The Foreign Service Journal, June 2023

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2023 29 Secretary Blinken hosted an “Innovators Gathering” with more than 250 young entrepreneurs, investors, diaspora celebrities, and local government officials. President Biden committed to traveling to the continent this year. During her March visit to Lusaka, Zambia, Vice President Harris announced another $7 billion in new private sector and U.S. government commitments to climate resilience, adapta- tion, and mitigation in Africa. The reality is that U.S. engagement with the continent is enduring and has persisted for decades, from the early days of Peace Corps through extensive people-to-people study and exchange programs, health programs such as the U.S. President’s Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) and the President’s Malaria Initiative, MCC, YALI, Power Africa, and Prosper Africa, to name just a few. The summit served to put a finer point on that engagement, particularly at a moment when our global interconnectedness, in both challenges and opportu- nities, is abundantly clear. From global health to economic growth, to food security, to global peace and security, the import of the African continent not only to U.S. foreign policy but also to our national security is undeniable. The 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit has prompted a shift in fostering inclusive partnerships with our African counter- parts that will generate beneficial outcomes for future genera- tions of African and U.S. citizens. n