Trump is the ‘elephant in the room’ as the African Union holds new summit | African Union News
Trump Misses African Union Summit Amid New Policy Shifts
Donald Trump will not attend the 39th annual African Union leaders’ summit starting Friday, yet his influence looms over the gathering as delegates from the 55 member states confront the shifting dynamics of U.S. policy under his administration.
Trump’s significant reductions in foreign aid, revisions to trade policies, and sweeping immigration changes have notably affected Africa, even as the continent received minimal attention in his broader global agenda. During this transition, the Trump administration has pursued new bilateral agreements with African nations focused on resource and security collaborations.
Carlos Lopes, a professor at the University of Cape Town, said, “U.S. policy toward Africa has created a level of uncertainty that will shape how African leaders approach this summit.” He noted a shift from broad multilateral engagement to a more transactional model centered on negotiations.
Many African leaders strive to balance new U.S. leadership while reinforcing ties with countries like China, the Gulf states, and intra-African institutions to mitigate reliance on any one partner. Lopes added that the summit’s underlying theme may revolve around recalibrating U.S.-Africa relations, emphasizing reciprocity and respect.
The White House’s National Security Strategy, released in November, briefly mentions Africa in three paragraphs at the end of the 29-page document. This summary underlines long-standing efforts to counter Chinese influence and highlights Trump’s recent initiatives to resolve conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. Additionally, it hints at a broader shift from foreign aid to investment-driven growth, contingent on partnerships with countries willing to open markets to U.S. goods and services.
Trump’s foreign aid cuts represent a significant departure, affecting approximately 26 percent of Africa’s aid, which traditionally came from the U.S. The country’s foreign investment in Africa is projected to reach around $47.47 billion, largely through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). However, the Trump administration has dismantled USAID and canceled numerous aid programs, prompting experts to express concern over the immediate negative impacts on health funding in African nations.
Belinda Archibong, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, indicated that the end of USAID could have detrimental effects, especially in healthcare. A report from the Center for Global Development suggests that current U.S. foreign aid reductions could lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, with evidence of increased malnutrition and untreated health issues reported in various regions across Africa.
With USAID’s resources limited, the Trump administration has entered into at least 16 preliminary bilateral agreements focused on public health aid, branded as the “America First global health strategy.” Critics express concerns that such agreements may lead to potential corruption and sustainability issues.
Everisto Benyera, a politics professor at the University of South Africa, described Trump as the “proverbial elephant in the room” during the summit. He noted that Trump’s trade policies and tariffs, affecting numerous African nations, contribute to an atmosphere of uncertainty ahead of the meetings.
Recent changes to immigration policies have further complicated relations, as 75 countries, including 26 in Africa, no longer have visa processing in the U.S. In response, a few African nations have implemented reciprocal travel bans for U.S. citizens.
Despite these tensions, Benyera anticipated that summit leaders would adopt “strategic ambiguity” about their position on Trump, aiming to balance relations with major powers like the U.S., Russia, and China.
Lopes predicted that the summit would incorporate language focused on international law and multilateralism. Several African nations have recently voiced stances on global issues, signaling an aspiration to assert themselves as key players on the international stage.
As the African Union convenes, leaders will likely navigate the challenging waters of diplomacy in an era defined by Trump’s unconventional policy shifts.
