New US Africa Strategy To Advance Trade, Benefit US And Friendly African Nations - Bolton

The Trump administration has launched a new strategy for Africa that will prioritize the interests of the United States in all aspects of its relations with countries on the continent, including trade, the war on terror and US financial assistance.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th December, 2018) The Trump administration has launched a new strategy for Africa that will prioritize the interests of the United States in all aspects of its relations with countries on the continent, including trade, the war on terror and US financial assistance.

"Under our new approach, every decision we make, every policy we pursue, and every Dollar of aid we spend will further US priorities in the region," Bolton said at the Heritage Foundation in Washington as he rolled out the new strategy.

Bolton said the strategy would lead to a series of bilateral trade agreements targeting nations that are both friendly and strategically important to the United States and will give partner nations the means to fight terrorism and confront other security threats.

"In the coming years and months we also intend to pursue modern comprehensive trade agreements on the continent that ensure fair and reciprocal exchange between the United States and the nations of Africa," Bolton said.

"As our partner nations develop economically, they will be better prepared to address a range of security threats including terrorism and militant violence."

Bolton added that the initiative would begin with a focus on bilateral negotiations to expand trade, as opposed to past US development efforts based on aid grants to projects sponsored by African governments.

The approach is intended to provide an alternative to massive infrastructure financing from the Chinese government for Beijing's One-Belt, One-Road initiative, and similar, though less extensive investments by Russia to gain influence in Africa, Bolton said.

Bolton also pledged unspecified additional steps by the United States to help African nations in their present battles against Islamist terrorism.