Objectives of Blinken's Africa trip not achieved

The visit by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to three African countries－South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda－was less about cooperation and more about US geopolitical interests of countering China's and Russia's influence in Africa.

Blinken was in South Africa to launch the new US Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, which focuses on climate change, trade, health and food insecurity. Although these were the stated reasons for his visit, it is believed that the hidden agenda is a strategy to win support of African countries in the new "cold war" against Beijing and Moscow.

In his remarks, Blinken criticized China for its strong reaction to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taiwan. South Africa is a member of BRICS－the grouping of major emerging economies that also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China－and its leaders have made it clear that their country cannot be patronized or bullied to accept certain positions taken by the West.

In a joint news conference, Naledi Pandor, South Africa's minister of international relations, stressed that "from some of our partners in Europe and elsewhere, there has been a sense of patronizing bullying－'You choose this or else'."

Naledi accused the West of bullying on the Russia-Ukraine crisis. She also said that South Africa's views on the Ukraine crisis, China, and Israel and the Palestinians are different from those of the US.

Blinken who expected to woo South Africa from its close relationship with China and Russia, must have realized how the US gets it wrong trying to undermine other countries all over the world for selfish geopolitical interests. The US and NATO are putting pressure on African countries to align with its policy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

South Africa criticized a US bill passed in April, the so-called "Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act", which has been seen as intended to punish African countries that have not toed the US' line on the Ukraine crisis.

The visit by the US secretary of state came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visits last month to Egypt, the Republic of Congo, Uganda and Ethiopia. Blinken's visit also occurred while the US is planning to host the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, scheduled for Dec 13-15.

This shows the extent to which the US is trying to court African countries and edge out its perceived enemies and competitors.

The administration of US President Joe Biden is uncomfortable with the Belt and Road Initiative, which has improved the development of much-needed infrastructure in Africa. The US has falsely claimed that China is submerging the African continent with debt burden.

During his tour, Blinken said that the Biden administration sees Africa's 54 nations as "equal partners" in tackling global problems, a statement that was seen as a blatant lie and part of the usual Western hypocrisy when dealing with Africa.

Although Blinken announced that the US Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa focuses on climate change, trade, health and food insecurity, in practice the COVID-19 experience showed African countries who their true friends are.

For example, although the US provided assistance to African countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the assistance came rather late, especially the critically needed vaccines. The US and other Western countries were hoarding vaccines when African countries were in dire need.

China and Russia shared their vaccines with African countries, even before their own citizens were fully vaccinated.

Blinken's trip to South Africa and Rwanda exposed the US' arrogance and misguided foreign policy, and one can confidently say that the visit was a flop because the objectives of the trip were not realized.

The author is a researcher in Rwanda on China and Africa.