Nigeria excluded as Trump hosts African leaders in Washington
U.S. President Donald Trump has excluded Nigeria while he welcomes leaders from five African countries in Washington next week for discussions focused on enhancing commercial relationships, a White House official confirmed on Wednesday.On July 9, presidents from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal will meet Trump at the White House for a roundtable conversation and lunch, part of a wider summit that will continue until July 11.
“President Trump feels that African nations present remarkable commercial prospects that will benefit both the American populace and our African allies,” the official stated, emphasizing the administration’s initiative to shift from aid to trade.
The summit, initially reported by Africa Intelligence and Semafor, highlights an increasing focus on economic partnerships instead of conventional foreign assistance.
Since beginning his term, the Trump administration has notably diminished U.S. foreign aid to African nations, consistent with its “America First” policy. Officials maintain that the former aid-dependent strategy was unsustainable and not well-aligned with U.S. interests.
“Our priority is on trade and investments that yield shared benefits,” the White House remarked.
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated this position, stating that Washington is “shifting away from a charity-based model” and will concentrate on supporting nations that show both “the capability and willingness to assist themselves.”
Aligned with this transformation, senior U.S. diplomat for African Affairs, Troy Fitrel, mentioned in May that American ambassadors in Africa will now be assessed based on the number of commercial agreements they facilitate.
As Washington redefines its interaction with Africa, the forthcoming summit is anticipated to emphasize trade, infrastructure, and investment prospects, marking a new era in U.S.-Africa relations under Trump’s administration.
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