US intends to strengthen Partnership with Nigeria, Africa

The US has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering its engagement with Nigeria and other African nations.

In an address to the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated the US considers Africa a “major geopolitical force” where it strives to provide infrastructure projects that benefit everyone.

Mr. Blinken stated that many infrastructure accords “burden countries with untenable debt,” and that the American approach to bridging infrastructure deficits would be long-term, transparent, and values-driven.

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“Our commitment to inclusive growth is driving our Build Back Better World project, which aims to help reduce the global infrastructure gap,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry.

“We want to aid local communities by creating local jobs.” We support anti-corruption and transparency policies that allow leaders and citizens to assess whether deals negotiated on their behalf are truly beneficial. We also aim to safeguard both workers and the environment.

“Too often, international infrastructure projects are opaque and coercive; they saddle countries with unmanageable debt; they’re environmentally damaging; and they don’t always help the people who live there.” “We’re going to do things a little differently.”

Governments across Africa are weary of the strings that come with international engagement, according to the top US diplomat, who fears that in a world of stronger rivalry among major powers, countries may be compelled to pick.

Mr. Blinken stated that the United States would not impose any restrictions on African collaborations with other countries.

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“We wish to strengthen your relationships with us.” We don’t want to force you to make a decision. We aim to provide you with options. We can provide genuine benefits to our people on the topics that matter most to them if we work together,” he remarked.

He claimed that African countries were frequently treated unfairly as junior partners or worse, rather than equal partners.

He stated that the US believes it is past time to stop treating Africa as a geopolitical issue and begin considering it as the important geopolitical player that it has become.

“We’re cognizant of decades of colonialism, slavery, and exploitation, which have left sad legacies that continue to this day.”

The US Secretary of State stated that Africa has the greatest renewable energy potential of any continent, and that Africa will shape the future.

Mr. Blinken also revealed that the US was collaborating on five areas of development, including global health, inclusive growth, climate change, democracy, and security.

He stated that the US has established a $3 billion climate response fund to fight climate-related challenges.

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Mr Blinken said the US was working with Senegal and South Africa to empower the two countries to begin developing vaccines locally in order to restrict COVID-19 in Africa.

Mr. Blinken, who is in Nigeria for the second time this year, noted that the democratic issues that African countries face are not unique to the continent.