In February the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made it a priority to phone Rui Figueiredo, the Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister of Cape Verde. They spoke about commerce and “security.” Why is the tiny African nation of Cape Verde (population 550,000) a U.S. priority? It is because the U.S. is behind China in the latest “scramble for Africa.”
One side called them shithole countries, the other side cancelled billions of their debt, helped them build infrastructure and is committed to providing them COVID vaccines.
Bet that was a tough decision. African governments aren’t stupid, they have analyzed the situation too, and far more so than you or I as detached westerners. Why would they deliberately choose the worst of the two options if China really is worse?
I’ll comment this here too:
One side called them shithole countries, the other side cancelled billions of their debt, helped them build infrastructure and is committed to providing them COVID vaccines.
Bet that was a tough decision. African governments aren’t stupid, they have analyzed the situation too, and far more so than you or I as detached westerners. Why would they deliberately choose the worst of the two options if China really is worse?
If China’s option is so bad, how worse is the Western hegemonic option, that countries are preferring China?
Daniel Dumbrill really said catchy stuff, that stuck to my head.