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During what is expected to be his final overseas trip as president, Biden will visit Angola with a focus on exploring the country’s history and economic potential. He plans to visit a slavery museum and highlight a rail corridor that is part of his administration’s regional development strategy.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports on the White House and will be accompanying President Biden on Air Force One to Angola.
President Biden is set to embark on a trip to Africa, starting with a visit to Angola on Sunday night. The visit is intended to recognize the historical challenges faced by both nations and to demonstrate a commitment to fostering economic growth and investment in the future.
President Biden’s visit to Africa marks the first time an American president has visited the continent since Barack Obama’s trip to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.
It is anticipated that Mr. Biden’s visit to Africa, which is likely to be his final overseas trip while in office, is taking place after he promised in 2022 to visit the continent to show the United States’ commitment to Africa’s future. Despite facing several delays, Mr. Biden is embarking on a three-day diplomatic journey to Angola, where he plans to visit a slavery museum and emphasize a rail corridor that his team sees as a key aspect of his administration’s economic approach in the region.
A project called the Lobito Corridor, with a budget of $1 billion, aims to connect Angola with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries possess valuable minerals essential for making batteries for smartphones and electric vehicles. President Biden is promoting this project to strengthen American access to these crucial resources in Africa and to counter China’s increasing influence on the continent.
Foreign policy experts believe that despite the Biden administration’s efforts to engage with Africa in a friendly manner, the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in terms of economic and security influence on the continent.
Tibor P. Nagy Jr., who served as an ambassador in Africa under President Bill Clinton and as assistant secretary of state for African affairs under the Trump administration, stated that since disengaging with post-colonial Africa, it has been a low priority for the United States. He criticized administrations for creating ambitious African strategies without any substance, comparing it to the phrase "where is the beef" from an old advertisement.
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