President Joe Biden and Chief Operating Officer of Lobito Atlantic Railway Nicolas Gregoire tour the Lobito Port Terminal in Lobito, Angola, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Image: AP
President Joe Biden and Chief Operating Officer of Lobito Atlantic Railway Nicolas Gregoire tour the Lobito Port Terminal in Lobito, Angola, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Image: AP
(The Post News)- President Joe Biden, recognized for his longstanding fondness for trains, utilized the last day of his trip to Angola to highlight the area’s rail initiative supported by the U.S.
During his visit to Angola, Mr. Biden did not use the Amtrak train that he frequently used as a senator or choose to launch his first presidential campaign nearly four decades ago. Mr. Biden opted to visit a segment of an 800-mile railway initiative in Angola that his administration believes will be crucial for enhancing U.S. economic impact in Africa, a region abundant in essential minerals.
Mr. Biden was highlighting the Lobito Corridor, a railway initiative that his advisors claim demonstrates the president’s dedication to being “fully engaged in Africa’s future,” amid rising worries that the United States has overlooked the continent over time and permitted China to achieve economic superiority in the area.
The initiative, partially financed by the United States, stretches from Angola’s boundary with the Democratic Republic of Congo to Lobito, located along the Atlantic Ocean. Mr. Biden stated that it will aid in linking Angola’s economy to neighboring markets, such as those in Zambia. However, it also serves as a way to broaden U.S. access to a region abundant in essential minerals, such as copper and cobalt, which are utilized in the production of batteries for various items, including cell phones and electric cars.
When the railway is finished, it would enable minerals to be transported more easily to the United States, helping the nation advance its aim of diversifying its supply chains. However, in spite of Mr. Biden’s celebratory remarks on Wednesday, experts in foreign policy indicate that the United States still has a challenging road ahead in competing with China for access to essential minerals on the continent.
Beijing assisted Angola in reconstruction following a brutal civil war that concluded in 2002; from that point on, Angola has amassed over $42 billion in debt to China, the highest of any African country. Although Mr. Biden anticipates that the new rail line will increase access to essential minerals, China currently possesses strong control over these minerals in Congo.
The White House stated that the project will also stimulate increased private sector investment in the region. The Biden administration is supporting the project through federal grants and direct loans, which his aides claim feature lower interest rates than those provided by China, leaving African countries burdened with debt, as stated by the White House.
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