Biden visits Africa to counteract China's influence in the region
Biden visits Africa to counteract China's influence in the region
President Joe Biden will break up on Sunday evening to Angola and thus redeem a two-year promise to visit Africa. This trip aims to emphasize the US investments on the continent while the influences of China increase in the region.
historical visit to Angola
bidens three-day visit to the oil-rich Angola takes place at the end of his presidency, since in January he will be given power to the elected president Donald Trump . The trip offers bidges the opportunity to consolidate relationships with an important US partner in Africa, even if the continent is preparing for the return of Trump, who in his first term Ducking comments about African countries.
first visit to an incumbent president
When he arrived in the capital Luanda on Monday, it will be the first time that a reigning president has been visiting Subsahara Africa since 2015. At that time, President Barack Obama traveled to Kenya and Ethiopia. This will also be the first visit of a US president in Angola, with Biden trying to strengthen relationships with this country in recent years.
Focus of the trip
bidens trip will highlight the investments in the Lobito corridor, a 800-mile long railway project supported by the USA and Europe and aims to facilitate the transport of important minerals from internal Africa into Angola's western port.
This initiative is at the center of the efforts of the bid administration to increase investments in Africa and China's growing influence in the region , which has exceeded the US emphasis. In the past decade, Beijing has invested billions in infrastructure projects on the continent as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. In September, Chinese President XI Jinping promised $ 50 billion in financial support for the continent and military help.
Russia and the geopolitical challenges
At the same time, Russia tried to expand its influence in Africa. The head of the US Africa Command warned the Congress in March in March Work to enlarge its influence among African countries and many of them are “on the edge”, under its influence.
of the alternative choice for African countries
While China and Russia gain a foothold, a high-ranking government official argued before the trip that bidges "brought us back into play" by offering an alternative to China with US supported investments. "This is the choice that is now available to the countries in the region," said the official.
"President Biden wants to transform our relationships in the region and offer another - better - investment, but with higher standards," said the official.
a long -term change of strategy
The bid administration has tried to change its strategy in Africa from a development aid and charity strategy to investments in certain countries. Civil servants believe that this policy will also exist in future administrations.
partnerships and commitment in Africa
The USA consider Angola as a key partner and work together in the region in economic, technological and scientific initiatives. Angola has played an important role as a mediator in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In order to emphasize his commitment to Africa, Biden received the Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço for a meeting in the Oval Office.
"In short, a partnership between Angola and America is more important and more effective," said Biden.
The course of the trip
On Sunday evening Biden travels to Africa and makes a stopover in Sal, Cape Verde, where he meets the country's Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva. On Monday he arrives in Luanda, Angola and will meet with the staff of the US message and their families.
On Tuesday, biden will hold a bilateral meeting with Lourenço and give a speech in the national slave museum, which is located near the location, from which slaves were once shipped to the USA. The president will highlight "both our common history as well as the growth and constant strength of our relationships in Angola and throughout the continent.
important announcements and initiatives
The presidential trip leads to Lobito on Wednesday, where he visits the Lobito Hafen terminal and visited the Carrinho food processing factory. He also plans a meeting with regional leaders during a summit to the Lobito corridor before returning to the USA on Wednesday evening.
The official stated that the President will make new announcements on a global health partnership in the field of infectious diseases, agricultural economy, security cooperation and the preservation of the cultural heritage of Angola, including US support for the nomination of the Kwanza corridor as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
future prospects
The officials declined to say whether this would be Biden's last trip abroad as president. His trip to Africa takes place after Important summit In Brazil and Peru, where Trump already influences under the world leaders was.
In an interview with The New York Times
This story has been updated with further developments.