American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is gearing up for a pivotal diplomatic tour across Africa next week, encompassing visits to Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Angola, and Cape Verde. This marks Blinken’s fourth journey to the continent, highlighting the United States’ intensified partnership with Africa in areas such as climate, food, and health security.
While President Joe Biden expresses interest in an African visit this year, specific details remain undisclosed. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasizes the tour’s focus on a future-oriented economic partnership, spotlighting U.S. investments in African infrastructure to stimulate trade, job creation, and global competitiveness.
Blinken is slated to address security concerns in the Sahel and coastal western Africa, particularly during his visit to Ivory Coast. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee downplays the notion of countering China’s influence as a central theme, emphasizing Africa’s importance irrespective of China’s involvement.
However, concerns persist in Washington about the U.S. losing ground to China in African influence. China’s significant investments, notably through the Belt and Road Initiative, position it as a major player on the continent. Recent data shows that China has surpassed the U.S. in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa since 2013, with key destinations including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Guinea, South Africa, and Kenya.
The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University underscores this shift, revealing that the U.S. has focused on South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Republic of Congo. Blinken’s upcoming trip is anticipated to scrutinize America’s standing in Africa and assess the efficacy of U.S. efforts in countering Chinese influence.
