President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities
U.S. President Donald Trump will host the presidents of Gabon, Guinea‑Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House on July 9 to discuss commercial opportunities aimed at benefiting both American companies and African partners.
In a statement, a White House official said, “President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both the American people and our African partners.”
The move marks a pivot from traditional aid to trade-driven diplomacy under Trump’s “America First” agenda. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasised a shift “away from what he called a charity‑based model,” favouring nations that show “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
Troy Fitrel, a senior Africa bureau official, confirmed that U.S. envoys will now be evaluated on the number of commercial deals they facilitate.
Notably absent is Nigeria—Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation—raising questions about the selection criteria for the summit.