New US Security Strategy Signals Major Reset on Africa

Washington’s new National Security Strategy (NSS) marks a sharp reset in how the United States (US) intends to deal with Africa, beginning with an unusually candid admission that decades of policy have missed the mark.

The document forms part of a wider rethink in how Washington handles its global affairs. It frames the world as an arena of great power rivalry and aligns American foreign relations behind the goal of outcompeting China and Russia.

The Africa section of the NSS opens with the line, “For far too long, American policy in Africa has focused on providing, and later on spreading, liberal ideology,” arguing that this approach has failed to reflect the continent’s strategic and economic weight.

In its place, the NSS calls for highly selective relationships built around concrete interests. It says, “The US should instead look to partner with select countries to ameliorate conflict, foster mutually beneficial trade relationships,” and later adds that “[t]he US should transition from an aid-focused relationship with Africa to a trade- and investment-focused relationship,” prioritising states that open markets and can act as reliable partners.

Economic competition sits at the heart of the shift. The strategy singles out “the energy sector and critical mineral development” as immediate opportunities for US investment, highlighting nuclear, liquid petroleum gas, and liquified natural gas technologies as tools to secure resources while generating returns.

Security concerns are recast in narrower terms. The NSS points to emerging flashpoints and notes that “as well as action to amend our approach to aid and investment (e.g., the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act)” there are “opportunities for engagement” in conflict resolution. On terrorism, it cautions that “we must remain wary of resurgent Islamist terrorist activity in parts of Africa while avoiding any long-term American presence or commitments”.

Overall, the document signals a decisive shift away from values-driven, aid-heavy engagement toward pragmatic deals anchored in trade, investment, and limited but targeted security co-operation.