President Trump is set to host five African leaders at the White House on Wednesday to discuss commercial investment, as part of the administration's initiative to reshape its trade approach towards the continent while reducing humanitarian aid.
The leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal will join Mr. Trump for lunch in the State Dining Room. A White House official, speaking anonymously to preview the event, indicated that Mr. Trump sees potential for economic collaboration with each country represented. The administration aims to establish deals that would enhance U.S. access to critical minerals and counter China's growing influence in Africa.
Despite a positive outlook from Mr. Trump regarding these partnerships, the meeting occurs amid concerns over the administration's cuts to the United States Agency for International Development, which have significantly impacted African nations. For instance, U.S. aid constituted 2.6 percent of Liberia's gross national income, the highest percentage for any country globally, according to the Center for Global Development.
Additionally, Mr. Trump is reportedly considering extending his travel ban to four of the five nations whose leaders will be in attendance, with only Guinea-Bissau currently not under consideration for such restrictions, as noted in a State Department cable from last month.
This summit follows a recent meeting where Mr. Trump hosted diplomats from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign a peace agreement aimed at resolving ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, which included an economic component to facilitate U.S. access to critical minerals from the region.
Ambassador Troy D. Fitrell, a senior State Department official, stated that the administration's strategy is to prioritize commercial diplomacy in its international engagement and reported that over 70 commercial deals in infrastructure, clean energy, and technology have been secured in Africa during Mr. Trump's second term.
Fitrell emphasized the need for U.S. companies to effectively compete in Africa against China and Russia, who are often seen as offering aggressive financing and state-backed advantages.
Currently, the U.S. trails China in terms of influence in Africa. Gabon, for example, has secured over $4.3 billion in investment deals with China, while Beijing constructed the only highway in Guinea-Bissau, according to the Brookings Institution.
Landry Signé, a senior fellow with the Brookings Institution, remarked that China has surpassed the U.S. in both economic and political influence in several African nations, including those invited to the summit. He noted that by linking diplomacy with commercial partnerships, the Trump administration appears to be attempting to boost U.S. trade and investment while reasserting its strategic presence in an increasingly competitive region.
However, foreign policy experts have raised questions regarding the rationale behind the meeting and the selection of invitees, as the chosen countries are not major economic powers like Nigeria and Ivory Coast, nor do they represent significant trading partners or recipients of U.S. aid.
Liberia's Foreign Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, expressed uncertainty about the meeting's focus but expressed hope for a "concrete plan" to leverage opportunities in Liberia's mining, infrastructure, telecommunications, and agriculture sectors. Recently, Liberia signed a $1.8 billion railway deal with Ivanhoe Atlantic, a U.S.-registered company, highlighting potential for collaboration.
Nyanti emphasized the significance of the upcoming meeting, stating it represents a "huge opportunity for Liberia," as she readies to accompany President Joseph Boakai to Washington.
Reporting contributed from Dakar, Senegal.