Great Power Rivalry Over Africa

As Russia and China strive to expand their reach and influence in Africa, America faces mounting challenges in the region, including in Niger, where it has begun to withdraw its forces stationed at an airbase near Agadez—an installation that cost $100 million to construct.

On June 13, the Center for the National Interest hosted two experts to assess the great power rivalry that has developed in the region and its implications for U.S. national security.

—Mark P. Lagon is Chief Policy Officer at Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and former Ambassador-at-Large and Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

—J. Peter Pham is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council and former U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region.

Jacob Heilbrunn, the editor of The National Interest, moderated the discussion.