Europe is Africa's largest trading partner and its largest source of foreign direct investment. But a lot of that economic engagement is powered by inertia, left over from Europe's long, painful history of colonial exploitation in Africa.
Just as in the United States, Europe's politics are decidedly inward-looking where Africa, if it's on the agenda at all, is still largely seen as a "problem to be fixed." When policymakers do raise the issue of heightened engagement with the continent, it's often in the context of what the EU can do to counter China's influence in Africa.
A new report published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) aims to change that by outlining a more proactive, positive vision for why Europe should focus more attention on Africa in pursuit of a more balanced relationship.
The report's editor, David McNair, an executive director at the anti-poverty NGO ONE.org, and contributor Saliem Fakir, executive director of the African Climate Foundation, join Eric & Cobus to discuss why Europe needs Africa.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: X: @ChinaGSProject) | @stadenesque) | @christiangeraud) Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject) YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth)
FOLLOW CAP IN FRENCH AND ARABIC: Français: www.projetafriquechine.com) | @AfrikChine) Arabic: عربي: www.alsin-alsharqalawsat.com) | @SinSharqAwsat)
JOIN US ON PATREON! Become a CAP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CAP Podcast mug! www.patreon.com/chinaglobalsouth)