The upcoming trip by President Joe Biden to Angola on December 1 is aimed at solidifying U.S. ties with the African nation amidst heightened competition with communist China. This visit seeks to counter Beijing’s increasing influence in Africa and establish a new U.S. strategy for the continent that will extend beyond Biden’s presidency. Originally scheduled for October 13, the trip was postponed due to Hurricane Milton.
Under Biden, the U.S. approach to Africa has shifted towards investment rather than traditional development aid, grants, and charity. This change in strategy underscores the significance of Biden’s visit to Angola. During his time in Angola, Biden is expected to focus on the Lobito Corridor project, a crucial initiative for U.S. economic and national security. This project, launched last year, involves a 1,000-mile railway connecting Angola’s Lobito port city to mineral-rich areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia’s Copperbelt. It serves as a key effort to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Africa.
The U.S. investments in Africa provide an alternative to Chinese investments, which are often associated with low standards, child labor, and corruption. The infrastructure investment is expected to significantly reduce the transportation time for critical minerals. Biden’s visit to Luanda will be the first by a sitting U.S. president in nearly a decade, highlighting the importance of U.S.-Africa relations.
The trip is also significant as it marks the first time a sitting U.S. president will visit Angola. The Biden administration expects many of its initiatives to continue under the incoming administration, reflecting strong bipartisan support for U.S.-Africa policy. During his visit, Biden will address Africa’s infrastructure gap, economic opportunities, and cooperation in technology and science.
The trip to Angola holds regional significance beyond the country’s borders, given Africa’s vast natural resources and growing population. With Africa emerging as a major economic force in the world, the region’s critical mineral reserves are key to global supply chains. The DRC, in particular, holds a significant portion of the world’s cobalt reserves, crucial for modern technologies.
China’s investments in Africa’s mining industries have raised concerns, with Chinese companies dominating the critical mineral market. Biden’s visit aims to strengthen U.S. ties with Angola and other African nations to ensure a more balanced approach to mineral extraction and economic development in the region.
China heavily relies on importing raw minerals and processing them into usable products, giving the Chinese government significant control over the entire supply chain.
Michael Walsh, a senior fellow in the Africa program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, emphasized that the competition between the United States and China for influence in Africa is crucial for shaping the future world order.
However, he pointed out that this rivalry is not limited to just the U.S. and China, as other countries like India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are also actively involved in Africa.
Furthermore, Russia has emerged as a competitor to Washington by deploying thousands of troops from its Africa Corps in various African nations, securing access to valuable natural resources in the process.
Experts believe that the Biden administration’s efforts to counter China’s influence in Africa are essential for gaining access to strategic minerals on the continent. While there is still much work to be done, recent initiatives are seen as a step in the right direction.
Candice Moore, a specialist in U.S.–Africa relations at Wits University, highlighted the significance of the railway to Lobito in reducing Chinese control over African resources and redirecting them to Western markets.
President Biden emphasized the importance of the Lobito Corridor project, stating that it goes beyond infrastructure development to create jobs, enhance trade, strengthen supply chains, and improve connectivity across multiple countries.
The project is funded by the U.S. government, the African Development Bank, and a consortium led by commodity trader Trafigura.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen significant investments in African infrastructure since 2013, including roads, railways, tech centers, and more, totaling hundreds of billions of dollars.
Despite criticisms of the BRI leading African countries into a debt trap, the majority of African nations have agreements with China under the initiative.
