
State of the World from NPR
The U.S. and China Vie for Influence in Africa
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The U.S. is investing heavily to enhance African infrastructure like the Lubito railway, aimed at countering China's dominance in mining.
- Local mining communities remain focused on economic survival, often disregarding the larger geopolitical rivalries between the U.S. and China.
Deep dives
U.S. Investment Strategy in African Mining
The U.S. is investing billions to upgrade the Lubito railway in Angola, aiming to enhance infrastructure that connects vital mineral deposits to international markets. This initiative is largely viewed as a response to China's extensive presence and investment in Africa's mining sector, particularly in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds over 70% of the world's cobalt. Despite these efforts, experts argue that the timing of U.S. initiatives may be inadequate, with some stating it is 'too little, too late' to effectively compete with China's established operations and investment. With the strategic importance of these minerals for electric vehicle production and other technologies, the U.S. seeks to reposition itself in the global supply chain by accessing new routes that are closer to European and American markets.