Biden possible visit to Kenya as White House announces sub-Saharan Africa tour
Biden possible visit to Kenya as White House announces sub-Saharan Africa tour next year by the American president
Biden possible visit to Kenya as White House announces sub-Saharan Africa tour next year by the American president.
The Joe Biden administration says it will focus on concluding new trade talks with Kenya even as the American President hinted at a regional visit that could include Kenya next year.
This was revealed during the just concluded three-day US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington attended by President William Ruto.
The US views Kenya as a critical ally in the Horn of Africa, but President Biden did not specify whether Kenya would be included in his itinerary or when he would visit the area.
President Biden had on Thursday said he will visit sub-Saharan Africa next year, the first U.S. president to travel there in a decade.
He announced the trip — still unscheduled — as he wrapped up a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit by stressing he’s serious about increasing U.S. attention to the growing continent.
His promise of a personal visit came as he declared to the 49 leaders gathered for the summit that “Africa belongs at the table” in every conversation of global consequence.
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“We’re all going to be seeing you and you’re going to see a lot of us,” Biden told the summit of African leaders.
“Some of you invited me to your countries. I said, be careful what you wish for, because I may show up.”
The Biden administration used the summit — a follow-up to one held in 2014 by Barack Obama — as the latest part of a charm offensive with leaders of African nations.
The administration is looking to strengthen relations with those nations as China has surpassed the U.S. in trade with Africa and is aiming to grow its military presence.
The continent is crucial to global powers because of its rapidly growing population, significant natural resources, and the sizable voting bloc in the United Nations.
Biden on Thursday formally announced that he supports the African Union becoming a permanent member of the Group of 20 nations.
He also announced plans to spend $2 billion to help bolster food security on the continent and $165 million to help African nations carry out peaceful and transparent elections next year.
Earlier the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Biden’s planned visit would be used to firm up commitments for trade made in the just concluded visit.
“And by the way, over the last couple of years that I’ve been on this job, I’ve had an opportunity to travel a fair bit in Africa – Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Egypt, South Africa – but as the President mentioned today, I think you’re going to see a lot of us in Africa next year, including the President,” said Blinken.
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