New York Times: US Africa Strategy Counters China

The United States plans to devote more funding and attention on Africa, according to National Security Adviser John Bolton. He suggests the threat for Africa is not poverty or extremism but expanding Chinese influence. “Bolton conceded that the United States had limited resources to compete with the tens of billions of dollars China is pouring into Africa,” report Mark Landler and Edward Wong for the New York Times. “He also threatened to withdraw American aid for some United Nations peacekeeping missions, which he labeled ineffective, as well as for certain African countries like South Sudan that he said were corrupt or ungrateful.” Analysts question the worth of increased investment combined with pullback from troubled regions. Bolton added that Chinese investments in major public works projects increase debt and dependence on China for African nations. Chinese funding comes in the form of loans. Bolton has previously insisted that much of US aid to Africa is inefficient. For this new strategy, he did not specify a funding amount or recommendations for reducing waste. – YaleGlobal