US Vice President Kamala Harris has made a nine-day trip to three countries in Africa since Sunday. With the trip she wants to improve relations between the continent and the United States. During the Trump administration, America ignored the African continent, and the Biden administration revived interest in Africa.
“I am optimistic about the future and future of Africa,” Harris said in his first speech after arriving in Ghana. The US wants to be a part of that future, so Harris will speak with the leaders of Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia this week.
Food security, climate change and economic investment are at the top of the agenda in the continent. Previously, US officials also cited Africa’s debt and trust in China as the reason for their visit.
The US government has been warning for some time about the growing influence of China and Russia on the African continent. China invests heavily in Africa in nearly all economic sectors and is the largest economic partner. Russia mainly invests in military assets.
“Africa will chart its own course, they’re not just looking west like they used to,” says Mirjam de Bruijn, Professor of African Studies at Leiden University. That’s why the US is sitting at a table with them right now, they want to maintain their influence in Africa,” he said.
pole of economic growth
African raw materials in particular attract the attention of three superpowers. The continent is rich in raw materials such as lithium and cobalt, which are the most important raw materials for battery production.
De Bruijn says that Africa is also shown as one of the world’s growth poles. “Africa has a very young population and therefore a large market.
African leaders do not engage in geopolitical discussion: “There may be an obsession in America with China’s influence on the continent, but we do not share that obsession,” Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo said during Harris’ visit.
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
