Trump to host five African leaders next week, reports say

The first African leaders’ summit of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term is set to take place next week in Washington, with heads of state from Western and Central African countries expected to attend, according to media reports.

The news was initially reported by Africa Intelligence and confirmed to Semafor by a source familiar with the plans.

The summit will be held from 9 to 11 July and will see President Trump joined by leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. Reuters has yet to independently verify these reports.

The Trump administration has significantly reduced U.S. foreign aid to African nations as part of its 'America First' policy, aiming to cut spending deemed wasteful and to prioritise trade and investment, fostering mutual economic prosperity.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington is moving away from a charity-based aid model to focus support on countries that demonstrate “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”

American envoys in Africa will now be assessed based on the commercial deals they secure. Troy Fitrel, a senior official for African affairs, described this approach in May as the new strategy for U.S. engagement on the continent.

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