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As the United States continues to face political gridlock at home and the future of its flagship African trade program hangs in the balance, Washington is increasingly turning its gaze toward Africa in an urgent effort to counter China’s accelerating economic and geopolitical dominance on the continent — from the mineral-rich interior to the strategic waters of the Indian Ocean.
This week marks a significant moment in the evolution of U.S. foreign policy toward Africa. Senior American policymakers, influential think tanks, and business leaders are participating in a string of high-level dialogues and strategy meetings aimed at redefining how Washington engages with African nations. The growing consensus in U.S. strategic circles is clear: China is outpacing the United States in both influence and investment across Africa, and urgent recalibration is needed.
One of the key events shaping this shift is a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, under the banner: “Combatting the People’s Republic of China’s Illegal, Coercive, Aggressive, and Deceptive Behaviour in the Indo-Pacific.” While the official focus is Asia, analysts expect the conversation to naturally extend to Africa’s eastern coastline, where China’s investments and influence are rapidly expanding.
Beijing’s involvement in Africa’s maritime infrastructure is particularly concerning to Washington. China has heavily invested in ports, energy grids, and logistical hubs along the Indian Ocean, from Djibouti in the north to Madagascar in the south. A strategic linchpin is China’s first overseas military base, established in Djibouti in 2017 — a clear indicator of long-term ambitions. These developments pose a strategic challenge to U.S. interests in a region that includes two of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints: the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Mozambique Channel.
Recognizing this geopolitical reality, U.S. officials are gradually expanding their approach beyond state-to-state diplomacy. There is now a more pronounced emphasis on engaging the private sector to bolster American presence on the continent.
In a symbolic move, the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) announced that the 2026 U.S.-Africa Business Summit will be held in Mauritius — the first time the summit is taking place on an Indian Ocean Island. Notably, Mauritius is among the few African nations that have not signed onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative, underscoring its potential as a strategic partner for the U.S. in the region.
Meanwhile, another pillar of the renewed U.S. focus is Africa’s vast deposits of critical minerals — essential to modern technology and clean energy transitions. On Wednesday, October 8, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in partnership with West Point’s Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations, will host the second annual Critical Minerals and National Security Conference. A headline session, “A New Era of Minerals Diplomacy,” will feature Tom Haslett, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation’s Director of Critical Minerals and Energy Policy. He is expected to outline strategies to challenge China’s dominance in key sectors such as cobalt, lithium, and copper, which are abundant in Central and Southern Africa.
The week of engagement will culminate with a keynote address from Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in Washington. Her speech is seen as a prelude to the 2025 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings and may shed light on how global financial institutions are recalibrating their approach to Africa amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
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While the flurry of activity is being interpreted by many African stakeholders as a renewed recognition of the continent’s global importance, there is lingering skepticism. Critics warn that the U.S.’s interest appears motivated primarily by rivalry with China rather than a genuine commitment to long-term partnerships.
The ultimate measure of Washington’s intentions, many argue, will be whether African nations are treated as equal partners — with the autonomy to shape the agenda — or merely as strategic pawns in a broader great-power contest.
