Staying the Course: Vital U.S. Interests on the African Continent

It is in the national interests of the United States to actively promote the stability and self-reliance of African nations that will lead to economic growth. Another nation, China, has emerged as the leading competitor with the United States for influence on the African continent. Some argue that this is cause for concern for U.S. policy makers, and has no positive implications. Rather than viewing China solely as a competing power for influence on the African continent, this paper contends that there are aligned interests and values for both nations there and cooperation may be a more effective strategy with China. U.S. efforts to help African nations find solutions to African problems will require continued and well coordinated application of all instruments of national power, with U.S. Africa Command playing a crucial role. Despite todays highly constrained fiscal environment in the United States and Chinas continued investment on the continent, it is critical that the U.S. government stay the course with regard to African development. Only through continued U.S. commitment to fostering the development of nations on the African continent will one of the worlds most slowly developing regions become a stable and self-sufficient economic and diplomatic partner of the United States.