By Adam Al-Mahadi Kungu
In recent months, the geopolitical landscape has changed with the United States adopting a belligerent stance against global rivals like China and Russia.
The US looks at China as a global threat because of its growing economic power and international influence. To make matters worse, Beijing and Moscow appear to enjoy good diplomatic ties with many African countries.
Therefore, for African countries, the growing power struggle between the US, China, and Russia may appear distant, but it has consequences for us.
The US recently released a new National Security Strategy that some see as a plan to foil the progress of China and Russia. America now sees these countries as existential threats and therefore, everything must be done to stop them.
This kind of behaviour has in the past led to trade conflicts between the US and China in the past.
Caught in the middle of all this is Africa. The U.S. now sees Africa as a continent that must be protected from China and Russia’s influence. The US has started initiatives in Africa to try to counter Chinese influence.
Recently, under the America First Global Health Strategy, Washington signed bilateral health cooperation Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 16 African countries, including Uganda.
Many countries will get upwards of $2 billion over the next five years under these arrangements.
This move comes at a time when China’s trade with Africa has grown dramatically.
In 2024, China-Africa bilateral trade hit a record high of approximately $295.6 billion, according to several reports, making China Africa’s largest trading partner.
China has funded infrastructural projects in several African countries. In Uganda, China funded the Entebbe Expressway.
In the same vein, Russia’s influence in Africa has grown. Moscow has deepened cooperation in areas such as security, education, and energy. Uganda has been one of the beneficiaries.
On October 26, 2025, Russia donated $53 million worth of military and engineering equipment to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The U.S. dilemma
The US under Trump seems to have resorted to coercion. Trump has used tariffs and sanctions not only against China but against other countries that are deemed close to Beijing. Recently, the US threatened to impose 100% tariff on all Canadian goods if Canada inked a deal with China.
Many African nations look at the US helplessly. First, unlike China and Russia, many African countries do not have the economic backbone to take on the United States. Secondly, they don’t have a strong presence in a global organisation like the United Nations, which would have helped them make a collective case.
Third, when the US, China, and Russia fight, the global supply system for goods affects the economies of African countries. Countries like Uganda that make a lot of money from coffee exports do not want global markets to be disrupted by trade wars between these developed countries.
Therefore, when major global powers fight, the cost is often paid by countries like Uganda.
To make matters worse, the US sees organisations like the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, and others as toothless. They can’t rein in on Washington because many are largely funded by the US. When the US recently invaded Venezuela and abducted Nicolás Maduro, its president, these organisations looked on helplessly.
A few condemned the move, but their statements were written with caution.
China and Russia
Unlike the US, China and Russia tend to frame their relationships with Africa differently. China, for example, likes saying that it strives for a “win-win” situation with the countries it relates to. China says it does not seek to impose its cultural or political values. It steers away from the internal politics of the countries. For China, it is interested in trade and natural resources.
Many policymakers in Africa often praise this stance from China and see it as a welcome alternative to the US, which often “lectures” African countries on what to do. Recently, when Trump sat down with Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and DRC’s Félix Tshisekedi for peace talks, his posture suggested that he was “the one in charge.” China avoids this.
In the same way, Russia’s engagement with Africa is based on mutual respect and not dominance. Russia will give aid to a country without strings attached.
Therefore, from the view of many African leaders, China and Russia have provided them with another choice other than the US and the West, which want to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries they help.
However, there is also an interesting trend taking root in Africa. Some, like South Africa, have taken on the US on several issues, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In 2023, South Africa filed a landmark case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention during its military operations in Gaza. This did not please the US, which started imposing sanctions and high tariffs on goods from South Africa.
Secondly, the African Union has called for greater representation in the global decision-making bodies like the UN. AU wants Africa to be given a permanent seat on the Security Council of the United Nations.
Thirdly, African leaders have always used international platforms to call for equitable trade, technology transfer, and respect for sovereignty.
At several COP meetings, African nations have demanded equal voice and fair treatment on matters related to climate change.
In short, African countries have tried to fight back against the US’s growing imperialism. But this may not be enough. Africa must insist that its relationship with the US, China, or Russia must be based on mutual respect for one another. If a country does not respect the sovereignty of another, or does not respect the aspirations of the other, then that relationship will be imbalanced.
As the US, China, and Russia tussle it out, Africa has several choices.
