In Abidjan, Ivory Coast, the atmosphere is tense as construction workers scramble to finish a vital overpass before anticipated funding cuts from the U.S. government take effect. The project, which aims to ease the notoriously congested traffic in one of West Africa’s largest cities, relies significantly on American financing. Historically, the infrastructure was showcased with the message, “Financed by the American people,” but such assurances have become increasingly tenuous since President Trump’s administration initiated drastic cuts to foreign aid.
The U.S. has adopted a new strategy in Africa, as articulated by Troy Fitrell, the State Department’s lead Africa official. “Trade, not aid, is now the pillar of our policy in Africa,” he stated during a recent business summit in Abidjan. Under the new directives, the focus has shifted largely from development support to fostering business agreements between U.S. and Ivorian companies, resulting in several trade deals signed for various technological ventures, including agricultural drones and border scanning systems.
Trump's strategy signals a significant departure from longstanding approaches to U.S. involvement in Africa. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has seen funding drastically reduced, tariffs have been imposed threatening free trade with African nations, and anti-corruption standards for American businesses are being relaxed, potentially undermining ethical business practices abroad.
Experts warn that this new direction could have long-term consequences for Africa, particularly as the region is projected to be home to a quarter of the global population by 2050. Currently, nations south of the Sahara comprise merely 1% of the U.S. trade in goods, prompting the administration's shift in focus to commercial diplomacy in an effort to enhance economic ties. However, with essential infrastructure projects hanging in the balance, the ramifications of these policy changes remain to be fully realized.
