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During a visit to Africa, President Biden will emphasize the importance of history and economic development. In Angola, which is expected to be his final international trip while in office, he will visit a museum dedicated to slavery and highlight a railway project that aligns with his administration’s goals for the region.
Authored by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports on White House news and will be accompanying President Biden on Air Force One during his trip to Angola.
On Sunday night, President Biden will embark on a trip to Africa, starting with a visit to Angola. The purpose of the visit is to recognize the difficult history shared between the two nations and to pledge a commitment to future economic partnerships.
This is the initial visit to Africa by a US president since Barack Obama went to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.
Mr. Biden is currently on his final overseas trip as President, following his promise in 2022 to visit Africa to show the United States’ commitment to the continent’s future. Despite some delays, he is now in Angola for a three-day diplomatic visit, which includes a tour of a slavery museum and a focus on a rail corridor that showcases his administration’s economic approach in the region.
A project called the Lobito Corridor, which is estimated to cost $1 billion, aims to connect Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries are abundant in essential minerals needed for manufacturing batteries for smartphones and electric vehicles. President Biden is emphasizing this project to strengthen efforts to increase American access to these crucial resources in Africa and to counter China’s expanding influence on the continent.
Even though the Biden administration has made efforts to improve relations, the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in the competition for economic and security influence in Africa, as stated by experts in foreign policy.
Tibor P. Nagy Jr., who has served as an ambassador in Africa appointed by 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. He criticized administrations for creating ambitious African strategies that lack substance, comparing it to the phrase "Where is the beef?" from an old advertisement.
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