United States President Donald Trump has excluded Nigeria from a select group of African nations invited to Washington next week for discussions focused on enhancing commercial ties, a White House official confirmed on Wednesday.
Presidents from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal will join Trump at the White House on July 9 for a roundtable meeting and lunch, which forms part of a broader summit scheduled to run through July 11.
“President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both the American people and our African partners,” the official stated, highlighting the administration’s strategy of pivoting from aid to trade.
The summit, first reported by Africa Intelligence and Semafor, underscores a growing priority on fostering economic partnerships over traditional foreign assistance.
Since assuming office, the Trump administration has dramatically cut U.S. foreign aid to African countries, in line with its “America First” policy. Officials have argued that the previous model of aid was unsustainable and did not effectively serve U.S. interests.
“Our focus is on trade and investment that deliver mutual prosperity,” the White House said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this message on Tuesday, saying Washington was “moving away from a charity-based model” and would instead prioritise support for countries that demonstrate both “the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
Reflecting this shift, America’s senior diplomat for African Affairs, Troy Fitrel, disclosed in May that U.S. ambassadors across Africa would now be assessed partly on the commercial deals they help broker.
As the U.S. redefines its relationship with the continent, the upcoming summit is expected to concentrate on trade, infrastructure, and investment opportunities, marking what officials describe as a new chapter in U.S.-Africa engagement under Trump’s leadership.
