By Festus Poquie
U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to host five African leaders, including Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai, for a pivotal meeting in Washington D.C. next week.
The event, scheduled for July 9, aims to explore “commercial opportunities,” marking a significant departure from previous U.S. foreign policy approaches that prioritized democracy and governance in diplomatic relations with Africa.
A White House official said that President Trump views the African continent as a source of substantial commercial potential, which can benefit both American and African economies.
“President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities that enrich both the American people and our African partners,” Reuters quoted the official.
The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign aid to Africa, characterizing many programs as wasteful and inconsistent with its “America First” agenda.
The administration is shifting its focus toward trade and investment as the primary means of fostering mutual prosperity. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated this strategic shift, indicating that the U.S. will prioritize partnerships with nations that demonstrate both the capacity and willingness to achieve self-sufficiency.
U.S. envoys in Africa will be evaluated based on the commercial deals they secure, according to Troy Fitrel, a senior official in the African Affairs bureau. This change represents a new framework for framing U.S. support on the continent.
What’s at Stake for Liberia?
For Liberia, this meeting holds immense significance. The U.S. State Department has identified the country as ripe for investment, particularly in natural resources such as mining, agriculture, fishing, and forestry, as well as emerging sectors like energy, telecommunications, tourism, and financial services. Despite a slow recovery since the end of its civil wars in 2003, Liberia has yet to return to pre-war development levels.
President Boakai is expected to showcase Liberia’s mineral wealth at the White House. Following recent discoveries, the nation anticipates attracting around $3 billion in investment, bolstered by studies revealing substantial deposits of uranium, lithium, cobalt, manganese, and neodymium, alongside its traditional iron ore and rubber exports.
These insights were shared during Boakai’s state of the nation address in January. Some of these rare mineral discovered are vital for electric vehicles, which entices Trump.
Discussions with major multinational companies and local investors are already underway to capitalize on these new mineral finds and invest in sectors like energy, infrastructure, and technology. The Liberian government projects economic growth to accelerate to 5.8% this year, building from an estimated 5.1% in 2024.
The mining sector now contributes approximately 15% to Liberia’s GDP and has seen a noteworthy resurgence since the conclusion of civil strife. Once predominantly focused on iron ore, gold, and diamonds, the industry is expanding to include a broader array of critical minerals, attracting new investment.
Significant deposits of iron ore remain concentrated in Liberia’s key mining regions—Nimba Range, Bong Range, Wologizi Range, and Bea Mountain. Since the restoration of peace, mining activities have steadily increased, with rising production levels of both iron ore and gold.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite the positive outlook, challenges loom. Peter Pham, a Trump ally with long-standing ties to Liberia, has raised concerns about the Boakai administration. He accused the government of undermining economic policies related to the development of a multiuser railway system critical for connecting the nation’s mineral-rich regions to the port of Buchanan.
This railway has been controlled by ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) for years on account of its mineral development agreement with the authorities.
In a letter to the Daily Observer published on December 4, 2024, Pham expressed his disappointment over government officials aligning against initiatives that could broaden economic access, stating, “It is therefore very disappointing to see that certain government officials have effectively sabotaged the President’s vision by aligning behind his back to a model where one Indian-owned company continues to monopolize the rail, for its personal use.”
The Trump administration’s focus is on fostering economic growth and mutually beneficial trade partnerships while minimizing the traditional aid and humanitarian support that characterized previous U.S. foreign policies.
This new approach prioritizes three objectives: enhancing trade ties with African nations to bolster prosperity, safeguarding the U.S. against cross-border threats, and supporting African efforts towards stability and self-reliance.
