Trump Plans Meeting Five African Leaders Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host the first African leaders' summit of his second term in Washington from July 9-11, bringing together heads of state from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. The summit will focus on commercial opportunities, particularly in West Africa's critical minerals sector, and regional security, aligning with the Trump administration's shift from foreign aid to trade and investment under its "America First" policy. This meeting precedes a larger U.S.-Africa summit planned for September in New York and follows recent U.S.-brokered peace efforts in the Great Lakes region. The administration has reduced foreign aid to Africa, favoring nations that demonstrate the ability and willingness to help themselves, with U.S. envoys being evaluated on commercial deals rather than aid delivery. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized this new approach, marking a significant pivot in U.S. engagement with the continent toward mutual prosperity through economic partnerships. The summit underscores the Trump administration's strategy to prioritize business and investment ties over traditional aid models in Africa.