The US-Africa summit is huge. "The words are favorable but not really available"? On the 14th, US President Biden said in his keynote speech at the US-Africa summit that he will take a number of measures to support Africa's economic and social development.

The US-Africa summit is huge and "I don't get it if I say good things but I don't get it"?

2-13 to December 15, the United States-Africa Leaders' Summit (hereinafter referred to as the United States-Africa Summit) was held in the United States, and 49 African leaders flew to Washington to attend the meeting. On the 14th, US President Biden said in his keynote speech at the US-Africa Summit that it will take a number of measures to support Africa's economic and social development. However, he once again "missed" when he mentioned that the United States would support Africa's digital development. According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, Biden said in his speech that he would invest "$350 billion" to help more African people participate in the digital economy . However, in the transcript of Biden's speech released by White House later, the number "350 billion" became "350 billion". After the investment amount of

"significantly shrinks", Biden announced on the 15th that he had reached a deal worth $15 billion at the US-African Business Forum. The day before the summit, Sullivan also made a commitment to provide $55 billion in funding to Africa in the next three years. However, it may be questionable whether this $55 billion can be truly implemented. He Wenping, a researcher at the Institute of West Asia and Africa, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that "From the past performance of the US government, the 'commitment' to Africa is often a blank check."

htmlOn the 115th, Biden held a meeting on the partnership of 2063 Agenda (African Union’s Strategic Vision for the African Continent), and in his speech he called on the African Union to join the G20 as a permanent member. Researcher He Wenping analyzed, "The so-called support for the African Union to join G20 and promote countries on the African continent to become permanent members of United Nations Security Council . It does not require real money to invest, but instead gain Africa's favor through verbal statements."

Previously, South African think tanks also questioned the United States' aid to Africa. Meng Dawei, director of the Center for African-China Studies at Joburg University, said that the US side will be suspected of making a show when launching the US-Africa Summit. The two consecutive sessions of are located in the United States, but the US leaders do not set foot in Africa, which is not in line with the spirit of partnership of mutual respect and equal treatment. Syracuse University Professor Campbell also said that the so-called new policy on non-reality introduced by the United States is nothing new, but is actually "old wine in new bottles."

Biden clinked his glasses at the summit dinner with Senegalese President McGee Saal. Source: BBC

The US side took advantage of the summit meeting to sting China

US political news network pointed out that Africa is crucial to the United States. Africa is not only the market for American products, but also the source of bulk , such as cobalt and lithium, which is a necessity for the rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry in the United States. At the same time, due to the presence of terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram in the region, the United States believes that Africa is crucial to the national security of the United States. However, although there is no shortage of "close periods of close relations between the United States and Africa" ​​in history, the US government has not paid enough attention to Africa in the past two or three decades, resulting in a decline in the United States' influence in Africa and "national interests are damaged."

The United States first held the US-Africa summit in August 2014. The Obama administration invited nearly 50 African heads of state or government representatives to gather in Washington. But then Trump served as US president, not only cutting aid to Africa, saying that "every cent invested in Africa will be 'stolen'", and even called African countries "defying pit countries", and US-Africa relations took a sharp turn. Biden re-hosted the US-Africa summit, aiming to clean up the political endgame left by the Trump administration, emphasizes the United States' emphasis on Africa and hopes to push US-Africa relations back on track.

According to Deutsche Welle Chinese website, White House Security Committee spokesman John Kirby said, "The U.S. government will not put a gun on the head of Africans and force them to choose between the United States and China," but he immediately said, "It is not contradictory to call facts the facts and reveal the increasingly obvious vicious impact of China on the African continent for our African partners."

American Political News Network Politico pointed out more bluntly, "Biden's speech did not directly name China, but most of his content intends to compete with countries that invest heavily in Africa." BBC posted on the 15th that Biden never mentioned the word "China" in his speech, but despite this, "competition is undoubtedly."

Some analysts believe that The US-Africa summit is exactly the same as the US-ASEAN Special Summit held by the Biden administration earlier this year, the 9th American Summit, and the US-Pacific Island Summit, and all aim to win over developing countries in the region and strengthen diplomatic layout centered on strategic competition with China.

Biden delivered a speech at the US-Africa Leaders Summit. Source: Fox News

Africa is not an arena for the game of major powers

Reuters pointed out that although Biden's speech did not mention China, the Biden administration obviously wants to curb China's influence in Africa through this summit. According to Lianhe Zaobao, US Secretary of Defense Austin "reminds" African leaders at the summit, saying that "China's actions in Africa are opaque" and accused China of so-called "expanding its influence in Africa is raising problems to the stability of the region."

In this regard, Taiwanese scholar Wang Gaocheng commented that many of the United States' policies are based on their own interests. In comparison, China's policies emphasize assistance on the basis of mutual respect, and even provide free assistance to third-world countries. Biden is now following China's footsteps. On the one hand, he wins over Southeast Asian countries and on the other hand, he wants to include African countries in the G20. However, this is more of a symbolic meaning, without substantial help, and it is too late. The United States wants to work hard now but may not be able to shake the close relationship between China and Africa.

The United States' intention to curb China's growing influence in Africa is obvious. In response, Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded at the regular meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 14th that supporting Africa's development is the common responsibility of the international community. We have always been happy to see the diversification of African partners and welcome the international community, including the United States, to increase its attention and investment in Africa, and carry out truly equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with Africa. At the same time, hopes that the United States will view China-Africa cooperation with an open mind. Africa is not an arena for the game between great powers, nor is it the object of arbitrary pressure from any country or some people. China is a good friend, good partner and good brother of Africa. China-Africa cooperation is equal, mutually beneficial and win-win, open and honest, with fruitful results, and is sincerely welcomed by the African people. The US should respect the will of the African people and take tangible actions to help Africa develop, rather than making a big fuss about smearing and attacking other countries.

In fact, China has been providing substantial assistance to Africa. According to statistics from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2021, since the establishment of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum , Chinese companies have built more than 100,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of highways, nearly 1,000 bridges, nearly 100 ports, and a large number of hospitals and schools in Africa. As the ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang said at the "Flag Language" News Agency's Africa Summit Forum on December 12, China-Africa relations are the cornerstone of China's foreign policy. What China's investment and financing for Africa brings to the African people is not a "trap" but a blessing.

Source丨People's Daily, Global Times, Lianhe Zaobao, American Political News Network, Deutsche Voice

Author丨Lin Shuqi, Shenzhen Satellite TV Direct News Intern