Vice President Kamala Harris is set to embark on a week-long trip to Africa at the end of March, as the United States seeks to strengthen its partnership with the continent amid increasing global competition, particularly with China. The trip will also advance shared efforts on security and economic prosperity, according to a statement from Harris’ spokesperson Kirsten Allen.
Harris’ visit follows recent visits by First Lady Jill Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also traveling to Africa this week, and President Joe Biden is expected to make his own visit to the continent later this year.
As the first Black vice president in U.S. history and the first woman to hold the position, Harris’ visit is expected to be closely watched. Her itinerary includes stops in Ghana from March 26 to 29, Tanzania from March 29 to 31, and Zambia on March 31 and April 1, a country she has a personal connection with. Harris’ maternal grandfather worked in Zambia years ago, and she visited him there as a young girl.
During her trip, Harris will promote democracy, climate adaptation, women’s economic empowerment, and food security. She also plans to meet with young leaders, business representatives, entrepreneurs, and members of the African Diaspora.
The United States’ outreach to Africa began with the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, which was hosted by the White House in December. The move comes as China has increased its investment in Africa, and the United States is positioning itself as a better partner than Beijing.
“Our administration will be guided not by what we can do for Africa but what we can do with Africa,” Harris said during the summit.
Although the competition between the U.S. and China has been the backdrop of much American foreign policy, the Democratic administration is trying to be careful in its approach to Africa to avoid making leaders on the continent feel as though they’re being caught in the middle of a geopolitical contest. A senior administration official stressed that the White House wants to put forward an “affirmative agenda” that incorporates concerns about China and the ripple effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine but isn’t dominated by them.
Source: www.apnews.com