- U.S. touts “Commercial Diplomacy” in pivot away from aid
- Mineral deals and infrastructure top new agenda
Abuja, Nigeria – U.S. officials have begun promoting President Donald Trump’s trade-focused approach to Africa, emphasising partnerships without political conditions.
“The U.S. is deepening economic ties with Africa through its new Commercial Diplomacy Strategy,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by a promotional video detailing a six-point action plan.
Under the strategy, the State Department will work closely with African governments on market reforms highlighted by the private sector, prioritise infrastructure projects, and increase visits by U.S. officials to the continent to boost commerce.
Minerals and infrastructure drive
The administration also promises African countries improved access to America’s $120 trillion capital market and connections with nearly 300,000 “export-ready U.S. companies,” the State Department’s promotional material said. Structural reforms will also be advanced to help American firms compete on the continent.
A key example of this new diplomacy is the Trump-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, ending three decades of conflict. The accord gives U.S. companies entry into DR Congo’s vast mineral resources—including cobalt, coltan and copper—in return for environmentally friendly extraction methods, favourable tax reforms, and anti-corruption commitments.
Additionally, the administration is strongly backing the Lobito Corridor railway, connecting mineral-rich areas in DR Congo and Zambia to Angola’s port of Lobito. This railway positions Western interests in a region heavily influenced by China.
Transactional approach without “strings”
The Trump administration is moving away from aid-based relationships in Africa, focusing instead on mutually profitable deals, Jason Miller, a Trump ally and former adviser, told delegates at the Afreximbank annual meeting in Abuja on June 27.
Africa’s critical minerals and its youthful population of 1.4 billion people are resources “Africa has and everybody wants,” Miller said. He urged African leaders to choose partners wisely and remember longstanding allies like the U.S.
“For decades too many outside countries have come to this great land and taken and taken, leaving behind nothing but broken promises. This must never be allowed to happen again,” Miller said.
Trump wants Africa to demand more from those seeking its resources, Miller added, promising partnerships that generate revenue without imposing excessive debt burdens. Aid would still be available “to those who need it,” but without political strings attached. “Will not invest in projects that will load Africa with debt but ones that will bring revenue,” he said.
