This week, US President Trump hosted a notable "African Leaders Working Lunch" in the White House State Dining Room. Despite Africa having over 50 countries, only five leaders were invited: Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, and Gabon.

The relatively small multilateral meeting was framed by the White House as an opportunity to "explore business opportunities," but in reality, it reflected a significant shift in the Trump administration's policy toward Africa: from traditional aid logic to a strategy focused on resource development and trade negotiations. It also revealed America's urgent desire to counter Chinese and Russian influence globally.

Choosy "Easy Fruits"

Why these five countries rather than major economic and political powers in Africa? The White House explained that President Trump believed African nations provided "incredible business opportunities for the US and its partners." During the meeting, the leaders of the five countries all highlighted their potential in mineral resources, oil, and natural gas to Trump.

However, deeper motivations are closely tied to global competition. Christopher Afoko Isiche, an African politics and international relations scholar, told CNN that these five countries have limited influence on the continent and are not members or candidates for the BRICS group, "making them 'easy fruits' for Trump to counter China and Russia's influence in Africa."

In contrast, major African economies such as South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia were not invited. These countries are either BRICS members or actively seeking membership, serving as important partners for China and Russia in promoting "South-South cooperation" and security and infrastructure projects in Africa.

From Charity to Deals: Trump's African Strategy

The most striking aspect of this summit is not the summit itself, but the symbolic shift in American policy toward Africa: from Obama's emphasis on large-scale multilateral engagement, development assistance, and public diplomacy, to Trump's focus on "strategic trade and investment."

Last month, under Trump's mediation, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a peace agreement. The DRC has the world's richest cobalt and copper reserves, which are crucial for the new energy battery industry. Trump even publicly stated that the agreement allowed the US to gain "significant mining rights in the DRC." Although the official documents did not list specific mining rights, the US's intentions are clear: using political and security means to open up resource markets for American companies.

The Trump administration's policies have always been direct and pragmatic: prioritizing national interests and requiring partners to be self-reliant. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio previously issued a statement supporting the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), arguing that "the countries that benefit the most from our generosity rarely reciprocate." Instead, the policy focuses on investment, mineral development, and reciprocal trade with Africa.

Big Countries Marginalized and the "Smaller Table"

Compared to Obama's first U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in 2014, which invited about 50 African heads of state, this lunch with only five African leaders seems more exclusive.

Obama's summit brought 50 African countries

The Trump administration believes that BRICS members and pro-China African big countries are hard nuts to crack in the short term, so it would be better to prioritize smaller but resource-rich and strategically important countries to achieve visible results first.

The five countries include Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania, which face the Atlantic, are strategically important for controlling shipping routes, anti-piracy operations, and migration flows in West Africa. Liberia and Senegal are traditional U.S. allies, maintaining long-term cooperative relationships with the United States.

Ousmane Sene, director of the West African Research Center (WARC), analyzed that another consideration in choosing these countries is that they are primary departure points for potential immigrants heading to the United States. In 2023, the number of African immigrants arriving at the U.S. southern border surged to nearly 60,000, with Mauritania and Senegal among the top contributors. This trend puts pressure on U.S. immigration security policy and forces the U.S. to increase involvement in the source countries.

African Leaders' Calculations: Resources for Investment

For African leaders, this is not a one-sided passive cooperation. President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon openly stated during the meeting, "We are not poor countries; we are rich in raw materials. But we need the support of partners and through win-win partnerships to help us develop these resources."

President Nguema of Gabon

Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Senegalese Prime Minister Macky Sall also expressed hopes for direct American investment, infrastructure projects, and security cooperation. They do not hide that they are already cooperating with China and hope that the United States will act as a balancing force.

In fact, these five countries have already benefited from China's "African strategy": China has funded infrastructure projects in countries like Gabon and Senegal and offered more favorable trade conditions. Last month, China announced the suspension of import tariffs on almost all African partner countries.

Sino-U.S. Rivalry in Africa: A High-Risk Gamble

Can the Trump administration's bet on "fewer but more precise" strategic partner countries shake the deep-rooted relationships that China and Russia have built in Africa over the years? Isiche believes this is a high-risk gamble.

China launched the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2000 and has become Africa's largest trading partner. Russia has expanded its influence in Central African Republic, Mali, and Sudan through security cooperation and military aid, becoming a weapons supplier to many African countries.

Trump tries to use America's capital and market advantages to bypass the aid logic, offering direct trade, mineral investment, and security cooperation to win African resources and geopolitical footholds.

True Significance for Africa: Opportunities and Concerns Coexist

For countries like Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, etc., deepening cooperation with the United States means increased funding, technology, and international prestige. However, the transactional diplomacy of the U.S. also brings concerns: once losing strategic value or facing political changes, cooperation may suddenly break down.

The Trump administration has cut traditional aid to Africa, including over 80% of USAID projects, and pushed for "reciprocal" tariffs on some African countries, while tightening travel visas. For these resource-poor countries, overreliance on the U.S. could bring economic and diplomatic risks.

African Choices Beyond the Summit

This week's summit of five countries is just the beginning of the Trump administration's African policy. The White House plans to hold a larger African summit later this year, but compared to the "Africa is a partner" approach of Obama or Biden, the theme of the Trump version summit is clearer: America First.

At the G20 summit, Trump had an unpleasant conversation with South Africa

Isiche summarized that the U.S. strategy is not truly out of concern for Africa, but rather aims to support African countries that can become self-reliant and counter Chinese and Russian influence.

This summit also reminds African countries: in the context of great power competition, how to obtain much-needed funds and technology while maintaining strategic autonomy is a bigger test.

Africa remains a symbol of the world's resource treasure trove and future market, but how to balance the forces of the East and the West may be more decisive for its future than a single lunch meeting.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7525239862883009033/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the 【Up/Down】 buttons below.