ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump is hosting leaders from five West African nations at the White House on Wednesday, as Washington seeks to deepen commercial ties on the continent amid rising geopolitical competition.

The summit with heads of state from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal comes at a time of renewed US engagement in Africa. Late last month, the US helped broker a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda – a move analysts say may pave the way for expanded American investment.

The Trump administration has long favored investment-led commercial partnerships over traditional aid models. The five invited countries, all located along Africa’s Atlantic coast and rich in natural resources, could serve US companies seeking to shorten supply chains and tap into emerging markets.

“While Africa remains low on the US and global agenda, this meeting is likely to be anchored in Washington’s quest to secure relations that are commercially beneficial to American operators, or that give American operators preferential treatment into strategic sectors and resources,” Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst at Control Risks consultancy, told Anadolu.

What the 5 African nations have to offer

China currently dominates critical mineral markets across Africa and beyond. But with growing export restrictions and a simmering trade war, the US is looking to diversify its sources of metals and minerals – and West Africa is emerging as a key frontier.

Each of the five nations represented at Wednesday’s meeting occupies a strategic coastal position. While the region faces challenges including maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, irregular migration and militant threats, it also offers opportunities to shorten global supply lines and secure new resource flows.

Except for Guinea-Bissau, which faces a political stalemate ahead of upcoming elections and transition, Mauritania, Senegal, Gabon and Liberia all enjoy “broad” political stability, said Ochieng.

Gabon, known for its vast rainforests and offshore oil fields, is also a major exporter of manganese, iron, and timber. Though uranium mining ceased in 1999, the sector holds untapped potential. Ochieng said Gabon is actively courting foreign investment as a "financial lifeline."

While much of its mining sector remains relatively undeveloped, Guinea-Bissau holds deposits of bauxite, phosphates, gold, diamonds, limestone, and petroleum.

Liberia, traditionally known for rubber, timber and iron ore, has recently identified reserves of uranium, lithium, cobalt, manganese and neodymium. President Joseph Boakai said earlier this year that the country aims to attract $3 billion in mineral-sector investment.

Mauritania’s economy is anchored in iron ore, copper and gold exports, with emerging oil and gas reserves and known deposits of rare earth minerals.

Senegal has also expanded extraction of phosphates, gold, iron and zircon. It is developing offshore oil and gas reserves, and its Atlantic-facing coastline yields mineral sands including ilmenite, rutile and leucoxene.

Tensions and trade-offs

The US has historically maintained security cooperation and diplomatic programs in the region, supporting counterinsurgency operations in the Sahel and providing trade benefits through initiatives such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

But Ochieng warned that Washington’s priorities may be shifting.

“Trump is, for instance, considering a wider visa ban that targets more African countries, which then limits their access. AGOA, which has been a lifeline for trade, is also at risk of collapsing,” she said.

On “Liberation Day” – when Trump imposed tariffs on nearly every trade US partner – the five countries attending the summit received a 10% tariff rate, the lowest bracket. Even so, tariffs could still harm sensitive sectors, and analysts say Trump may use the summit to promise trade concessions in exchange for investment opportunities favorable to American firms.

Ochieng said that while these countries are eager to deepen ties with the US, seen as a “benchmark for industry standards and expertise,” local pushback is possible if investments are perceived as one-sided.

“In the event that US investments are perceived to be exploitative or fail to adequately engage local stakeholders, there are likely to be tensions on the application of local regulations and prolonged underdevelopment of local industries or strategic sectors,” she said.

Tax breaks or relaxed regulations could also pose challenges for African governments committed to nationalist agendas, she added.

Playing both sides

African governments are increasingly navigating between the US and China in search of strategic advantage, rather than choosing sides outright.

“The countries that the US has selected for the meeting already have diverse partnerships,” Ochieng said. “At a time of geopolitical uncertainty, they have not necessarily demonstrated a preference for one partner over another.”

In some exceptional cases, as seen in the Sahel, there will be clear choices of one partner against the other, said the expert, but added that these countries have shown they are “moderate and pragmatic in their diplomatic engagements.”

She cited the recent withdrawal of French troops from Senegal as an example of a shift from security cooperation to economic engagement, without undermining diplomatic ties.

In Liberia, China’s growing presence in the media sector is unlikely to displace other international players, she added.

Instead, African countries may use major power competition to their advantage.

“Geopolitical rivalries will continue to play out on the continent,” she said. “And African countries are likely to take advantage of this to maintain strategic engagement.”