Analysts Say Biden’s Recent African Trip Provides Trump With Opportunity

JOHANNESBURG—During his first and only visit to Africa as President, Joe Biden visited Angola, an oil-rich former Portuguese colony in southern Africa.

During his visit, he engaged in ceremonial activities and delivered speeches, emphasizing the atrocities of slavery. He also dined on seafood sourced from the Atlantic Ocean and highlighted plans to develop solar infrastructure for electricity in Angola. Additionally, he discussed collaborations with President Joao Lourenco on peace and security matters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and increasing technological and scientific cooperation.

Biden referred to Angola as a strategic partner and regional leader, noting the significant transformation in the U.S.’s relationship with the country over the years, particularly its opposition to the MPLA during the Cold War era.

Experts like Jamil Jaffer from the National Security Initiative (NSI) in Washington highlighted the importance of the U.S. partnership with Angola, despite political repression accusations against Lourenco’s government.

Key discussions before Biden’s visit indicated that partnering with Angola offered the U.S. an opportunity to challenge China’s dominance in mineral acquisition, according to Jaffer.

“For too long, we’ve ignored Africa, a critical continent not only for American security but also for the global economy,” emphasized Eduard Jordaan, Associate Professor at Rhodes University in South Africa.

Reflecting on Biden’s approach to Angola, Martin van Staden, executive director of the Free Market Foundation, acknowledged the focus on money, minerals, and mining during the visit.

He highlighted the Lobito Corridor Project, a U.S.-backed initiative connecting mineral-rich nations like Angola, DRC, and Zambia to a harbor on the Atlantic for mineral exports, bypassing China.

The U.S. is heavily investing in rebuilding railways to transport critical minerals to the Angola port for shipment to the West, particularly to reduce dependence on Chinese refineries.

The project is seen as a strategic move to secure key minerals for various industries, including technology and clean energy, in the face of China’s dominant position in processing and supply.

Furthermore, the United States’ focus on mineral acquisition in Africa aligns with its future needs for copper and cobalt essential for electricity and technology industries.

Considering the geopolitical implications, the U.S.-Angola relationship signals a shift in alliances and influence dynamics in Africa, particularly challenging China’s hegemony in the region.

As China loses its grip on mineral resources in the region, the U.S. and its allies stand to gain strategic leverage, reshaping Africa’s role in global politics and economics in the coming years.