United States Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Ghana on March 26 to kick off her weeklong visit to three countries in Africa at a unique time in U.S.-Africa relations. Her visit comes in the wake of the progress achieved at the second-ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, held in December 2022. The summit was the first since former President Barack Obama hosted one during his tenure.
The trip is seen as an opportunity for the Biden administration to underscore its commitment to working with African nations while also addressing China and Russia's growing influence on the continent. During her tour, Harris will also focus on issues such as economic development, democracy building, global health security, climate change, and regional security.
Speaking ahead of her trip, Vice President Harris emphasized that "the United States sees this relationship [with Africa] as essential—essential for our mutual prosperity and essential for global security."
However, some experts have questioned whether Harris' visit is more about countering China's influence than delivering on US commitments. China has been investing heavily in African nations over recent years through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to connect Asia with Europe via land-based routes across Eurasia.
The initiative has raised concerns among many Western countries that it represents a bid by Beijing to expand its geopolitical reach by financing infrastructure projects around the world. The US government has previously criticized BRI projects for their lack of transparency.
To counter these efforts by China and Russia's growing presence on the continent, there are calls for increased investment from Western powers into African economies.
During her trip to Ghana, Burkina Faso and Guinea- where she meets with leaders including Presidents Nana Akufo-Addo , Roch Marc Christian Kaboré , Alpha Condé - Vice President Harris will announce new investments aimed at boosting economic growth and reducing poverty in the region, with a focus on supporting women-owned businesses.
The visit is also expected to address security concerns in the Sahel region where Burkina Faso and Guinea are located. The area has seen an increase in terrorist attacks and violent extremism.
In summary, Vice President Kamala Harris' trip to Africa is both about delivering on US commitments to African nations while countering China's growing influence on the continent. Her visit will focus on economic development, democracy building, global health security, climate change and regional security.