EU, Africa Leaders to Talk Trade and Minerals as Ukraine Looms Large
Dozens of EU and African leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Kenya’s William Ruto, assemble in Angola for a summit focused on trade, migration, and securing Africa’s critical raw materials. The summit, marking 25 years of EU–African Union relations, is set against tense US–EU diplomatic rifts over Washington’s Ukraine peace plan, widely criticized as favoring Moscow. Efforts to revamp EU-Africa ties reflect new competition from China, Russia, Gulf states, and Turkey, with Africa no longer relying solely on Europe as a partner. The EU remains the continent’s largest investor and commercial counterpart, but resentment over colonial history and China’s growing presence threaten its influence. Key priorities include: Boosting intra-African trade and economic development, with EU support for major infrastructure projects like Angola’s Lobito railway corridor. Tackling migration and security cooperation. Ensuring Africa’s voice in global governance. Securing […]
