked at:

• France’s early reaction

• Paris’s commitment to stability

• any French pressure points

2. The United Kingdom

Because Cameroon was a British Trust Territory and London still influences international posture.
The US always checks UK briefings.

3. The African Union

Not because the AU is strong, but because legitimacy matters.
The US wants to avoid contradicting AU positions unless necessary.

4. Nigeria

Nigeria borders Cameroon, and any instability affects:

• Boko Haram

• trade corridors

• refugee flows
  The US cannot make a move without considering Abuja.

5. The United Nations

Especially UN Regional Offices for Central Africa (UNOCA).
They need situational intelligence before opening diplomatic channels.

6. The US Embassy in Yaoundé

They feed Washington real-time intelligence:

• who controls the streets

• who controls the army

• who can guarantee dialogue

• who can prevent escalation

Before Rubio’s call, every one of these partners had already communicated the same message:

Cameroon is tense but still under state control.
Talk to whoever controls the palace.

3. What the United States Actually Prioritizes in Cameroon

Here are the real priorities that drive US action, in this exact order:

1. Counterterrorism

The US has military presence and programs targeting Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.
They need a functioning Cameroonian state to continue those operations.

2. Regional Stability

Instability in Cameroon can spill into:

• Nigeria

• Chad

• CAR

• Gabon

• Equatorial Guinea

The US will protect stability even more than democracy.

3. Preventing Russian or Chinese Expansion

China is building deep ties in Central Africa.
Russia is expanding through Wagner.
The US cannot afford Cameroon to slide into Moscow’s or Beijing’s orbit.

4. Protecting American Citizens and Assets

US diplomats, missionaries, NGOs, and business interests must be safe.

5. Humanitarian and Human Rights Considerations

They care, but these come after security and strategic concerns.

6. Democracy and Good Governance

Democracy matters, but the US places it after stability.
They will speak about democracy but act for stability.

This is why the US can criticize the election publicly but still call Biya privately.

4. What the Marco Rubio Call Was REALLY About

Rubio’s call had almost nothing to do with:

• who won

• who claimed victory

• who cheated

• who the people preferred

The call was about one thing:

“Is Cameroon still stable enough to protect US interests?”

The purpose of the call:

1. Confirm whether the military remains under control

The US wanted to know if there were fractures in the army.

2. Prevent the situation from escalating

If America stays silent, tensions can rise and lead to violence.

3. Ensure communication lines remain open

The US always maintains direct access to the sitting government.

4. Signal that America is watching closely

Not supporting, but watching.

5. Encourage calm and avoid a rushed crisis

A single spark can destabilize the entire region.

6. Protect ongoing counterterrorism cooperation

The US must continue its operations with Cameroon’s security forces regardless of politics.

5. The US Speaks Softly, but They Move Strategically

Here is what your people must understand:

America will empathize publicly, but they follow strategy privately.

They will say:
“We understand the concerns of the people.”

But they will act according to:

• stability

• security

• regional balance

• the fight against terrorism

• strategic competition with China and Russia

This is why the call happened.
Not because Rubio supports Biya.
Not because the US believes the results.
But because the US cannot allow Cameroon to implode.

Final Message You Can Use Publicly

Marco Rubio’s call to the Unity Palace was not an endorsement. It was a strategic move. The United States checked with France, the UK, Nigeria, the AU, the UN, and its own embassy, then made a call designed to keep the region stable. America empathizes with citizens, but it acts according to its national interests. That is how US foreign policy works.