WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump met with the leaders of five West and Central African nations at the White House on July 9 to underscore his administration’s shift from aid-based foreign policy to commercial diplomacy. The meeting focused on strengthening economic ties, attracting investments, and tapping into Africa’s vast mineral wealth.
The president hosted a multilateral lunch with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the State Dining Room.
Besides commercial matters, the meeting also addressed regional security challenges, including the rise of terrorism and concerns over visa overstays, as several African nations have among the highest overstay rates for U.S. visas....
