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During his final overseas trip in office, President Biden will be visiting Angola with a focus on exploring the country’s history, particularly regarding slavery. Additionally, he will be highlighting a rail corridor that is part of his administration’s economic strategy in the region.
Written by Zolan Kanno-Youngs
Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports on news related to the White House and is scheduled to accompany President Biden on Air Force One for a trip to Angola.
On Sunday night, President Biden will start his much-anticipated trip to Africa by traveling to Angola. The visit is intended to recognize the difficult past between the two countries and to show a commitment to future economic investment.
The recent visit by President Biden to Africa is significant, as it marks the first time an American president has visited the continent since Barack Obama’s trip to Kenya and Ethiopia in 2015.
This trip is probably the final one Mr. Biden will take abroad during his presidency. He promised to visit Africa in 2022 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 will 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, which is estimated to cost $1 billion, aims to connect Angola with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries are abundant in critical minerals needed for smartphone and electric vehicle batteries. President Biden is emphasizing this project to strengthen efforts to increase American access to these important resources in Africa and to compete with China’s increasing influence in the region.
Even though the Biden administration has made efforts to strengthen relationships, experts in foreign policy believe that the United States is still falling behind China and Russia in terms of economic and security influence in Africa.
Tibor P. Nagy Jr., a former ambassador to Africa appointed by both President Bill Clinton and 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 a famous advertisement asking "Where is the beef?"
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