Former Trump aide charts strategic path for Africa–US trade ties at Afreximbank Forum

Abuja. Africa must pursue partnerships over promises and demand investments that deliver real value, urged Jason Miller, communication strategist and former senior advisor to US President Donald Trump.

In a candid discussion with Gateway Partners CEO, Mr Viswanathan Shankar, during his keynote speech at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja, Mr Miller outlined a vision for future Africa–US trade relations built on mutual benefit, market discipline, and private sector leadership.

He warned that Africa's rise as an economic powerhouse was not guaranteed unless strategic, value-driven choices were made.

“By 2050, Africa will overtake Europe as the world’s third-largest economic bloc, with Nigeria among the top ten economies globally,” said Mr Miller.

“And by 2100, four of the world’s most populous nations will be in sub-Saharan Africa. This is Africa’s century — but if these opportunities aren’t seized strategically, Africa risks being taken advantage of again," he said.

Mr Miller was sharply critical of what he called a legacy of exploitation by other global actors who had “taken, taken, taken, leaving only broken promises."

By contrast, he said the US approach under Trump prioritised strategic partnerships underpinned by private capital, rather than debt traps, military entanglements, or what he described as “hollow rhetoric."

He outlined three key expectations for African nations pursuing closer commercial ties with the US, including the need to prioritise value over vague aid.

According to him, African countries should avoid unsustainable debt cloaked as development support and instead focus on attracting foreign direct investment into future-facing infrastructure — including roads, ports, data centres, and renewable energy.

"With its critical mineral wealth and young workforce, Africa has a unique chance to lead the global AI supply chain," he said, likening the moment to the Industrial Revolution.

Second, he underlined the urgency of business climate reforms.

“This is the price of admission,” Mr Miller said, referring to contract enforcement, currency stability, and anti-corruption measures.

He commended Nigeria for its “gutsy” reforms but said the continent must act more broadly and swiftly to unlock capital from US institutional giants such as CalPERS and BlackRock.

Third, he urged African leaders to choose their allies wisely. “True partners respect your borders and sovereignty,” he said.

Mr Miller also addressed key policy issues, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is set to expire in September 2025.

With its future uncertain, he questioned the rationale for maintaining one-way preferences if African governments continued to levy tariffs on US goods or favour Chinese competitors.

“Why renew AGOA if there’s no reciprocity?” he asked, advocating for a renegotiation that balances mutual access and benefit.

Defending Trump-era tariffs, Mr Miller described them as “multi-use tools” that protect strategic sectors — such as automobile manufacturing — and force fairer trade terms.

He also identified the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as a pivotal player in Africa’s growth, citing its support for ventures like the Lobito Corridor and Mozambique’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects.

“This is revenue-generating capital, not debt,” Mr Miller stressed, urging African nations to present clear, bankable projects that align with the interests of global asset managers.

His advice to African leaders was to follow Trump on Truth Social to understand his agenda and approach meetings with well-crafted proposals, not for “photo opportunities”.

He encouraged them to emulate Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose investment diplomacy and peacebuilding efforts secured early high-level US visits.

He also called for African leaders to prioritise engaging CEOs and investors, not only policymakers.

"Sell your country’s economic story,” he said, “to those who write the cheques.”

Mr Miller challenged African governments to ensure the continent’s demographic and resource advantages translate into real economic power through measurable partnerships.

“Renegotiate AGOA on equal terms. Fast-track reforms. Demand infrastructure-for-minerals deals that build AI capacity. Engage the DFC. And above all, champion stability — it’s the foundation of investment,” he stressed.

During the session, Mr Shankar announced Mr Miller’s appointment as Senior Advisor to Gateway Partners, a role Mr Miller said he would use to “bring American capital to Africa’s future industries.”