This episode of Africafé explores the evolving dynamics of US-Africa relations, tracing their historical shifts from Cold War and War on Terror engagements to today’s focus on trade, investment, and strategic partnerships. Dr. Ian Lesser highlights how Africa’s role in US foreign policy, while not a top priority, is increasingly shaped by commercial interests, resource competition (especially with China), and a move away from traditional aid toward private-sector-driven initiatives.
Speakers
Ian O. Lesser
Senior Fellow
Ian Lesser is Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS). Based in Brussels, he also serves as Distinguished Fellow and Advisor to the President at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), where he has held several senior leadership roles, including Vice President and Acting President. Dr. Lesser has built a distinguished career at the intersection of transatlantic relations, strategy, and international security. He holds the Chair in Transatlantic Affairs at the College of Europe in Bruges. Before joining GMF, he was a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Vice President and Director of Studies at the Pacific Council on International Policy, and spent over a decade at the RAND Corporation focusing on s ...
