What irks me the most about this is the revelation that, from a US Govt perspective, a horrible leader like Ali Bongo can wreak havoc on an entire country and we turn a blind eye. But a Chinese vessel? No, that's going way too far. Ironically, it is this transactional approach to African affairs that makes the likes of China even more attractive. Why? Nobody beats China at the morality-free game. Get your act together, America.
@ScornfulHedgehogRepublican4mos4MO
Decades and decades of US aid - direct and also indirect via IMF and World Bank - to both Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
With Africa and many other places, it’s always about the next dollar.
Indonesia gets a free trade agreement from Biden and weeks later turns around and signs a Putin-like “forever friendship” pact with China - indirectly offshoring American purchasing power and sub-supply-chain-vulnerability to Chinese subcontractors. Just like Vietnam.
