Dec
16
What to Do About Africa
“We’ve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent.” — Ronald Reagan
Anytime I hear or read someone promoting isolationist policy — and usually citing George Washington in support of it — I have to shake my head. Washington actually made a lot of great points in that Farewell Address. He also thought that the Atlantic Ocean afforded the U.S. a “natural isolation”, allowing us to largely avoid getting “entangled” in the affairs of other nations.
But, as much as I love ol’ George, his world was a lot simpler in some respects. In order to survive and thrive in this world, a nation as large and populous as ours (and with our natural resources) needs to not only develop good trade relationships but also gather intelligence and, if necessary, deploy a show of military force when “bad actors” act badly. (Picking and choosing our battles, of course, which we have done with mixed wisdom and mixed results.) In other words, we can’t just ignore the expansionist moves of Communists, fascists, or Islamists, because they *will* cause us grief and will eventually become the barbarians at our gates — or, the Trojans we invite in, to our detriment.
I rarely agree with FDR, but he once said (and I agree):
“We must open our eyes and see that modern civilization has become so complex and the lives of civilized men so interwoven with the lives of other men in other countries as to make it impossible to be in this world and out of it.”
The latest issue before us is what is happening in Africa, which our own government has apparently been dithering about for some time. Most of us are aware of the Islamist militant groups — e.g., Boko Haram, Al-Shabab, AQIM — active in Somalia, Nigeria, Libya, and other areas of Africa in recent years. What is less obvious and even more distressing is how Russia and China have managed to gain a lot of influence behind the scenes, as well. As National security adviser John Bolton noted in a recent speech at The Heritage Foundation:
“China and Russia are rapidly expanding their financial and political influence across Africa,… deliberately and aggressively targeting their investments in the region to gain a competitive advantage over the United States.”
China’s long-range strategy has allowed it to leverage debt — i.e., billions lent to various African nations — to take over a utility company and expand military bases, similar to what it has done elsewhere. Russia’s more direct, opportunistic strategy, meanwhile, involves “corrupt economic dealings” and selling arms in exchange for U.N. votes.
“The predatory practices pursued by China and Russia stunt economic growth in Africa; threaten the financial independence of African nations; inhibit opportunities for U.S. investment; interfere with U.S. military operations; and pose a significant threat to U.S. national security interests.”
Bolton at Heritage
So, what can the U.S. do about it? Do we actually, finally have a strategy? In short, yes.
Bolton laid out the Trump administration’s new, threefold ‘Prosper Africa’ initiative, which Heritage’s Joshua Meservey and Brett Schaefer summarized as follows:
o Enhancing U.S. trade and commercial ties with African nations through arrangements that benefit both the United States and Africa. According to Bolton, “We want our economic partners in the region to thrive, prosper, and control their own destinies. In America’s economic dealings, we ask only for reciprocity, never for subservience.”
o Countering the threat of Islamic terrorism. Specifically, Bolton announced, “ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their affiliates all operate and recruit on the African continent, plotting attacks against American citizens and targets. Any sound U.S. strategy toward Africa must address this serious threat in a comprehensive way.”
o Ensuring that the U.S. allocates its foreign assistance efficiently and effectively to advance U.S. interests. In particular, Bolton emphasized, “The United States will no longer provide indiscriminate assistance across the entire continent, without focus or prioritization. And, we will no longer support unproductive, unsuccessful, and unaccountable U.N. peacekeeping missions.”
I’m far from an expert on the subject, but this all makes sense to me, and it is strongly in line with what The Heritage Foundation and other conservative foreign policy experts have been recommending for quite a while. I look forward to seeing what might be accomplished through this, assuming Trump’s enemies don’t kill, neuter, or roadblock the plan out of a misguided anti-Trumpism.
Meservey and Schaefer conclude their article:
“In the end, it is worth noting that recent administrations have talked a big game about shifting the U.S. and Africa away from a benefactor-supplicant relationship toward a true partnership. This strategy outlines a path to realize that goal.”
