Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, will on Wednesday meet President Bola Tinubu, in Abuja as part of his official engagements in Nigeria.
BusinessDay gathered that on top of the agenda for the visit are the issues of security, health and climate, in furtherance of the US/ Africa summit.
Blinken’s visit to Africa will also take him to Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Angola, from the 21 to 26 of January 2024
Matthew Miller, Spokesperson of the US Department of State, earlier announced Blinken’s planned visit to the four countries.
Miller said the visit is aimed at highlighting the progression of the United States’ relationship with the continent after the US–Africa leaders summit in 2022.
According to him ” Throughout the trip, the secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S/Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food, and health security,”
The visit will also allow both countries to discuss future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace.
Additionally, the Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law.
He will also reaffirm U.S. commitment to coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges, and U.S. efforts to support African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Miller noted that the United States has continued to reaffirm its sustained commitment to high-level U.S. engagement with Africa.
