Presidential Visit to Africa

[Emma R Wolfe]

https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/a-trump-visit-to-africa-is-important-and-carries-some-urgency/

This article is interesting and points out the importance of Trump visiting Africa on US-African relations. Although the Trump Administration has a half a billion-dollar Women's empowerment initiative, President Trump has yet to visit Africa. However, his daughter Ivanka and wife Melania have visited on multiple occasions. By not visiting Africa, Trump is missing the chance to form a mutually beneficial relationship with the countries of Africa, many of whom are fast-growing and have vast economic potential. Leaders of many other countries have been visiting Africa to establish partnerships, and it is crucial that Trump visits as well.

[Ryan McGauley]

This article brings up the important topic of the U.S.-China trade war and how it affects the economies of not just their own countries, but also those of Sub-Saharan African countries.  I didn’t know that the U.S. goods exports fell from 25 billion to 14 billion between 2014 and 2017, and that China instead increased its exports to Africa up to 90 billion dollars by the end of 2017.  In addition the reduction of funding for health programs in Africa during this current administration shows the United States’ further cutting of ties to Africa. Trump’s lack of attention to foreign investment in Africa simultaneously conflicts with the trade war’s goal of countering China’s influence and it seems like an ineffective way for the U.S. to maintain importance in world affairs. 

[Lance Hanse]

This article discusses some of the Trump administration agenda in Africa. It notes that the most important factors of US foreign policy are security, power, economic prosperity, and influence. By analyzing these factors, we can see that they conflict with the current Chinese regime. Due to this, the Trump administration released a plan that was set to focus on improving American goals as well as helping Africa. However, Landry Signe argues that the United States is missing its opportunities. She notes that Africa only garnered less than 1 percent of the foreign direct investment from the US around the world. In contrast, China has significantly increased investment in Africa. What this boils down to is the United States not following the plan it said it would which leads to the Chinese gaining power in Africa.

On Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 4:52:14 PM UTC-5, Emma W wrote:

[Sam Vrana]

The article begins by summarizing Ivanka Trump’s itinerary for her trip promoting the Trump Administration’s $50 million Women’s Global Development and Prosperity initiative. The author states that this is a positive sign for USA-Africa relations, however, growing Chinese investment in the region requires a stronger action. Over the past 5 years, the share of U.S. exports to Africa have fallen from $25 billion to $14 billion, China’s exports to Africa surpassed $150 billion in 2015. This discrepancy represents a growing problem for the United States' geopolitical objectives in the region.

On Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 4:52:14 PM UTC-5, Emma W wrote: