U.S. President Donald Trump will host the leaders of five African nations at the White House next week for a summit aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties, a senior White House official confirmed on Wednesday.
The summit, scheduled for July 9 to 11, will include presidents from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal. Discussions will center on expanding “commercial opportunities” between the United States and the participating African countries, culminating in a working lunch on July 9.
“President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities that benefit both the American people and our African partners,” the official said.
The event marks a notable shift in U.S.-Africa policy under Trump’s second term, emphasizing business-driven engagement over traditional development aid. The White House has scaled back foreign assistance across the continent in favor of what officials describe as a “trade-first” approach aligned with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored this policy direction earlier in the week, stating that U.S. support will prioritize African nations that demonstrate “both the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
Troy Fitrel, head of the State Department’s Africa bureau, added that American diplomats posted in Africa will now be assessed based on commercial agreements and investment outcomes, rather than aid-based development metrics—a clear signal of the administration’s recalibrated strategy toward the continent.
First reported by Intelligence and Semafor, the summit is expected to produce new bilateral trade initiatives and deepen economic ties between the U.S. and select African partners, reflecting Washington’s evolving approach to global engagement.
