In a bid to counter China and Russia’s growing influence in Africa, US President Donald Trump hosted a selective summit with leaders from just five African nations—Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, and Gabon—over lunch at the White House. Skipping major players like Nigeria and South Africa, Trump’s guest list favored smaller, mineral-rich countries not aligned with BRICS. The meeting emphasized trade, investment, and US access to critical minerals, replacing traditional aid with transactional diplomacy. While the invited leaders welcomed US partnership, critics say the move is strategic cherry-picking. With a broader summit expected later, Trump is betting on a commerce-first foreign policy to reassert US clout on the continent.
CNN
