A three-day U.S.-Africa summit began on Tuesday in Washington, with President Joe Biden's administration planning to commit $55 billion over the next three years to support the continent where China is increasing its economic clout.
A total of 49 countries and the African Union have been invited to the event for talks on cooperation on a range of issues such as trade and investment, security, health and climate, as well as space.
On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced the expansion of Washington's space partnerships by welcoming the first African signatories -- Nigeria and Rwanda -- to the Artemis Accords laying out principles to guide space exploration cooperation, bringing the total participants to 23 nations.
All signatories are expected to facilitate peaceful collaboration in space, including through the Artemis project, a U.S.-led international effort aimed at advancing lunar exploration and eventually sending astronauts on missions to Mars. Other nations that have joined the accords include Japan, South Korea, Australia and France.
Upon announcing its hosting of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, the White House said the gathering will "demonstrate the United States' enduring commitment to Africa, and will underscore the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities."
Biden also intends to announce during the event U.S. support for the AU to join the Group of 20 major economies as a permanent member, hoping to bring more voices from Africa into the international forum, according to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Some experts have pointed out that while the summit is welcome, such a gathering is "overdue" in light of China's increasing involvement in Africa, including through its Belt and Road infrastructure projects.
"Over the decades since the Cold War, Chinese influence in Africa has increased significantly, while U.S. influence has flatlined," Thomas Sheehy, who examines the role of Beijing in Africa at the U.S. Institute of Peace, wrote in a commentary posted on the organization's website earlier this month.
"While certain countries, including Ethiopia, Angola and Zambia, have been a priority, China has grown its presence in most every African country," he added.
China has been holding the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation every three years since 2000, while other nations including Russia and Japan also hold Africa summits. The latest U.S.-Africa gathering, however, is only the second Africa summit held by the United States, with the first occurring in 2014, according to Sheehy.
