Send JD Vance to Africa

Wall Street Journal

12 hours ago

Nigeria's population will be bigger than China's in 2100. Africa already has the youngest population in the world and will keep growing. It is rich in minerals, rare-earth minerals and ambition. Whoever builds serious economic relationships there now will shape the global balance of power tomorrow. So far, that hasn't been America. But there's real potential in the Trump White House, if the president puts the right man on the job.
Under both parties, Washington has treated Africa like a charity case: useful for virtue signaling and grants, but not for serious geopolitics or trade. The result is a lost continent—with which the enemies of the U.S. are moving swiftly to engage. China is locking down mineral concessions, ports and telecoms. Russia moved into the Sahel with Wagner flags and Kalashnikovs. Turkey is opening mosques and construction sites. Even Iran is showing hustle. America is mostly absent.
That may be changing in President Trump's second term. Africa has re-entered U.S. political conversation—not through humanitarian appeals, but through old-fashioned deal-making. There's talk of a deal to protect Congo's territorial integrity with American security assistance as the country combats rebels in the east in exchange for mineral rights. Senior White House advisers are making multicountry visits on the continent to explore opportunities for the U.S. private sector.
The closing of the U.S. Agency for International Development also sent a signal: No more feel-good global welfare. It's time to talk business and self-reliance.