China, Russia, the US and the EU are vying for resources and geopolitical influence in a sprawling region of the world.
As if it were a new colonial race, the main powers of the world have launched to conquer the influence – economic, military and political – of Africa, a continent in natural resources, which is expected to double its population from here to 2050, and the fastest urbanizing region of the world. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it is the second fastest growing region in the world. EL PERIÓDICO, from the Prensa Ibérica group, reviews the strategies of China, Russia, the United States and the European Union on this continent:
China
beijing It has been working on the African market for years and in 2009 ousted the US as its main trading partner. On this continent, China has found the solution to its inability to absorb production surpluses and a rich source of raw materials, and has integrated it into its project of New Silk Road.
Russia
the kremlin is taking advantage of the discredit of the former colonial powers (United Kingdom and France, mainly) to approach Africa in search of new markets after the slam of the West as a result of the ukrainian war. Your Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has visited 12 countries on the continent in the last two years. And he is occupying a hole, that of security, abandoned by the US and the countries of the European Union, with the mercenaries of the wagner group.
USA
This burgeoning influence of China and Russia has set off alarm bells in the West. After two decades of stagnant relationship, the Administration of Joe Biden has now decided to promote “cooperation” with African countries and has launched a diplomatic operation in which the president himself will participate, who will travel to the continent this year reversing the disdain of donald trumpwho did not make any visits to Africa in the four years of his tenure.
European Union
The 27 countries that make up the EU seek to counteract the strength of Moscow and Beijing with an investment of 150,000 million euros, half the amount that Brussels aspires to mobilize in its Global Gateway strategy, with which it seeks to position itself as a “trusted partner” in the world. The EU seeks to deploy aid to accelerate the ecological and digital transition of the continent or boost sustainable growth.