US Senator and the chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Risch, lashed out at Kenya’s President William Ruto for comments made during his trip to China in April.
In a speech [PDF] at Peking University, Ruto said much of the world’s development financing and governance architectures are out of date and don’t serve the continent. He called for a more inclusive global governance order, saying: “Kenya and China are not merely trade partners; we are co-architects of a new world order – one that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable.”
In his opening statement to the Committee, Sen. Risch said:
“Many African nations maintain troubling ties with China — including key national security partners. Just last month, President Ruto declared that Kenya, a major non-NATO ally, and China are “co-architects of a new world order.” That’s not just alignment to China; it’s allegiance […] Relying on leaders who embrace Beijing so openly is an error. It’s time to reassess our relationship with Kenya and others who forge tight bonds with China.”
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The comments coincided with the State Department’s announcement that U.S. President Trump will lead an African leaders’ summit later this year, and that “it will prioritize exchange between partners and relations between equals.” It exposes the tension between the U.S.’s outreach to the continent and the Trump administration’s wider attempts to pressure countries for their China ties. China is Africa’s largest trading partner.
