While the Trump administration has taken a hard line toward Africa through aid cuts, travel bans, and pressure on governments like South Africa, it has also generated more investor excitement in Washington than we've seen in years. Donald Trump's new transactional foreign policy for the continent is prompting newfound enthusiasm from U.S. mining, oil, and security companies.

But translating that enthusiasm into actual engagement won't be easy. The majority of U.S. companies taking the first steps into the continent's critical minerals sector, for example, are small, inexperienced, and lag far behind their Chinese competitors.

Maureen Farrell, a non-resident senior fellow at The Atlantic Council, is in the midst of co-writing a six-part series of recommendations for U.S. policymakers to bolster U.S. security and economic engagement in Africa. Maureen joins Eric & Géraud to explain why Guinea, Libya, and Mozambique are of particular interest.

📌 Topics Covered in this Episode

• U.S.-China competition in Africa
• Critical minerals and supply chains
• Guinea mining opportunities
• Libya geopolitics and energy
• Mozambique LNG and security risks
• Challenges facing US companies

Show Notes:

• The Atlantic Council: In Guinea, the US has a rare opportunity to gain an edge over China by Rose Keravuori and Maureen Farrell
• The Atlantic Council: The US is reengaging with Libya—and it's the right call by Rose Keravuori and Maureen Farrell
• The Atlantic Council: In Mozambique, US economic priorities hinge on security investments by Rose Keravuori and Maureen Farrell

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