Biden to hold Africa summit to boost US ties: Blinken

Biden to hold Africa summit to boost US ties: Blinken

US President Joe Biden plans to hold a summit with African leaders to show US commitment to the continent, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Friday.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event in the South Court Auditorium of the White House June 2, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden spoke on the COVID-19 response and the vaccination program announcing new incentives including free beer, free
Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP

"President Biden intends to host the US-Africa Leaders Summit to drive the kind of high-level diplomacy and engagement that can transform relationships and make effective cooperation possible," Blinken said in the Nigerian capital Abuja.


Blinken, who is on his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as secretary of state, did not give a date for the summit.


The move comes as China steps up engagement with Africa including through a major meeting this month in Senegal, where Blinken heads later Friday.


US allies France, Britain and Japan have also been holding regular summits with African leaders.

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