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Legacy or Lethargy? Biden’s Africa Visit Under Scrutiny
President Biden is set to step onto African soil for the first time in his presidency, in a visit to Angola seen by many as an attempt to leave a lasting legacy. However, analysts warn that China’s decade-long investment in Africa may thwart the Biden administration’s efforts to build a strong relationship with the continent.
“It’s likely to be a story of over-promised and under-delivered,” Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Affairs, said. “Biden set high expectations that he would revamp relations with the continent, when instead his approach and results have not substantially differed from any of his predecessors.”
The Biden administration’s legacy in Africa is seen as mixed, with some successes but also concerns over a lack of progress. The administration has pledged to invest $55 billion in Africa over three years, but many of the announced projects are yet to be completed.
Dr. Frances Brown, special assistant to the president and senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council, pushed back against criticism, stating that the administration has invested more than 80% of its commitment in Africa.
Despite these efforts, analysts argue that the U.S. is struggling to compete with China’s significant investment in Africa. China is already the leading producer of EVs, and its companies own 80% of the largest cobalt producer in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The viability of the Lobito Rail Corridor development is partially dependent on external factors,” Cobus van Staden, managing editor of the China-Global South Project, said. “It will compete with the TAZARA rail line between Zambia and Tanzania, which will be upgraded by Chinese companies over the next few years.”
Hudson emphasized that the U.S. needs to invest in infrastructure projects like the Lobito Rail Corridor to stay competitive. “We simply cannot afford to cede that territory to China, nor is it too late to try to claw back our influence in this sector.”
The article concludes that the U.S. needs to recognize the vast potential of the African continent, with its 1.4 billion people and 30 million square kilometers of landmass. By investing in infrastructure projects and partnering with African countries on equal terms, the U.S. can establish a strong presence in the region and counterbalance China’s influence.