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Former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host leaders from five African nations at the White House next week for high-level talks focused on trade and investment opportunities.
The meeting, scheduled for July 9, will include a working lunch and closed-door discussions with the heads of state from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, according to a White House official.
“President Trump believes African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities that can benefit both Americans and our African partners,” the official stated, emphasizing the business-first focus of the gathering.
Reports from Africa Intelligence and Semafor earlier suggested that this meeting is part of a broader investment summit running from July 9 to 11, highlighting Trump’s push for a new era of U.S.-Africa economic cooperation.
This shift reflects a key policy change under Trump’s leadership: scaling back traditional aid programs in favor of trade and private-sector investment. The administration argues that many aid initiatives have been inefficient and misaligned with Trump’s “America First” approach.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this stance on Tuesday, announcing a move away from a “charity-based” aid model. Instead, the U.S. will prioritize partnerships with nations that demonstrate a capacity for self-sustained development.
Troy Fitrel, a senior official in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, previously stated that U.S. diplomats in Africa will now be assessed based on their ability to secure commercial deals a clear sign of Washington’s evolving strategy on the continent.
Interestingly, Nigeria Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation was not included in the list of invited countries, despite its historically strong ties with the U.S.
As the July 9 meeting approaches, all eyes will be on what kind of commercial agreements might emerge — and what this signals for the future of U.S.-Africa relations under Trump’s influence.
