U.S. diplomats in Africa will now be evaluated based on the commercial agreements they help secure, rather than the amount of aid distributed.
- The U.S. now prioritizes commercial agreements over aid distribution in African diplomacy.
- U.S. ambassadors secured $6 billion in commercial deals in Africa during Trump’s term’s early days.
- Support for the Lobito rail corridor showcases strategic counteraction to China’s influence.
U.S. envoys in Africa will now be evaluated based on the commercial agreements they help secure, rather than the amount of aid distributed, according to a senior State Department official.
Many African countries have long been among the top recipients of U.S. aid. However, under President Trump’s new economic protectionist policies, funding, particularly from USAID, has been significantly curtailed.
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Troy Fitrell, a top official in the Bureau of African Affairs, said the shift reflects the Trump administration’s strategy to reduce trade deficits and promote shared economic growth.
“Assistance involves a donor and a recipient, but commerce is an exchange between equals,” he said.
U.S. ambassadors across Africa helped broker 33 commercial agreements worth $6 billion in the first 100 days of the Trump administration, according to senior State Department official Troy Fitrell. “Trade, not aid, a slogan we’ve seen thrown around for years, is now truly our policy for Africa.”
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U.S. goods exports to sub-Saharan Africa amount to less than 1% of total U.S. trade, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. And while Trump’s administration made deep cuts to foreign aid, it hasn’t backed away from all economic commitments.
Strategic bet on infrastructure
Washington recently pledged a $550 million loan to support the Lobito rail corridor, one of Africa’s most ambitious rail projects, and a strategic move to counter China’s growing footprint on the continent.
Spanning across three African countries, Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the corridor is viewed as a crucial component of Africa’s regional integration strategy.
By connecting the mineral-rich heart of Central Africa directly to the Atlantic coast, the railway is expected to boost trade and streamline the export of key resources like copper and cobalt, critical to powering electric vehicles, data centres, and the next generation of AI technologies.
