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During one of his final trips abroad as president, Biden will visit Angola with a focus on both historical significance and economic opportunities. His itinerary includes a visit to a slavery museum and showcasing a rail corridor that aligns with the administration’s regional strategy.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports on the activities at the White House and will be accompanying President Biden on Air Force One for a trip to Angola.
On Sunday night, President Biden will start his long-awaited trip to Africa by visiting Angola. The purpose of the visit is to recognize the historical challenges and difficulties faced by both nations while also discussing plans for future economic development and investment.
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.
This trip to Africa is probably the final one for Mr. Biden as President, as he promised in 2022 to visit the continent to show support for Africa’s future. After some delays, Mr. Biden is now on a three-day diplomatic visit to Angola. During his visit, he plans to tour a slavery museum and highlight a rail corridor that his team sees as a key part of his administration’s economic plan for 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 are abundant in essential minerals used in the production of batteries for smartphones and electric vehicles. President Biden is emphasizing this project to strengthen American access to these vital resources in Africa and to counter China’s increasing influence in the region.
Even though the Biden administration is making efforts to build friendly relationships, the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in terms of economic and security influence in Africa, as stated by foreign policy experts.
Tibor P. Nagy Jr., a former ambassador to Africa appointed by both President Clinton and the Trump administration, mentioned that since disengaging with post-colonial Africa, it has not been a priority for the United States. 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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