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The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will visit Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Angola from January 21 to 26, aiming to promote an agenda focused on climate, economy, and health security, as officially announced. This marks Blinken’s return to the African continent, where the United States seeks to counter the advancements of Russia and China.
“During the trip, the Secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security,” stated the U.S. State Department.
“The Secretary will also emphasize our future-focused economic partnership and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost bilateral trade, create jobs both domestically and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global market,” the statement added.
Security partnerships, human rights, democracy promotion, and the expansion of the rule of law will also be priorities for the U.S. diplomacy leader in this return to Africa, following a series of trips to the Middle East focused on the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas.
Blinken will reaffirm Washington’s commitment to West African coastal partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, and the United States’ partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to tackle regional challenges.
Supporting African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo will be among Blinken’s priorities.
“The United States reaffirms its sustained commitment to high-level engagement in Africa,” according to the statement.
This will be Blinken’s fourth trip to Africa since taking office.
The visit follows the trip of China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, to the Ivory Coast on Wednesday, the last stop of an African journey that took him to Egypt, Tunisia, and Togo.
In November, U.S. President Joe Biden met with Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, at the White House and promised to visit the African country.
The U.S. President, seeking to compete with China and Beijing’s massive investments in Africa, has been looking to continue the momentum from the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in December 2022, particularly regarding how the United States and African nations can continue to work together to address regional and global challenges
