(DCNF)—When President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping sat down in Beijing this week, most of the world was watching for signals about tariffs, Taiwan and technology.
Fair enough. But if you want to understand where the real long-term competition between Washington and Beijing will be won or lost, look south — about 7,000 miles south, to be precise.
Africa is no longer a footnote in great power competition. It is the main event. And America keeps showing up unprepared.
Africa holds roughly 30% of the world’s proven critical mineral reserves: cobalt, lithium, copper, graphite, rare earths and the building blocks of every battery, semiconductor, and weapons system that will define the next century. Eleven of the world’s twenty fastest-growing economies in 2025 are African.
The continent’s working-age population will grow by 740 million people by 2050, the fastest expansion of any region on earth. And yet Washington’s strategic engagement with Africa has historically oscillated between humanitarian concern and benign neglect, with occasional bursts of attention whenever China does something alarming.
China noticed the opportunity decades before Washington did. Beijing spent twenty years building ports, railways, power plants and telecommunications infrastructure across the continent. This was not out of generosity, but out of strategic calculation.
Speed of execution, state-backed financing and a deliberate indifference to governance questions gave China a head start that cannot be wished away.
But here is what the conventional wisdom misses: China’s early advantage is not the same as a permanent one. Ask Kenya.
In 2014, Nairobi borrowed roughly $5 billion from China’s Export-Import Bank to build the Standard Gauge Railway from Mombasa to Nairobi, a project hailed as a symbol of modernization. Today it is more often cited as a cautionary tale. Passenger numbers missed forecasts, freight traffic disappointed and Kenya now spends more than $1 billion every year servicing that debt — a sum that consumed more than 80% of its external debt servicing budget at its peak. The International Monetary Fund has classified Kenya at high risk of debt distress. The railway got built. The bill is still coming due.
Kenya is not alone. Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia have all undergone debt restructuring in recent years, in part due to Chinese loans that looked attractive at signing and ruinous at repayment. The conversation on the continent has shifted. Leaders who once welcomed Beijing’s checkbook without conditions are asking harder questions, and that creates a genuine opening for the United States, if Washington is smart enough to take it.
The Trump administration has the right instincts in places. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, and the Prosper Africa initiative represent serious tools for private-sector-led engagement that can compete with Chinese state financing on quality, transparency and long-term reliability.
The administration’s focus on critical minerals supply chain security is exactly the right frame. Cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo and copper from Zambia are national security assets, and treating them as such is long overdue.
But tools are only as good as the strategy behind them. And the strategy too often defaults to a single question: how do we counter China? That is the wrong starting point, not because China isn’t a serious competitor, but because African governments can read the room. A relationship built entirely around “we’re not China” is transactional at best and patronizing at worst. Fifty-four countries with a combined GDP of $2.8 trillion deserve a more serious pitch.
The smarter approach starts with what America actually has to offer: transparent financing with enforceable standards, technology that doesn’t come with surveillance built in, private capital that can outlast political cyclesand institutions that survive changes in government on both sides of the Atlantic. These aren’t abstractions; they’re competitive advantages that China genuinely cannot match.
What would a serious strategy look like in practice?
It means showing up before the crisis rather than after. It means DFC and EXIM financing that moves at a speed African governments can actually work with — because if the American answer to a port financing request takes three years and the Chinese answer takes three months, we already know how that ends.
It means treating critical minerals agreements as strategic partnerships rather than extraction arrangements. And it means recognizing that the countries best positioned to resist Chinese pressure are the ones with strong institutions, diversified economies, and real sovereignty — which means American engagement has to build those things, not just exploit them.
The Beijing summit was many things. What it wasn’t was a resolution of the underlying competition for the resources, relationships and strategic geography that will shape the next fifty years. That competition runs through Kinshasa and Nairobi and Lagos as surely as it runs through the Taiwan Strait.
America has the better hand. The question is whether Washington has the patience and discipline to play it.
James Carter is a policy advisor with America’s Economy First. He previously served as director of the Center for American Prosperity at the America First Policy Institute and as deputy undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Labor where he oversaw international affairs. Jacob Choe is an international strategist specializing in Africa, emerging markets, and critical minerals supply chains. He is a member of the Bretton Woods Committee and a Ben Franklin Fellow.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.
