U.S. President Joe Biden has embarked on his first and only African visit of his presidency to launch a strategic initiative in Angola designed to challenge China’s growing economic foothold in the continent.
Reuters reports that Biden will focus on the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR) project, a significant U.S.-backed infrastructure venture linking the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic port. The project, partly funded by a $550 million U.S. Development Finance Corporation loan, is explicitly aimed at diverting critical mineral exports away from Chinese influence.
As Reuters details, the trip comes in the waning days of Biden’s presidency, with the understanding that his likely successor, Donald Trump, is expected to continue supporting the railway project. The initiative targets vast mineral supplies, particularly copper and cobalt, which are crucial for battery and electronics manufacturing.
According to Reuters, Angola has historically maintained close ties with China and Russia but is now moving closer to Western partnerships. The transport minister, Ricardo Viegas d’Abreu, candidly noted that “China has only gained prominence because Western countries have probably not been paying much attention to Africa.”
Reuters highlights the project’s geopolitical significance, with experts noting it could potentially reduce China’s dominance in Congo’s mining sector. The railway offers an alternative export route, challenging China’s existing economic infrastructure in the region.
The news agency reports that Biden will briefly stop in Cape Verde before arriving in Angola, where he plans to visit the nation’s slavery museum in Luanda and inspect the Lobito port. The trip symbolizes a diplomatic turnaround, given the complicated history between the U.S. and Angola during their Cold War-era civil conflict.
Interestingly, Reuters notes that while this trip delivers on one of Biden’s African pledges, many promises remain unfulfilled, including proposed permanent African seats at the UN Security Council.
As Biden’s final foreign expedition draws to a close, the Lobito railway project stands as a potential legacy initiative, awaiting further development by the next administration in its ongoing strategic competition with China.
