U.S. President Donald Trump's new Africa strategy shifts from aid to trade under a "commercial diplomacy" push, urging ambassadors to broker business deals rather than manage aid programs. Washington touts $6 billion in early agreements, but African nations face steep tariffs — 30% on South African goods, 50% on Lesotho exports — threatening over 100,000 jobs and straining economies. Uncertainty surrounds AGOA, a trade pact expiring in September, while China deepens its zero-tariff engagement with 53 African countries. Critics warn the U.S. cannot promote trade while restricting access, raising fears Africa could lose out as Washington prioritizes critical minerals.
China's Xi Jinping, India's Narendra Modi and other global leaders have arrived in the Russian city of Kazan for a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies. The Kremlin hopes to turn into it a rallying point for defying Western influence in global affairs. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the three-day meeting also offers a way to demonstrate the failure of U.S.-led efforts to isolate Russia over its actions in Ukraine. A Kremlin adviser calls the summit "the largest foreign policy event ever held" by Russia, with 36 countries attending. More than 20 are represented by heads of state.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will be shaking hands this week with multiple world leaders, including those from China, India, Turkey and Iran. They will be in the Russian city of Kazan for the summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies. The gathering defies predictions that the war in Ukraine and an international arrest warrant against Putin would keep him off the global stage. Analysts say that for the Kremlin, it's all about the optics of standing with its allies as well as negotiating deals to shore up its wartime economy. For other countries, it's a chance to amplify their voices.
