An opinion of Sun Hong, published by CGTN
UK Prime Minister Theresa May and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel recently paid separate trips to Africa, with
the issues of trade and illegal immigration topping their agendas. The
leaders’ visit came shortly before the Beijing
Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, triggering some to
question whether the three countries are competing against each other in
Africa.
Chancellor Angela Merkel recently paid separate trips to Africa, with
the issues of trade and illegal immigration topping their agendas. The
leaders’ visit came shortly before the Beijing
Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, triggering some to
question whether the three countries are competing against each other in
Africa.
In fact, China and Europe cooperate more than they compete against each other in the African continent.
The UK’s ‘return’ to Africa?
May’s visit marked the first time a
British prime minister visited the Sub-Saharan region since 2013, and is
considered a sign of the return of the country to Africa since the
Brexit process started.
British prime minister visited the Sub-Saharan region since 2013, and is
considered a sign of the return of the country to Africa since the
Brexit process started.
The countries May visited – South Africa,
Nigeria, and Kenya – all maintain close political, economic, and
military cooperation with the UK and are all Commonwealth countries.
During her stay in South Africa, May announced that
the UK will establish a “new partnership” with Africa based on common
prosperity and security, setting the tone for UK-Africa relations after
Brexit.
Nigeria, and Kenya – all maintain close political, economic, and
military cooperation with the UK and are all Commonwealth countries.
During her stay in South Africa, May announced that
the UK will establish a “new partnership” with Africa based on common
prosperity and security, setting the tone for UK-Africa relations after
Brexit.
Since the Brexit process was initiated,
the UK has become significantly more interested in the African market,
especially in the Commonwealth countries in the African continent, with
which the UK is traditionally close. South
Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya are the largest African trading partners of
the UK. In 2017, the UK promised to retain the preferential trading
policies for Africa after Brexit.
the UK has become significantly more interested in the African market,
especially in the Commonwealth countries in the African continent, with
which the UK is traditionally close. South
Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya are the largest African trading partners of
the UK. In 2017, the UK promised to retain the preferential trading
policies for Africa after Brexit.
During May’s latest visit, it was
announced that the five countries of the Southern African Customs Union,
along with Mozambique, will become the first batch of countries to
enjoy such preferential treatment. May also promised
to leverage British private sector investment into Africa through aid
programs, and to make Britain the largest investor among the G7
countries in Africa.
announced that the five countries of the Southern African Customs Union,
along with Mozambique, will become the first batch of countries to
enjoy such preferential treatment. May also promised
to leverage British private sector investment into Africa through aid
programs, and to make Britain the largest investor among the G7
countries in Africa.
The UK also attaches great importance to
counter-terrorism efforts in Africa, especially in Kenya and Nigeria,
which have been pestered by terrorism in recent years. The UK also
believes that a safer environment could stem the
flow of illegal immigrants from Africa to Europe. The majority of
overseas British military personnel are deployed in Africa, mostly
involved in regional counter-terrorism and supporting UN peacekeeping
missions. The UK has permanent military training facilities
in Kenya and dispatches six infantry battalions every year to Kenya to
conduct eight-week military drills.
counter-terrorism efforts in Africa, especially in Kenya and Nigeria,
which have been pestered by terrorism in recent years. The UK also
believes that a safer environment could stem the
flow of illegal immigrants from Africa to Europe. The majority of
overseas British military personnel are deployed in Africa, mostly
involved in regional counter-terrorism and supporting UN peacekeeping
missions. The UK has permanent military training facilities
in Kenya and dispatches six infantry battalions every year to Kenya to
conduct eight-week military drills.
Nigeria is an important partner of the UK
on counter-terrorism in West Africa. The northeast of Nigeria has long
been struck by terrorist activities from Boko Haram. There have been
over 30 cases of suicide bombing in the first
half of this year alone, which have claimed the lives of around 300
people. The UK has long been providing training to the Nigerian military
personnel and has trained around 30,000 Nigerian military personnel in
recent years.
on counter-terrorism in West Africa. The northeast of Nigeria has long
been struck by terrorist activities from Boko Haram. There have been
over 30 cases of suicide bombing in the first
half of this year alone, which have claimed the lives of around 300
people. The UK has long been providing training to the Nigerian military
personnel and has trained around 30,000 Nigerian military personnel in
recent years.
Last September, the UK announced that it
would provide 200 million pounds (255 million US dollars) of military
aid for Nigeria over the next five years. During May’s visit, she
further strengthened security commitment in these
two countries, offering seven million pounds to support the
peacekeeping mission in Somalia and signing a defense and security
agreement with Nigeria.
would provide 200 million pounds (255 million US dollars) of military
aid for Nigeria over the next five years. During May’s visit, she
further strengthened security commitment in these
two countries, offering seven million pounds to support the
peacekeeping mission in Somalia and signing a defense and security
agreement with Nigeria.
Merkel and illegal immigration
Slightly different from May, Merkel
focused more on the issue of illegal immigration during her visit.
According to a Frontex report, among the illegal immigrants entering the
EU in 2017, two thirds came from Africa. Over the
past few years, Merkel was heavily criticized domestically for her
“overly tolerant” attitude toward refugees and illegal immigrants. Many
EU citizens are also against the plan to distribute illegal immigrants
among EU countries.
focused more on the issue of illegal immigration during her visit.
According to a Frontex report, among the illegal immigrants entering the
EU in 2017, two thirds came from Africa. Over the
past few years, Merkel was heavily criticized domestically for her
“overly tolerant” attitude toward refugees and illegal immigrants. Many
EU citizens are also against the plan to distribute illegal immigrants
among EU countries.
Countries at the northern coast of the
Mediterranean Sea, such as Malta and Italy, were up in arms as a result
of boats arriving at their shores with illegal immigrants on board.
Germany hopes to stem the flow of illegal immigrants
through measures such as stimulating economic growth in African
countries, improving their security environment, and setting up
immigration checkpoints in the Sahel region.
Mediterranean Sea, such as Malta and Italy, were up in arms as a result
of boats arriving at their shores with illegal immigrants on board.
Germany hopes to stem the flow of illegal immigrants
through measures such as stimulating economic growth in African
countries, improving their security environment, and setting up
immigration checkpoints in the Sahel region.
In July 2017, during the G20 Summit in
Hamburg, Germany proposed the Compact with Africa, helping improve the
investment environment in certain African countries and channeling
investment from industrialized countries into Africa.
Senegal and Ghana, which Merkel visited in her latest trip, have
already joined the compact.
Hamburg, Germany proposed the Compact with Africa, helping improve the
investment environment in certain African countries and channeling
investment from industrialized countries into Africa.
Senegal and Ghana, which Merkel visited in her latest trip, have
already joined the compact.
China and Europe in Africa: More cooperation than competition
That the leaders of Germany and the UK
visiting Africa shortly before the Beijing Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation has been interpreted by many Western media
outlets as a “scramble for Africa” against China. In
fact, there is more cooperation than competition between China and
European countries, including the UK and Germany, in Africa.
visiting Africa shortly before the Beijing Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation has been interpreted by many Western media
outlets as a “scramble for Africa” against China. In
fact, there is more cooperation than competition between China and
European countries, including the UK and Germany, in Africa.
On one hand, China and European countries
have their respective advantages in Africa and are all interested in
cooperation there. China and Germany have already had an in-depth
discussion on preliminary cooperation in Angola and
Rwanda. China and the UK have already started practical cooperation on
oil and gas exploitation in Uganda.
have their respective advantages in Africa and are all interested in
cooperation there. China and Germany have already had an in-depth
discussion on preliminary cooperation in Angola and
Rwanda. China and the UK have already started practical cooperation on
oil and gas exploitation in Uganda.
On the other hand, under the current
international circumstances, both China and Europe are committed to
defending the existing multilateral trading system, and objecting
unilateralism and trade protectionism. May said in South
Africa that the UK steadfastly objects to unilateral actions that set
up trade barriers and go against the prevailing international economic
order.
international circumstances, both China and Europe are committed to
defending the existing multilateral trading system, and objecting
unilateralism and trade protectionism. May said in South
Africa that the UK steadfastly objects to unilateral actions that set
up trade barriers and go against the prevailing international economic
order.
As the continent with the highest number
of developing countries, addressing the challenges faced by Africa is
the responsibility of all countries. Free trade is the only way for
Africa to be incorporated into the global economic
and industrial chain, for issues such as unemployment caused by poverty
to be addressed, and for global threats such as terrorism and illegal
immigration to be mitigated.
of developing countries, addressing the challenges faced by Africa is
the responsibility of all countries. Free trade is the only way for
Africa to be incorporated into the global economic
and industrial chain, for issues such as unemployment caused by poverty
to be addressed, and for global threats such as terrorism and illegal
immigration to be mitigated.
