Africa: U.S. Plans to Build Africa's Infrastructure Bring Opportunities, Challenges

Creativity needed to secure supply chains and avoid pressuring African countries to pick between the United States and China.

An interesting trend is emerging in U.S.-Africa relations: even as the United States moves to counter Chinese influence in key sectors like critical minerals, China's influence in Africa is subtly reshaping the United States' own approach to engaging with the continent.

It's important to note that observers frequently overstate the Chinese Communist Party's ability to simply deploy Chinese companies to participate in African projects. That said, coordination between the party, state-owned companies and banks, and the Chinese private sector is much closer than between Western governments and companies. More specifically, these deals are sweetened by state insurers like Sinosure, who soften the stress of African risk.

However, warding off Chinese involvement could be complex. While the rail link on the DRC side of the border still has to be built, the Angolan side will cohere around the Benguela Railway,Eliminating Chinese actors will be a hurdle for both U.S. and EU infrastructure projects in Africa.

While countering Chinese influence in the African critical minerals sector enjoys bipartisan support among U.S. lawmakers, the mode to pursue it could fluctuate depending on the administration. More broadly, U.S. engagement with Africa also tends to move through phases, which could complicate multiyear infrastructure projects.

U.S. policymakers interested in deepening this engagement with Africa would be advised to coordinate U.S. initiatives to secure critical mineral supply lines with African policies aimed at moving up value chains.

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