U.S. Secures $25.67 Billion in Africa to Counter China

The Trump administration has facilitated 37 commercial deals worth $25.67 billion across Africa to compete with China's extensive economic and security presence on the continent. U.S. officials warn that Chinese state-subsidized overcapacity threatens local African industries and exposes nations to debt and economic coercion.

A primary point of contention is the control of critical minerals. U.S. Africa Command identifies China's dominance in battery-grade graphite processing as a structural vulnerability for the U.S. defense industrial base. To counter this, Washington is backing the Lobito Corridor to link copper deposits in Congo and Zambia to Angola's Atlantic port.

Simultaneously, China is expanding its influence through a 2025-2027 action plan that provides military grants and training for thousands of African personnel. China maintains a military base in Djibouti and continues to seek further access to the Atlantic coast. In Zambia, former Mines Minister Paul Chongo Kabuswe noted that Chinese interest does not preclude the desire for United States companies to operate in the region.