U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Africa next month, the White House announced Tuesday (Sep. 24), marking his first trip to the continent while in office.
He will initially go to Berlin. According to the White House, he will strengthen ties and express thanks to Germany for backing Ukraine’s defence against Russia, among other things, while in Berlin.
He will then fly to Angola from October 13 to 15, where he will discuss strengthening economic connections and increasing security, among other concerns, with President Joao Lourenco. Biden will also describe his proposal for a train project that would begin in Angola and connect the Atlantic and Indian seas.
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, ‘The President’s visit to Luanda celebrates the evolution of the U.S.-Angola relationship, underscores the United States’ continued commitment to African partners, and demonstrates how collaborating to solve shared challenges delivers for the people of the United States and across the African continent.’
Biden had set his sights on visiting the country last year, but his plans were put on hold after the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October. He has vowed closer U.S. ties with democracies on the African continent, as China increases its influence in the region.
Biden had promised during a summit of African leaders he hosted in Washington in late 2022 to visit Africa the following year. His visit was to be the capstone of an administration effort to shore up ties with the continent, partly to counter growing influence there from China, which the US perceives as a rival.
However, 2023 passed without a visit from Biden.
Several top US officials including Vice President Kamala Harris visited African nations, though, on behalf of the now outgoing president.
Earlier Tuesday, the president declared that the U.S. is giving at least $500 million, along with 1 million mpox vaccines, to help African countries as they seek to quell the mpox outbreak.
Tuesday also saw Biden make his final address to the UN General Assembly as president.
