With the rise of “America First,” African nations should rethink their method to partaking with the USA, argues Professor Jeremy Ghez.
Ghez gave this perception in the course of the Nairametrics Nigeria Financial Outlook 2025 Focus: Alternate Charge, Curiosity Charge, Financial Progress, Geopolitics, he urged African nations to adapt to America’s evolving international coverage, which now prioritizes home financial advantages over conventional diplomatic compromises.
Ghez outlined how the U.S. has transitioned from compromise-driven diplomacy to a power-centric, transactional mannequin.
Referencing Donald Trump’s, The Artwork of the Deal, Ghez describes a negotiation model that thrives on arm wrestling fairly than consensus-building.
He emphasizes that this ideology represents a broader American pivot in the direction of prioritizing home financial advantages in world engagements.
“That is about enterprise and financial prospects,” he says, highlighting that transnationalism, not protectionism, defines the present U.S. stance.
Ghez calls on African leaders to reply strategically. Drawing classes from China’s dealings with Trump, he suggests African nations would profit from unity in negotiations.
“The important thing for African companions is to discover a core set of shared pursuits to push ahead as a bloc,” Ghez advises.
The stakes are excessive, he notes, as financial priorities dominate U.S. international coverage, sidelining broader safety ensures.
“If you need this, you will need to get that,” Ghez says, underscoring the significance of readability and leverage in negotiations,” she famous.
Ghez displays on a altering America, one much less keen to compromise and extra targeted on transactional outcomes.
For African leaders, the message is evident: adapt to the foundations of this new recreation or danger being sidelined within the world energy battle.
“The worry of upper tariffs or decreased commerce advantages underneath an ‘America First’ coverage is palpable,” Olele stated. “The present administration’s anti-China stance, nevertheless, should still create alternatives for U.S. non-public sector-driven tasks in Nigeria.”
Since its inception in the course of the Trump administration, AGOA has facilitated 152 offers value $86 billion in exports to Africa.
Olele known as on Nigeria to strengthen its financial fundamentals to stay aggressive in future U.S. commerce insurance policies.
