U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host leaders from five African countries in Washington next week to discuss what the White House calls “commercial opportunities.”
The meeting, scheduled for July 9 at the White House, will feature discussions and a luncheon with leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, according to a White House official.
“President Trump believes African nations present significant commercial opportunities that benefit both the American people and our African partners,” the official said, explaining the purpose of the gathering.
Earlier reports from Africa Intelligence and Semafor suggested the Trump administration planned a broader summit with these countries from July 9 to 11.
Under Trump’s leadership, the U.S. has sharply reduced foreign aid to Africa, arguing much of it is ineffective and conflicts with his “America First” policy. Instead, the administration emphasizes trade and investment that promote mutual prosperity.
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted this shift, announcing Washington’s move away from a charity-focused aid model toward supporting countries that demonstrate “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
In May, Troy Fitrel, a senior official at the Bureau of African Affairs, said U.S. diplomats on the continent would now be assessed based on the commercial deals they secure, marking this as the foundation of America’s new engagement strategy in Africa.
Notably, Nigeria—the continent’s largest economy and most populous country—was not invited, despite its historically strong diplomatic and economic ties with the United States.
