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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 22 november 2023
As 2023 draws to close, Biden’s promised visit to Africa shows no

signs of happening yet

By JOSH BOAK and CHRIS alibi,” said Daniel Russel, sures and other crises that
MEGERIAN vice president for interna- are happening across the
Associated Press tional security and diplo- world.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- macy at the Asia Society She said the U.S.-China cli-
dent Joe Biden promised Policy Institute. mate agreement struck
to visit Africa this year, but Biden went to the 2021 U.N. earlier this month is a good
2023 is drawing to a close climate change summit in beginning and that both
with no trip in sight yet. Nor Glasgow, Scotland, and countries have veteran
has Biden given any pub- the 2022 climate confer- climate envoys so that will
lic indication he plans to ence in Egypt. Officials in- compensate.
attend the U.N. climate volved in preparations for Still, the idea that Biden
change conference that the 2023 summit seemed might skip the Dubai sum-
starts next week in Dubai. to acknowledge that world mit was stinging to some.
U.S. presidents tend to re- leaders this year were con- “Joe Biden claims to be a
veal their priorities through President Joe Biden speaks after pardoning the national fronting an array of chal- champion when it comes
their calendars. Biden has Thanksgiving turkey, during a ceremony at the White House in lenges because of the to the environment but
pledged a closer relation- Washington, Nov. 20, 2023. wars. from Africa, where I am, it
ship with African countries. Associated Press U.N. Environment Pro- looks cowardly and cruel,”
He similarly has stressed the with African leaders. of Ukraine and fighting be- gramme Director Inger said Mohamed Adow, di-
importance of global lead- Such visits are often made tween Israel and Hamas. Andersen said the agency rector of Power Shift Africa.
ership on climate change. as a political gesture “to “At some level, the crisis in would like to have as many “We need to see our green
Presidential trips can come make people feel good,” the Middle East, combined heads of state as possible political champions step-
together very quickly said Jideofor Adibe, a pro- with the ongoing Ukraine at negotiations but “we ping up and pushing each
if necessary. Biden has fessor of political science crisis, offers a little bit of an all understand the pres- other to act.” q
pulled off last-minute trips and international relations
to Israel and Vietnam as at Nigeria’s Nasarawa
well as a secretive journey State University.
to Ukraine. But the travel Rather than look for state
deadline is getting tight visits, Africa should use its in-
and there have been no creasing global appeal as
obvious signs of prepara- evidenced by the African
tion. Union’s new membership
Staring down what could in the Group of 20 lead-
be a tough 2024 reelection ing economies - “to put its
campaign, Biden is jug- house in order and make
gling a mix of other domes- effective representation in
tic and foreign concerns. a manner that will amplify
Africa seems to have been African voices,” he said.
pushed to the back burner White House national secu-
despite effusive claims that rity spokesman John Kirby
Biden made last Decem- said this week he had no
ber at a Washington sum- updates on when the presi-
mit with 49 leaders that it dent might go to Africa.
would be a strategic focus Administration officials de-
as the U.S. made politi- clined to preview any trip
cal and financial commit- plans after The Associated
ments. Press separately asked, but
“I’m eager to visit your con- they did stress Biden’s com-
tinent,” Biden said at the mitment to reducing fossil
summit almost a year ago. fuel usage and hopes for a
“I’m looking forward to productive climate summit.
seeing many of you in your Biden has been through a
home countries.” hectic year and that has
Mvemba Dizolele, direc- made planning for travel
tor of the Africa Program difficult.
at the Center for Strategic The president just met with
and International Studies, Chinese President Xi Jin-
said that if Biden failed to ping and attended a sum-
go to the continent this mit of Asian Pacific leaders
year, it “kills the momentum in California. Strikes by au-
quite a bit.” toworkers and Hollywood
“It was a crescendo, and writers and actors were just
then we leave our poten- settled. Biden is ramping up
tial partners in Africa hang- his reelection campaign
ing,” he said. “What are and facing the risk of a fed-
they supposed to make of eral government shutdown
this?” at the start of next year. In
Others saw the possible trip addition, he’s dealing with
as largely symbolic in any wars on two continents,
event, having little impact with the Russian invasion