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During his final overseas trip as president, Biden will visit Angola to focus on the nation’s history and economic prospects. He plans to visit a slavery museum and highlight a rail corridor that aligns with his administration’s goals for the region.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports on the White House and will be accompanying President Biden on Air Force One for a trip to Angola.
President Biden is scheduled to start his anticipated trip to Africa on Sunday evening, with his first stop being Angola. The visit is intended to recognize the difficult history between the United States and Angola, while also showing a commitment to future economic development through investment.
President Biden’s visit to Africa is the initial one made by a US president since Barack Obama’s trip to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.
Mr. Biden is currently on what is expected to be his final trip abroad during his presidency. He promised in 2022 to visit Africa to show the United States’ commitment to the continent’s future. Despite some setbacks, 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 plans for the region.
A project called the Lobito Corridor, costing $1 billion, aims to connect Angola with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These nations are abundant in essential minerals needed for smartphone and electric vehicle batteries. President Biden is promoting this project to enhance American access to these valuable resources in Africa and to counter China’s increasing presence and influence on the continent.
Foreign policy experts suggest that despite efforts from the Biden administration to build friendly relationships, the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in terms of economic and security influence in Africa.
Tibor P. Nagy Jr., who served as an ambassador in Africa under President Bill Clinton and later 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 that lack substance, comparing it to the phrase "Where is the beef?" from an old advertisement.
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