Jason Miller
Abuja, Nigeria – 26 June 2025 – In a keynote address at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings, Jason Miller, communication strategist and former senior advisor to President Donald Trump, delivered a stark yet optimistic vision for U.S. – Africa trade relations. Speaking to an audience of policymakers, financiers, and industry leaders, Miller framed Africa’s rise as inevitable but cautioned that realising its potential hinges on strategic choices. His conversation with Viswanathan Shankar, CEO of Gateway Partners, dissected America’s evolving trade posture and its implications for the continent.
Miller opened with a compelling projection: By 2050, Africa will surpass Europe as the world’s third-largest economic bloc, with Nigeria ranking among the top ten global economies. By 2100, sub-Saharan Africa will host four of the world’s most populous nations, positioning the continent as an economic superpower. “This is Africa’s century,” he declared, “but if these opportunities aren’t seized strategically, Africa risks being taken advantage of again.”
He contrasted U.S. engagement with other global players, criticising decades of exploitative practices where outsiders “took, took, took, leaving broken promises.” America’s approach, he argued, is for strategic partnerships anchored in private capital not debt traps, military occupations, or hollow rhetoric. The distinction lies in market-driven investments demanding mutual accountability, unlike what Miller termed “debt diplomacy.”
Miller outlined non-negotiables for nations seeking U.S. partnership.
First, Africa must demand tangible value over empty deals, avoiding unsustainable debt disguised as aid. Partnerships should prioritise foreign direct investment in future-proof infrastructure: roads, ports, data centres, and clean energy. He spotlighted Africa’s critical minerals and youthful workforce as keys to dominating the AI supply chain, a shift he likened to the Industrial Revolution’s transformative impact.
Second, accelerating business climate reforms is essential. Enforcing contracts, stabilising currencies, and rooting out corruption are not just suggestions but “the price of admission” for attracting trillion – dollar U.S. pension funds and private capital. While praising Nigeria’s “gutsy” currency reforms, he urged broader, faster action continent-wide.
Third, Africa must choose allies wisely. Miller drew sharp contrasts between China’s record of “unregulated fishing, environmental disasters, and crippling debt” and U.S. contributions like PEPFAR’s HIV/AIDS support, security cooperation against groups like Boko Haram, and conflict mediation in hotspots like the DRC-Rwanda border. True friendship, he stressed, respects sovereignty and borders without exploitation.
On policy specifics, Miller decoded recent U.S. moves. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in September 2025, faces an uncertain future. “Why renew one-way preferences,” he noted, “if African nations impose tariffs on U.S. goods or favour Chinese partners?” His solution, proactive renegotiation focused on reciprocity.
Miller defended Trump’s signature tariffs as multipurpose tools, protecting strategic industries like auto manufacturing (“a U.S. national security issue”) while forcing fairer trade terms. Meanwhile, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) emerges as Africa’s catalyst, deploying profit-driven investments in projects like the Lobito Corridor and Mozambique LNG. “This is revenue-generating capital, not debt,” Miller emphasised, urging reforms to unlock giants like BlackRock and CalPERS.
Miller offered candid advice for African leaders. Preparation is paramount. Follow President Trump on Truth Social to grasp his priorities before meetings. Engage with specific asks and solutions, “no photo-ops.” Emulate Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose investment commitments and peacebuilding earned early presidential visits. Critically, persuade and encourage CEOs and investors, not just bureaucrats, to amplify Africa’s economic narrative globally.
Miller closed with a call to action; Africa’s potential must translate into provable partnerships. Renegotiate AGOA terms for mutual benefit. Fast-track business reforms to attract private capital. Demand infrastructure – for – minerals deals to build AI capacity. Proactively engage the DFC on bankable projects. Above all, champion stability, the bedrock of investment
In a significant closing announcement, Shankar revealed Miller’s appointment as Senior Advisor to Gateway Partners, a role Miller pledged to use to “bring American capital to Africa’s future industries.” Miller’s final challenge resonated, “Don’t settle for lip service. Demand partnerships. That’s how Africa becomes powerful, wealthy, and great – on its own terms.”
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