Africa is becoming increasingly strategic in American foreign policy. Long relegated to the background by Washington, the continent is now at the center of a new diplomatic approach led by Donald Trump and his administration. This strategy, based on the defense of American interests, relies less on traditional aid and more on bilateral economic, security, and political agreements, often seen as imbalanced by observers.
Under the guise of “mutually beneficial partnerships,” the United States is reshaping its relationships with several African countries in sensitive areas like health, mining, and migration management. This evolution has generated both support and criticism.
The shift in focus is evident: the Trump administration aims to end the historical assistance model embodied by major American cooperation agencies. The gradual dismantling of USAID and the reduction of many development aid programs reflect a desire to depart from what is deemed a costly and ineffective policy.
Instead, Washington now favors bilateral relationships based on direct benefits. The goal is to replace unconditional aid with concrete agreements that promote American economic and strategic interests.
American officials present this shift as a modernization of diplomatic relations with Africa, emphasizing investment, trade, and economic results. In reality, this approach embodies the “America First” philosophy, subordinating all foreign policy to direct American benefits.
For many analysts, Africa is a particularly suitable arena for this doctrine due to the power imbalance between Washington and African states. The United States’ economic, diplomatic, and military weight far outweighs that of most African partners, allowing it to more easily dictate terms during negotiations.
In this context, several African governments accept controversial agreements to secure investments, financial aid, or international political support.
One of the most contentious aspects of this new policy is the management of migrant expulsions. Washington seeks agreements with certain African states to host foreign nationals expelled from the U.S., even when they are not from the host country.
Critics raise concerns about the instrumentalization of health aid for strategic purposes, as new medical cooperation agreements impose stricter obligations on recipient states to contribute financially and share health data with American authorities.
The access to mineral resources is also a major focus of the American strategy in Africa. Amid global competition, Washington seeks to secure vital strategic minerals like cobalt, lithium, and copper by increasing its diplomatic involvement in the Great Lakes region.
Transactional agreements have faced criticism for potentially undermining African sovereignty by conditioning aid or investments on significant political, economic, or strategic concessions.
Despite this diplomatic push, experts believe the U.S. struggles to solidify its influence on the continent. Africa is now attracting various foreign powers such as China, Russia, Turkey, and Gulf states, intensifying competition for investments and partnerships.
While Trump aims to expand his “America First” doctrine in Africa, the effectiveness of this policy in securing American influence on the continent remains uncertain.
