The Africa-U.S. relations appear to be back in global discourse once again after President Donald Trump met with 5 African leaders on Wednesday.
Trump hosted the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal for a high-stakes lunch and discussion, where he laid out a vision pivoting from aid to trade, touted America’s edge over China, and even floated peace deals for Sudan and Libya.
Below are some of the key things discussed during the meeting;
A New Era: From Aid to Trade
Trump during the meeting, Trump expressed his commitment to fostering U.S.-African relations. He declared that the U.S. is done with the “charity-based model” and will now enter a trade deal with Africa.
Trump said his administration was committed to strengthening friendships in Africa, which he hoped to visit at some point.
He said: “We’re shifting from aid to trade. There’s great economic potential in Africa, like few other places. In many ways, in the long run, this will be far more effective, sustainable, and beneficial than anything else that we can be doing together.”
This comes after the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officially shut down following months of systematic cuts under Trump. Several African countries benefited from the aid provided by the dismantled U.S agency.
Watch the video below;
A Strategic Power Play
During the meeting, Trump’s words signal a calculated move to counter China’s growing influence in Africa.
He positioned the U.S. as the superior partner, saying the five nations “represent a small fraction of U.S.-Africa trade, but they possess untapped natural resources” critical for American companies.
He assured the leaders their countries were unlikely to face U.S. tariffs. Trump also floated a “deal of the century,” reportedly offering trade preferences in exchange for accepting U.S.-deported migrants, though the leaders didn’t bite publicly.
Trump said: “We’re working tirelessly to forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations.
“There’s great economic potential in Africa, like few other places, in many ways.”
He gushed about the continent’s “vibrant places, very valuable lands, great minerals, great oil deposits”
Peace Promises and Nobel Prize Buzz
Also, during the meeting, Trump said his administration is making “progress on the safe third country agreements” with the five African nations.
He also claimed his administration was working hard to secure peace on the continent, in countries like Sudan and Libya.
“There’s a lot of anger on your continent. We’ve been able to solve a lot of it,” he claimed.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that this comes after Trump’s administration brokered a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Speaking, Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani showered Trump with praise, and suggested he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his global peace efforts.
He said: “In the short time you’ve been back in office, the last few months you came to the rescue for peace.
“You rushed to Africa to resolve a longstanding problem.”
His remarks were echoed by the other African state leaders, most of whom made direct comments in support of Trump being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Flattery and a Jab at Speaking Skills
Also, Trump’s lighter moments stole the show too. While Liberian President Joseph Boakai was speaking, Trump, visibly impressed, asked where he learned to speak so “beautifully.”
When Boakai said Liberia, Trump joked, “I have people at this table can’t speak nearly as well.”
Watch the video below;
Also, Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye complimented Trump’s golf skills, inviting him to build a golf course in Senegal. But Diomaye’s comments drew backlash as many across the continent suggested that the Senegalese leader wasted a great opportunity to bring Trump’s attention to important issues in his country as against demanding Trump’s golf course in Senegal.
“Thank you very much. Very nice. Thank you. I didn’t know I’d be treated this nicely. This is great,” Trump responded. “We could do this all day long.”
