Biden Targets Africa to Challenge China’s Influence—Is Trump Plotting His Own Strategy?

The Lobito railway project is a critical component of the Biden administration’s strategy to increase U.S. influence in Africa, particularly in a region rich in essential minerals needed for the production of batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices, and clean energy technologies. These minerals, which are vital for the transition to a greener economy, are at the heart of the ongoing competition between the U.S. and China. Over the years, China has established a stronghold in Africa’s critical mineral sector, creating a significant challenge for the United States.

While the U.S. has long cultivated relations with African nations through trade, security partnerships, and humanitarian aid, the Lobito railway upgrade represents a notable shift in approach. The 800-mile, $2.5 billion infrastructure project is not just an investment in African development, but also a move that draws parallels to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has expanded rapidly across the globe. This shift in strategy reflects the growing recognition of Africa’s strategic importance, both in terms of its resources and its geopolitical position.

Despite being touted by the Biden administration as one of his signature foreign policy initiatives, the future of the Lobito railway and the broader U.S.-Africa engagement hinges on the political future of the United States. With the upcoming presidential election, much of the focus is shifting toward the potential policies of the next administration, particularly under former President Donald Trump.

As Mvemba Dizolele, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, notes, African leaders are increasingly focusing on the possibility of a return to Trump’s leadership, which could dramatically alter the U.S. approach to the continent. In this context, the Biden administration’s efforts in Africa, including the Lobito railway, may not be the long-term narrative, as the continent’s future direction could depend on how the U.S. engages under its next president.

The United States has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to the Lobito Corridor project, with additional funding from the European Union, the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations, a Western-led private consortium, and African banks. Tom Sheehy, a fellow at the United States Institute of Peace, emphasized the significance of the project, noting that its success could serve as a model for similar initiatives. He described it as one of the flagship projects of the G7’s new Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, which was championed by President Biden as a response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to support infrastructure development in other developing nations.

Biden had initially promised to visit Africa in 2023 after reinvigorating the U.S.-Africa Summit in December 2022, the first in nearly a decade. However, his trip was delayed to 2024 and further postponed in October due to Hurricane Milton. This delay fueled the perception among some African leaders that the U.S. still places Africa on the backburner. The last U.S. president to visit sub-Saharan Africa was Barack Obama in 2015, while Biden attended a climate summit in Egypt in 2022.

In response to critics, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby defended the timing of Biden’s trip, pointing out that it was not a last-minute effort. He highlighted that key administration officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, had already visited Africa, and stressed that Africa has been a priority for Biden since he took office.