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During his final trip abroad in office, President Biden will visit Angola to focus on historical education and economic opportunities. He plans to visit a museum dedicated to slavery and showcase a railway route that is important to his administration’s regional strategy.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports on the White House and is scheduled to accompany President Biden on Air Force One for a trip to Angola.
President Biden is set to embark on a trip to Africa, starting with a visit to Angola on Sunday night. The purpose of the visit is to recognize the complex history between the two countries and to show a commitment to future economic partnerships.
Joe Biden’s visit to Africa marks the first time a U.S. president has visited the continent since Barack Obama’s trip to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.
Mr. Biden is visiting Africa for what is likely his final overseas trip as President. He promised in 2022 to show support for Africa’s future. Despite some setbacks, he is now on a three-day diplomatic visit to Angola. During his visit, he will tour a slavery museum and showcase a rail corridor that is a key part of his administration’s economic plans for the region.
A project called the Lobito Corridor, which costs $1 billion, aims to connect Angola with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries are abundant in critical minerals needed for making batteries for smartphones and electric vehicles. President Biden is showcasing this project to strengthen American efforts to access these important resources in Africa and to compete with China’s increasing influence on the continent.
Foreign policy experts believe that the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in the competition for economic and security influence in Africa, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen relationships with the continent.
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. He criticized administrations for coming up with ambitious African strategies that lack substance, comparing it to the phrase "Where is the beef?" from an old advertisement.
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