Former President Donald Trump hosted a working lunch in Washington, DC, with the presidents of Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, and Gabon. The whole meeting was underscored by spectacular commercial opportunities. It was central to Trump’s strategy to move from conventional aid models to a commerce-focused engagement with African countries. This new diplomatic push coincides with China’s consolidation of its status as Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner.
This summit represents a significant departure from the deeply neglectful U.S. foreign policy toward Africa. It is a dramatic break from how past administrations have operated. Where Obama and Biden pushed partnership and development, Trump wants to foster a transactional relationship based solely on economic self-interest. This pivot aims to counter China’s growing influence on the continent, as well as Russia‘s expanding footprint.
Perhaps the clearest sign of Trump’s intent came when asked about the meeting, and replied that he was having a great time. He remarked, “I didn’t know I’d be treated this nicely. This is great. We could do this all day long.”
Focus on Commercial Opportunities
Over lunch, Trump and the African leaders discussed commercial opportunities. Their eyes glazed over as they dreamt of all those wonderful mineral resources in their countries, oil, gas, gold, iron ore, rare earth elements. While these countries might not individually be considered large economies, together they represent tremendous opportunities for U.S. business interests.
Christopher Afoke Isike, a professor at South Africa’s University of Pretoria, described Trump’s invitees as “low-hanging fruit.” Now, these nations carry more cards than they ever have before. Yet, despite their growing size, they are politically weak and thus lack the bargaining power to win concessions versus the greater African economies.
Trump even highlights the need to move away from humanitarian, traditional aid. He promotes the need for quick, focused, state-led, commerce-boosting interaction to boost economic connections. As a reminder, he believes that prioritizing self-reliance of African nations will create the conditions for mutually beneficial partnerships.
“Enabling Africa to be self-reliant is not because he (Trump) loves Africa, but because he doesn’t have patience with countries that only want handouts from the US.” – Christopher Afoke Isike
The Shadow of Travel Restrictions
Trump’s overtures do indeed occur in the context of continued travel restrictions on most of the African continent, as noted above. The former president has implemented a travel ban on 12 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, citing security risks. Given this policy, it’s hard to see how sincere U.S. engagement could be when pursuing diplomatic relations is met with this kind of restriction.
Additionally, speculation about an expansion of these travel restrictions could sour relations with West African countries even more. Mamadou Thior, a journalist and political analyst based out of Dakar, underscored the stakes for African leaders. They need to “out-smart Donald Trump” when the time comes to hash out a final deal with the White House.
Countering Chinese Influence
Trump wants to forge a more commercial partnership with Africa. As highlighted by the Strategy, this increasing competition with China is directly mentioned in the strategy. Yet China’s influence is exploding and very quickly grabbing hold all over the continent. Indeed, with its recent announcement to remove import duties for all but a few African countries, the United States is hurrying to shore up its economic relationships.
Isike noted that Trump’s actions reflect a dual purpose. “On one hand, Trump is desperate for some deal to show to his base that he is getting results for America. Some of these align with his focus on countering Chinese influence in Africa and malign Russian activity which undermines US interests on the continent.”
The political analysts agree that while the U.S. aims to enhance its economic presence in Africa, it must contend with established partnerships such as those China has fostered with various African leaders. For instance, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of Guinea-Bissau, mentioned his country’s commitment to being a “trustworthy friend and partner of China,” showcasing the competing narratives that characterize international relations in Africa.
“For Africa,” China represents the future and is a brother.” – Umaro Sissoco Embaló
The Future of U.S.-Africa Relations
As Trump’s administration pivots U.S. foreign policy away from humanitarian interests and toward solely transactional motives, the stakes for future U.S. aid and investment seem high. Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, has highlighted that any future U.S. aid will be “in furtherance of an America First foreign policy.” This position represents a clear break from earlier models which focused on humanitarian assistance.
Mamadou Thior remarked on the challenges faced by African nations seeking cooperation. “The USAID, which was a key partner for countries like Senegal, no longer exists. It’s up to them to talk to Trump and see what new cooperation they can put forward.”
Brice Oligui Nguema, President of Gabon, emphasized the importance of establishing win-win partnerships with the U.S., stating, “We are not poor countries. We are rich countries when it comes to raw materials. We need partners to support us and help us develop those resources.”
