Georgia Howe

So President Biden just made this first ever presidential trip to Angola and announced over a billion dollars in U.S. aid to that country. The U.S. has made several trips to Africa in recent years, largely to combat China's growing influence in the region. First, for our listeners, can you give us some background on China's presence in the region?

So President Biden just made this first ever presidential trip to Angola and announced over a billion dollars in U.S. aid to that country. The U.S. has made several trips to Africa in recent years, largely to combat China's growing influence in the region. First, for our listeners, can you give us some background on China's presence in the region?

Got it. And what you're describing is called the Belt and Road Initiative. Can you unpack that a little bit more for us?

Got it. And what you're describing is called the Belt and Road Initiative. Can you unpack that a little bit more for us?

Sure. And how are these types of programs going? How is it actually playing out in terms of building infrastructure, et cetera, what they're supposed to be accomplishing? And how do citizens there feel about them?

Sure. And how are these types of programs going? How is it actually playing out in terms of building infrastructure, et cetera, what they're supposed to be accomplishing? And how do citizens there feel about them?

Obviously, there's a debt involved here with these loans. Do a lot of these countries end up finding themselves in crippling debt? Are they able to actually pay their way out of them? How's that playing out?

Obviously, there's a debt involved here with these loans. Do a lot of these countries end up finding themselves in crippling debt? Are they able to actually pay their way out of them? How's that playing out?

So now the Biden administration is giving $1 billion in U.S. aid. What is that designated to do? What kinds of stipulations does that come with in terms of how it can be used?

So now the Biden administration is giving $1 billion in U.S. aid. What is that designated to do? What kinds of stipulations does that come with in terms of how it can be used?

Right. There's that political drive to make things seem more generous than they are a lot of times. How do you think the presence of rare earth minerals that we use in many electronics, including semiconductors and EVs, how does that play into both China and the U.S. desire to influence Africa?

Right. There's that political drive to make things seem more generous than they are a lot of times. How do you think the presence of rare earth minerals that we use in many electronics, including semiconductors and EVs, how does that play into both China and the U.S. desire to influence Africa?

We're about to have a new administration, the Trump administration. Do you see anything changing in regard to what was just promised to Angola as the new administration comes in? Is this the kind of thing that might be reversed or not?

We're about to have a new administration, the Trump administration. Do you see anything changing in regard to what was just promised to Angola as the new administration comes in? Is this the kind of thing that might be reversed or not?

Yeah, it makes sense. And what do you think the future of Western nations and G7 nations in Africa is going to look like in the next decade or so?

Yeah, it makes sense. And what do you think the future of Western nations and G7 nations in Africa is going to look like in the next decade or so?

You brought up Russia. I would like to ask specifically about that. What is Russia's role or influence in the region in Africa in general?

You brought up Russia. I would like to ask specifically about that. What is Russia's role or influence in the region in Africa in general?

Final question. From your perspective, what do you think is one of the most important things to keep an eye on in the next couple of years in terms of developments with relationships between the U.S. and Africa?

Final question. From your perspective, what do you think is one of the most important things to keep an eye on in the next couple of years in terms of developments with relationships between the U.S. and Africa?