Leaders inspect military personnel during a formal event related to trade policies.
William Ruto, the president of Kenya, has pledged to strengthen ties with Beijing. Ruto, on a five-day trip to the East Asian country, cited the global trade tensions stirred by US tariffs as justification for this move. He highlighted Kenya’s desire to learn from China’s governance and economic development transformation, and thanked Xi Jinping, China’s president, for Beijing’s investment in Kenya’s education, health, and disaster relief. Both countries signed several agreements, including security, technology, and infrastructure deals. Ruto also criticized the UN Security Council and global trade systems, calling them “broken.” He emphasized the importance of the global South’s unity, aligning Kenya with China’s goals. Having initially pursued a relationship with the US, Ruto appears to have shifted his focus after Donald Trump’s aid cuts and trade war.