The US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has warned African leaders who are attending the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C that China and Russia risked “destabilising” the continent with their rising involvement.
He urged them to be wary of these powers, and instead work with the US to promote stability and prosperity in Africa. He explained that the US has a long history of working with African countries to promote peace and development, and that it is in Africa’s best interest to continue working with the US rather than aligning with either of the superpowers. Austin urged African leaders to consider the US as a partner in promoting stability and prosperity on the continent, rather than being swayed by either of the superpowers.
Austin noted that the United States was committed to working with African countries to help them develop their own capabilities and capacity, in order to protect their own populations and sovereign territories. He emphasised that this was not simply a paternalistic or altruistic endeavour, but rather in the strategic interest of the United States. By helping African countries build their own security forces and institutions, we can help them become more stable and prosperous, and thus help ourselves in the process.
At the start of a three-day U.S.-Africa summit, Mr Austin told a panel of presidents that the combination of activities by those two countries bears watching, and that their influence can be destabilising.
Mr Austin went on to say that the United States is concerned about the potential for instability in the region, and that they are monitoring the situation closely.
Mr Austin said China was raising its footprint in Africa “on a daily basis” through its growing economic influence. He said this was having a “huge impact” on the continent, particularly in terms of infrastructure development. But he warned that there was a “dark side” to China’s presence in Africa, with some countries becoming “heavily indebted” to Beijing.
Mr Austin believes that the Chinese government’s lack of transparency around its actions creates problems that could eventually lead to instability. He argues that more openness would help to build trust and resolve some of the tensions that exist.
Many Western officials have accused Russia of destabilising Europe through a variety of means. Mr. Austin, the new American defence secretary, said Tuesday that Russia continued “to peddle cheap weapons” and was deploying “mercenaries across the continent.”
“The Russian government continues to sell arms to the government of the Central African Republic,” he told a Senate committee, “in clear violation of international agreements and in direct contravention of a U.N. arms embargo.”
Mr. Austin’s accusation came a day after the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said that the bloc was considering new sanctions against Russia.
Agencies contributed to this report, Editing by Ericson Mangoli