The East African Defense Army has already built a formidable regional force, adequate for East Africa's local defense needs. As for overseas territories, that's a different issue; East Africa has a considerable amount of overseas territories, including the latest Beibu Gulf territory, which Ernst values highly, and the stationed troops there are not insignificant, followed by Alaska.
However, apart from the stationed troops in the Beibu Gulf territory, they can largely be ignored. If other countries truly want to make things difficult for East Africa's overseas territories, most wouldn't hold out until East Africa's support arrives.
Like in Alaska, it's quite a distance from East Africa. If neighboring countries are intent on targeting Alaska, East Africa can only choose to abandon it.
