Afrasianet - The United States is trying to catch up with its steps and compensate for its absence from Africa, with the increasing Chinese and Russian presence in the continent, which has turned the latter into a theater for a new "Cold War".
"Sub-Saharan Africa plays an important role in driving global priorities for Africans and Americans. It has one of the world's fastest growing regions, the largest free trade zones, the most diverse ecosystems, and one of the largest regional voting groups in the United Nations."
- From the US strategy towards sub-Saharan Africa With this phrase, the White House began the "US Strategy towards Sub-Saharan Africa" document, which was published on its own website last August.
In this document, Washington redrew its strategy and vision for its relations with the countries of the African continent, defining a set of points that it wants to develop and strengthen in various common political, economic and social fields, as "it is impossible to face today's critical challenges without African contributions and leadership," according to the document. .
The United States implemented the provisions of this document in its convening of the African-American summit in Washington, in the presence of African leaders, last December, which reflected Washington's concern about the growing Chinese and Russian presence on the continent.
At that time, US President Joe Biden called, in a speech to the leaders of 49 African countries, to establish a great "partnership" with the continent, as it is the key to "success" for the world. Biden also talked about some features of US projects in Africa over the next 3 years, which have a total value of about $55 billion, including $100 million for clean energy. After this summit, US Vice President Kamala Harris conducted an African tour to 3 countries, Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia, in order to "deepen the relationship between the United States and African partners," according to Harris. Washington: a late reclamation of its influence in Africa Regardless of the fact that the United States is actually seeking to achieve its aforementioned interests in the African continent, behind this new American strategy are greater reasons and goals.
In defining the reasons, the changes in international relations, especially in Africa, where features of the expansion of the Chinese and Russian presence began, are among the most prominent of these reasons.
As for the main goal, it is to involve Washington itself in this process of international repositioning, and to counter the influence of China and Russia on the continent before it misses the train.
These American steps come during the Biden era, after US-African relations during the era of former President Donald Trump reached their lowest levels, due to his “inferior” vision of the African continent, and his consideration of it as “dirty countries,” as he described it.
For decades, the United States has treated African nations like "charitable causes," according to several regional experts.
This has been exacerbated by the Trump administration, which has largely ignored and disparaged the continent, according to Politico. Also under Trump, the United States has not significantly expanded its diplomatic presence on the continent.
Indeed, US embassies in Africa faced staff shortages, "because of Washington's military and diplomatic preoccupations elsewhere," according to Foreign Policy.
What also led to an increase in tensions in African-American relations is that the American forces in Africa, AFRICOM, "failed to achieve the declared goals of its military presence on the African continent, which is to bring security and fight terrorism," according to the American website, "The Intercept".
According to the site, the base that was built to enhance security in the region, and the hundreds of millions of dollars that Washington spends in security assistance, building bases and deploying forces, it seems that it cannot do that, that is, achieve security, as terrorism has escalated in the Sahel region.
This reality was described by US officials as "diplomatic failure and American decline", due to Washington's neglect during the Trump era, and for a period of 4 years, of Africa and its countries, while Biden was in no hurry to fill the void left by his predecessor.
Accordingly, the United States is now trying to catch up with its steps and compensate for its absence from Africa, after it felt that it was cut off from the continent and that it had forgotten it. year 2014". Also read: “AFRICOM” .. What role did it play in shaping coups in Africa?
China's Approach to Africa: Common Interests and Visions Against these facts, China had its own strategy to fill the American vacuum on the continent.
In contrast to Washington, Beijing sought to achieve and achieve common interests that benefit both countries, and without political restrictions. It also offered to mediate disputes in the African region.
The US approach has been characterized by trade and investment rather than development aid or loans, and by fueling rather than quenching conflicts.
These points were covered by a study entitled, “China’s Strategic Aims in Africa,” showing the Chinese strategy in Africa.
The study indicated that Beijing adopted a "soft approach" in Africa, as it "was able to mix ideological, political, commercial, economic, cultural, security and military elements" in the region.
The study added, "China has succeeded brilliantly in coordinating its strategy for Africa in parallel with the aspirations of the latter, represented in finding alternative models of development, experimenting with different regimes, and equating its relations with the powerful for better representation in global agencies," noting that China is among these aspirations.
Africa, portrays itself as "trustworthy", especially since it "supported the wars of independence on the continent," and "the Africans, in turn, view China as a partner in those struggles."
Many Africans argue that "China is more in line with their needs after their colonization by underdeveloped countries led by France. In contrast to the colonial vision and the arrogant view of Western countries in Africa, which is based on plundering the wealth of the African people and imposing political dictates, China has adopted a strategy of "trade for aid" assistance.
In line with the Lagos Action Plan, one of China's policies describes Africa as a "place of opportunity," not "merely a place of recipients of aid." And China, for its part, also believes that its vision of the global system and the solutions it offers finds more support in Africa than any other support in any other part of the world, which makes the continent a cornerstone of its foreign policy and a pillar for it, as Africa's declared acceptance of the aspirations of A global China, which includes competing with the West and building a multipolar world order, means that African participation will contribute to the realization of these ambitions.
From the military point of view, China has military partnerships with many African countries, as what enhances Beijing's position as a partner of African countries "is the quality of its weapons."
According to African military experts, "many Chinese products such as combat aircraft, tanks, artillery systems, and naval patrol boats have become comparable to Western weapons, with prices still relatively lower and flexible, allowing customers access to advanced systems at a fraction of the cost."
China has served this growing demand by increasing the presence of high-level defense companies in defense sectors in Africa. For example, the Chinese company "Norinco" has partnerships and joint ventures in countries such as Angola, Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Economically, Beijing has focused mostly on economic cooperation with Africa by reducing the infrastructure deficit in Africa, purchasing African goods and providing credit facilities, in order to achieve Beijing's vision of changing the international system and making it a multipolar system, according to what was mentioned by the "Geopolitical Intelligence" website. Services".
In the past decade, China has overtaken the United States in investment in Africa through massive infrastructure projects, often financed through loans totaling more than $120 billion since the turn of the century.
Trade volume between China and Africa exceeded $250 billion in 2021, compared to $64.33 billion between the United States and Africa.
In this context, the American New York Times said that with the deterioration of its relations with the United States and Europe, China is redoubling its diplomatic efforts throughout Africa, as it funds projects and encourages governments.
The newspaper considered that this campaign is part of a major geopolitical competition between Beijing and Washington. Which intensified since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Africa and Russia: friendship "tested by time" Russia, in turn, has historical relations of mutual benefit with African countries, and it increased its presence on the continent, and sought to expand the horizons of its cooperation with it after the war in Ukraine, as Africa constituted an outlet for Russia, in light of the Western sanctions that were imposed on it, especially since Moscow saw a group of countries Africa takes an "officially neutral position" on the situation in Ukraine, despite pressure from the West.
African countries, in turn, see Russia as a reliable partner and true ally. According to the Carnegie Middle East Center, "African states and leaders have actively resorted to" Russian intervention "as much as Russia has sought to deepen its relations and presence in Africa," noting that "this is often a response to Western vacuum and lack of interest."
This Afro-Russian rapprochement comes within the framework of African countries seeking to pursue an independent and sovereign foreign and domestic policy, which are sometimes difficult problems on their own.
However, Russia and African countries adhere to the standards of morals and traditional social principles of peoples, and oppose the neo-colonial ideology imposed from abroad, according to the “African” website. modern diplomacy".
According to the site, Russia's friendship and cooperation with African countries has been "tested by time," as the countries of the African continent have always been reliable partners and true allies of Russia. African analysts affirm that the common goal between Russia and African countries "is to change the world for the better, to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the peoples of Russia and Africa, and to spare no effort to ensure the elimination of hunger, dangerous diseases and regional conflicts."
The site stated that, unlike many Western countries, "Russia has no colonial experience, as the Soviet Union's contribution to liberating African countries from colonial dependence is well known."
Africa, representing an equal partnership, includes mutual economic interests, investments and cooperation within production chains, cooperation in strategic infrastructure projects, energy, medicine, security and financial technologies.
Today, as the new face of a multipolar world appears, the African continent plays an important role in solving global and regional problems.
The most recent example is African mediation in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, where Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to receive a delegation of African leaders to discuss a possible peace plan to resolve the conflict.
And as part of these endeavors to deepen relations between Russia and Africa, the two sides will hold the second Russian-African summit from July 26 to 29, inviting all African countries, as a busy agenda for 2023 has been planned for this summit.
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has confirmed many times that Moscow has invited all African countries to participate in the summit, in contrast to the United States' decision to refrain from inviting some countries that witnessed military coups to the "United States-Africa" summit that took place in December. the past.
Before that, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "Russia and African countries can enhance security and stability in the whole world through joint action."
Despite the illegal sanctions imposed by Washington, Russia and African countries are striving to deepen trade and economic cooperation, as Russia is working to develop many opportunities in the field of oil and gas with Africa, and it is also negotiating with many African countries on converting trade into currencies. national.
According to the latest figures, “the volume of trade turnover between Russia and Africa is growing, and at the end of 2022 it reached $17.9 billion.
This coincides with the popular rejection of the French presence in a number of African countries, and the demand of countries such as Chad, Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Russia for more cooperation and strengthening relations with it.
Based on the aforementioned, it is clear how Africa has turned into a theater for a new “cold war” between the major global powers. Far from being a continent rich in minerals, wealth and opportunities geographically, it also represents a significant weight in politics and plays a fundamental and strategic role in international relations.
Perhaps this competition will intensify on the continent, with the Biden administration moving more resolutely in it, and using new tactics to thwart Russian and Chinese gains on the continent, and also with Western calls to transfer the war against Russia to Africa, at a time when the United States, and the West, too, realize that African leaders They don't often have to explain why they need good relations with Russia and China, given the frustrating history of relations with the West.