By Festus Poquie
Eyebrows have been raised in Liberia’s intellectual and political circles following President Joseph Boakai’s recent visits to Indonesia and China, fueling suspicions that the leader may be looking to pivot away from the country’s traditional Western allies like the United States in favor of forging closer ties with the Far East.
Boakai’s trips to Jakarta and Beijing come amid concerns from some Liberians including a respected rights advocate that his administration has failed to strengthen relationships with Liberia’s historical partners in the West, such as the U.S., Britain, Germany, and France – nations that have provided crucial support during the country’s darkest hours.
“These are nations that have stood by us during our toughest times, and their support is critical to our development,” said prominent rights lawyer Tiawon Saye Gongloe.
“Why we consider the importance of new and other viable relationships, we should not appear as a nation to neglect or downplay our historic relationships in any form, shape or manner.”
Gongloe’s sentiments echo a growing chorus of Liberian intellectuals who fear that Boakai may be tilting the country’s foreign policy orientation eastward, potentially at the expense of Liberia’s time-honored alliance with Washington.
Finding balance between Liberia’s partnerships with the West and the East continue to be a subject of intense scrutiny and debate amongst the country’s 5 million people.
After more than two centuries relations with the United States, in July this year the keynote speaker for the country’s 177th independence anniversary called for renegotiation of ties and shift in approaches with respect to socioeconomic interventions and democratic engagements.
Orator Robtel Pailey challenged the country’s long-held relationship with the United States. Pailey, a prominent scholar and activist, asserted that the U.S. has taken more from Liberia than it has given. “Lest we forget, the United States was one of the last countries to recognize our independence. Lest we forget, the United States has taken more from us than it has given. Lest we forget, the United States will always serve its own interests above all else,” she declared.
Pailey’s remarks come at a time of growing scrutiny of Liberia’s reliance on the U.S. as a primary partner. She argued that Liberia must “forge new strategic partnerships based on mutual benefit” and “disabuse ourselves of the notion that we have a ‘special relationship’ with America.”
The orator’s sharp criticism of U.S. influence in Liberia was met with a walkout by the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires. In a statement, the U.S. Embassy expressed disappointment over the “divisive rhetoric and unfounded accusations” made by Pailey.
Statistics reveal that since the end of Liberia’s devastating civil war in 2003, the U.S. has provided significant development assistance to the West African nation. Between 2003 and 2021, the U.S. government channeled over $3.2 billion in aid to Liberia, funding critical areas such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and good governance.
In contrast, China’s aid to Liberia during the same period amounted to approximately $1.6 billion, predominantly concentrated in infrastructure projects like the construction of government buildings, roads, and the expansion of the country’s broadcasting capabilities.
However, Boakai’s outreach to Beijing appears to have intensified since he assumed office in January 2024. During his recent visit, the Liberian leader and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, announced the elevation of the China-Liberia relationship to a “strategic partnership,” paving the way for increased cooperation in areas such as maritime transport, agriculture, and resource development.
“China is a true friend of Liberia,” Boakai declared, expressing willingness to “continuously deepen practical cooperation in various fields and help Liberia achieve modernization.”
The president’s apparent tilt towards China has not gone unnoticed, with some observers questioning whether it signals a conscious effort to diversify Liberia’s international partnerships and reduce its reliance on traditional Western donors.
“There is a growing concern in some quarters about the state of the country’s relationship with China due to the previous government’s posture towards China,” Boakai acknowledged in a recent press conference, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the “One China Policy” and vowing to strengthen ties with Beijing.
