U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Cabo Verde Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, at the Government Palace in Praia, Cabo Verde, Jan. 22, 2024.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began a tour of four African countries on Monday, January 22, 2024, meeting with the leaders of Cape Verde and Ivory Coast and touting America as the continent’s key economic and security ally at times of regional and international crises.
Africa has become a top and global priority for the United States. What does U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit truly reveal? the value of this visit to Africa by the head of American diplomacy?
America is repositioning itself in the new geopolitical order on the rise in Africa.
Africa is becoming the center of gravity of the world.
Anthony Blinken’s official visit, more than anything else, is eminently geopolitical. The increasing number of visits by the US Secretary of State confirms the emergence of a geopolitical order in Africa. In the 21st century, the United States faces several geopolitical perils that threaten its existence in Africa. The relevance of such an existential threat to the world’s leading power calls for in-depth reflection on the multiplication of players on the ground. The United States’ diplomatic efforts have a single objective: to prevent Africa from falling under the control and domination of China and Russia, two countries that are becoming very active on African soil. For the United States, there is an urgent need to consolidate relations with African countries from a geopolitical point of view, to counter the growing influence of Russia and China in the region.
Restore Trust in US-Africa Relations
Since Russia’s war against Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has been losing ground in its relations with several African countries. The refusal of many African countries to condemn Russia’s attack has given a new dynamic to relations between Africa and the rest of the world, particularly the great powers such as the United States of America. Indeed, it is a crisis of confidence in the world’s leading military and economic power. The visit of the American Secretary of State is aimed at restoring this trust, which is fundamental to the repositioning of the United States in Africa.
Revitalize US Soft Power in Africa
America has realized that the use of force and intimidation toward its African counterparts causes havoc. Look at the United States, for example. Donald Trump’s America First policy did less to promote their cultural, economic, and political values and ideals in Africa. In practice, Anthony Blinken’s visit entails the United States of America projecting soft power to foster and strengthen weakened diplomatic ties and Western influence. Diplomatically, America’s overarching goal is to gain more support for its vision of a world order based on liberal influence, rules, and principles.
Counter China – Russia Economic and Security Axis in Africa.
Anthony Blinken’s last visit is highly geopolitics.
China and Russia’s influence continues to gain ground across the African continent, placing the continent at the crux of the growing geopolitical contest between China, the Kremlin, and the White House. Russia has been driving strong security partnerships with several African nations that seek territory security, terrorism eradication, and freedom of decision on the global stage.
Militarily, Russia mostly focuses on weapons trade, but it is also seeking to expand its operational footprint, including by signing agreements for new military bases.
China, on the other hand, has expanded its footprint in areas such as capital investment, infrastructure construction, retail trade cooperation, and education.
In the Sahel, countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, formerly under several partnerships with France and Certain European countries, proudly proclaim their wish to become independent nations, leaving freedom of navigation for Russia and China.
In Cape Verde’s capital, Praia, Blinken met with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva and said the U.S. is committed “to deepening, strengthening, broadening” its partnerships with Africa whose young population of 1.3 billion is set to double by 2050 and make up a quarter of the world’s inhabitants.
“We would like to strengthen our partnership with the U.S. in maritime security and cyber security from a regional, global perspective,” said Silva.
Anthony Blinken’s visit signals a new era of security cooperation in US-Africa relations.
Advance trade cooperation
African Trade is in the spotlight on the Blinken agenda. China is still Africa’s largest trading partner so far. The United States says it is ready to help make the African Continental Free Trade Area a success. The United States is very active in the creation of an African Common Market, which is a kind of free trade in Africa.
“As President Biden has said, we are all in when it comes to Africa,” Blinken told the Cape Verdean leader. “We see Africa as an essential, critical, central part of our future. This trip … really does focus on President Biden’s commitment and conviction that the United States and Africa are joined in partnership for the future,” he added.
America, for instance, is ready to go to great lengths to build to reshape the world order, enforcing partnerships that work for them and their allies.
The United States has tried to boost its image abroad through radio and television news media for decades.
Moving Forward
The multiplication of State visits by the United States Department of State will continue across Africa as great powers fight for influence. Africa has truly become the center of gravity of the world. And amid rising global demand for strategic natural resources for industries, Africa’s vast reserves of natural resources and critical minerals interest great powers’ diplomatic and political endeavors on the continent. Each country accelerates its efforts to tilt Africa in its favor. It is up to Africa to position itself to win in partnership with these global powers.
Author The Author
Jean Narcisse Djaha, Ph.D., is the Founding President and Chairman of the African Council on Foreign Relations. He is guided by Romans 8:30” And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified”.
