Africa should not treat any foreign country as its permanent best friend, security expert Col. (Rtd.) Festus Aboagye has warned.
According to him, powerful countries that engage with Africa do so mainly because they have interests they want to protect.
Speaking at the Students & Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA), organised by the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Col. Aboagye said African countries must understand what foreign partners want before entering into agreements with them.
He mentioned China, the United States, Russia, the European Union, India, Turkey, Brazil and the Gulf states as some of the major powers seeking opportunities in Africa.
He said these countries may offer Africa capital, technology, infrastructure, security or access to markets, but they also expect something in return.
“None of them is a saint,” he said, warning Africans against viewing one foreign power as a saviour while treating another as an enemy.
Col. Aboagye said African countries must therefore negotiate international partnerships based on their own interests.
He argued that the key question should not be whether a country is friendly to Africa, but what Africa is getting from the relationship.
He said weak negotiations can leave African countries with expensive agreements while foreign partners gain greater access to African resources and markets.
The security expert urged African leaders to develop stronger negotiating skills and consult independent experts before signing major international agreements.
He said Africa should practise “multi-alignment” by working with different global powers while remaining focused on its own strategic interests.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
[…] No Foreign Power Is Africa’s Best Friend — Col. (Rtd.) Aboagye […]