[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6211591,"mediaKeyId","3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590","parentId",3694945,"title","Senate subcommittee hearings push investment-led U.S. Africa policy to counter China","audioSeconds",4508,"startMs",1072000,"endMs",5580000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590&start=1072&end=5580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590/thumbnail_1072000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6211591/Senate-subcommittee-hearings-push-investment-led-US-Africa-policy-to-counter-China","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211591-b8d0692fd579415cbc7112f4f7e458a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211571&Signature=XVijCu31-f6MSV6sym4cxRbgLJDAyMyquqk2xn1jSLvj1TiMue4O~pH-1c6otHWdFCAAsEF0KVlMX78nE82bAPLo7dJt0gRiGuA85FmUXg-W5KhJtc~AiF7KmAt9Qxy9b1PzRPK64BNoDauWvDfaSmxRQKGpJjyZx76MaOReFXMB0JWuMQN-DWcR29tKtcspqFLed1itd88AS7CmV2JMISGh8CK1siDvdvANB0xWr~P-gFDVUnwXqEoNnPin-rA9L8ztj78RjP0t~JMbIUjOZ-hsqBy4E2SJd-6Wv76cRZR3-WQf-dUfuLSBr29PMqiOdrf6slfmNu1oZgTRnSil4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations","date","2025-06-04T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee held a hearing June 4 focused on \"China's malign influence in Africa,\" with Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Cory Booker leading questioning and Ambassador Fittrell testifying for the State Department.

Members of both parties told the witness they support shifting U.S. policy from aid-only approaches toward what several called \"investment-led commercial diplomacy\" so the United States can be a stronger economic partner to African governments and businesses. \"Today and into the future, U.S. Africa policy will revolve around investment-led commercial diplomacy,\" Ambassador Fittrell said. Chairman Cruz told the panel that \"China represents the most significant long term strategic threat to the United States\" in Africa and called for reshaping U.S. policy.

Why it matters: committee members said China is already deepening ties with African states through large-scale infrastructure and financing, trade and security relationships, and by securing critical mineral supply chains. Senators warned that reductions or pauses in longstanding U.S. development and health programs risk ceding influence to China, Russia and others. \"We have an enormous amount of work to do,\" Cruz said. Booker echoed that commercial engagement should be paired with continued support for stabilization, humanitarian assistance and governance programs.

Most important facts: Ambassador Fittrell said the administration plans to prioritize private-sector led growth and a six-point set of actions that include making commercial diplomacy a core embassy function, promoting market reforms, implementing high-quality infrastructure projects, organizing commercial diplomacy missions, linking U.S. export-ready companies to African opportunities, and reforming U.S. trade and financing tools. Several senators pressed for concrete follow-through: funding disbursement for Development Finance Corporation projects, clarity on Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts that have been paused, and protection for global health programs.

Context and debate: Senators from both parties described bipartisan history on Africa policy and urged speed and coherence. Booker warned that terminating humanitarian and global health programs undermines U.S. credibility and advantages adversaries. Senator Van Hollen and others pressed Ambassador Fittrell to explain how U.S. tools — DFC, EXIM, MCC and U.S. commercial service presence — would be retooled to match China's speed and risk tolerance.

Next steps and process notes: The committee left the record open until the close of business on June 5 for follow-up questions and requested prompt written responses from the witness. The hearing record will capture additional details requested by senators about specific projects and funding allocations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Subcommittee Hearing: CHINA’S MALIGN INFLUENCE IN AFRICA","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee held a hearing June 4 focused on \"China's malign influence in Africa,\" with Chairman Ted Cruz and Ranking Member Cory Booker leading questioning and Ambassador Fittrell testifying for the State Department.","taxTitle","Foreign Relations: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1994,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6211576,"Senators warn cuts to humanitarian and PEPFAR funding undermine U.S. credibility in Africa",3234,1743000,4977000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590&start=1743&end=4977","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590/thumbnail_1743000.jpg","/articles/6211576/Senators-warn-cuts-to-humanitarian-and-PEPFAR-funding-undermine-US-credibility-in-Africa","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211576-73d4d14c8a852e050b5c5537b5393aff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211571&Signature=VhJd0i-Z3S2pQF6hJ1NpHd03d-cXkpLY1RzWhQHLezqKIwadEPeOeV4Iwo1~bJw7yAyh6JID~soYtQA7Inz0NLpINz~kk9G6oYGVlJrhrPDS8DCZFMF1X2iKTji3S6nXeCKBPHiNv6~CsxVINvFg1q5E1F1~GX6Iv4TYfSJqjAq5neg-h3c0tFzrjQ1R0~DfNh-P6X9e1BRdaijMrwCeFFyyGVkEwjInF0G9sBitVoM139ysoQBNzHmUPhzLu0z0wXAw71Ja86wSLbZNKPsHVQRl64xH5kKm11xQTg43cEw7sYapLVQ4rTF~3eybjjluLSgJYmgkQeevU53DEhb96A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Cory Booker raised sustained concern that recent cuts and proposed rescissions to U.S. humanitarian and global health programs undermine American credibility and create openings for China, Russia and others to expand influence in Africa.

\"Lifesaving humanitarian aid programs like in Sudan that I witnessed with my own eyes where a child is dying every 2 hours due to malnutrition. We are stepping out, China is stepping in to increase its humanitarian response,\" Booker said. He told the witness that terminating or impounding funds for bipartisan programs \"burns through a lot of trust\" and increases project costs.

Ambassador Fittrell said he shared concern for continuity of lifesaving programs and noted the administration's global health posture is being reorganized: \"The global health security bureau is absorbing the tasks that USAID used to do in regard to PEPFAR,\" he said. He also stated he did not have full information on a rescission referenced by senators and pledged to find answers and provide written responses. Fittrell told senators he believed 85% of PEPFAR funding was continuing, repeating a number attributed earlier to a department official.

What was not decided: the ultimate disposition of the rescission request affecting PEPFAR and other global health accounts; senators asked for specific, timely written clarification on administration intentions and the status of programs and overseas staffing.

Why it matters: Senators said sustained U.S. funding for public health and humanitarian programs strengthens bilateral ties, supports stability and counters adversary influence; uncertainty about funding and paused projects makes host governments and local partners reluctant to rely on the United States as a consistent partner.","Senator Cory Booker raised sustained concern that recent cuts and proposed rescissions to U.S. humanitarian and global health programs undermine American credibility and create openings for China, Russia and others to expand influence in Africa.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6211581,"Senators press State Department on DFC, Lobito Corridor and paused MCC compacts",466,2896000,3362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590&start=2896&end=3362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590/thumbnail_2896000.jpg","/articles/6211581/Senators-press-State-Department-on-DFC-Lobito-Corridor-and-paused-MCC-compacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211581-e5b9820b0bde2350346ba906c993ef9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211571&Signature=cdo-lyVHdcy9jEaqWkPcU~mbnUBRwBCqYFBM70xqTOqfq5ZUciR76-HAl2ioE1YEiUsHcKR7FDepX~hQLW6BxGJhmR11I2N51HIPIAy0NhOwP7bLA~ZP8MQjn9kE9OcmdXJTIqQssWpl9vBoFAEgR3tBb7FsjXRPuKFGYHOVaQF2~bXtUL~~c6OX6zNqvu9c-MpJ1w6zx9akCmDKtjmtrnSm3V0VGX5K5PbZqP7jn8FDjHs6EdlkXXKrPqbIe9-5RmkKz6onKXh7xV6~Rzc0YUouBQB90Ci1eM6Ew5iteeOG0ghNbEBlI6EN9C-Q1tDlVIoXz-tOpn3z2U32JmQlqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators at the Foreign Relations Committee subcommittee hearing on China in Africa pressed Ambassador Fittrell and asked detailed questions about U.S. development finance instruments and specific projects, including the Lobito Corridor.

Ambassador Fittrell described the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as a \"tremendous catalyst\" for projects such as the Lobito Corridor, which connects Angola's Atlantic coast toward the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and into the region. He said he would \"copy the model\" and replicate it elsewhere and emphasized the role of blended finance to make large corridor projects work.

Senator Cory Booker told the witness he was concerned that about $550,000,000 in DFC funds for Lobito \"haven't been distributed yet\" and that at least seven Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts in Africa were paused, raising costs and uncertainty for host governments and U.S. partners. Fittrell said he would seek updates on demining partnerships in Angola and follow up on disbursement timing; he also said he planned a commercial advocacy trip to Luanda to press for disbursement and to meet ministers of mines and other officials.

Committee members discussed the historical legislative work that converted OPIC into DFC under the BUILD Act and encouraged legal fixes to allow DFC greater equity investment and faster blended finance operations. One senator urged expanding DFC’s authorities and reducing the risk-averse posture of other U.S. finance instruments to better compete with China's rapid, state-directed financing.

What was not resolved: specific timelines or commitments for the $550 million Booker cited, the status of the seven paused MCC compacts, and whether MCC disbursements will be reinstated; the witness said he would follow up to provide answers to senators' outstanding questions.","At a Senate hearing, lawmakers questioned Ambassador Fittrell about the Development Finance Corporation's role, the Lobito Corridor project, and at least seven paused Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts; senators pressed for faster disbursement and legal fixes for DFC.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6211586,"Senate hearing warns China dominates critical-mineral supply chains in Africa",1549,1249000,2798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590&start=1249&end=2798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3694945-679decef6bee1aa8451a2918a070a590/thumbnail_1249000.jpg","/articles/6211586/Senate-hearing-warns-China-dominates-critical-mineral-supply-chains-in-Africa","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6211586-ea85d17bdd378ec42dc39f1790a3e623/orig.mp4?Expires=1771211571&Signature=dEZV67T3CzJv1LDNZh7cRPqAW0AtjQ4nj97UMTMUIl81V9tUAqN9bNHZ92unq8WloVAe-TTwLYS00Inz8NyT1rLa9MSBU9aeIoOkXue4xcNhL8PGaP3WgJ1PrULmOnt2Qy69dZ6m1IY~2BY-zVDwMLP0Coa77Cp8~wDjFJNmsmGSCgPNpgVxI-~8F2GlaTgfZEkhpT8avZVutOR9cmFGEakz-ttjIvYJmwfeJpagoWZQZlzTH~SEzB2HMTXGdDCf781MtPFyZW-XviNEq3jm~DPxKKkm3NCWjd8gQX2nV9GRRn9~JQ5jcUsK9JGJ5qPJ4IHmhim6ggHr6JSdWqOlFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee's Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee pressed U.S. State Department witness Ambassador Fittrell on China's role in securing critical minerals across Africa and the risks that creates for U.S. supply chains.

\"The primary reason why China is investing so heavily in Africa is critical minerals,\" Chairman Ted Cruz said during opening remarks, and Ambassador Fittrell told the panel the administration is prioritizing throughput to U.S. processing operations as part of a broader commercial diplomacy push. \"It's my job to get the throughput for that,\" Fittrell said, noting recent and planned U.S. processing activity in Houston and the Mississippi Valley.

Senators and the witness described concrete market tactics and environmental risks that they said compound national-security exposure. Fittrell used the lithium market as an example of price pressure: Chinese actors, he said, \"dumped a lot of lithium on the market, crashing the price,\" which made some Western projects commercially unviable. He also cited a recent tailings-dam collapse that he said released about \"40,000,000 gallons of sulfuric acid into the Kafui River,\" potentially affecting some \"6,000,000\" livelihoods.

Lawmakers pressed for use of U.S. technical assets to map and secure resources. One senator raised legislation to mobilize the U.S. Geological Survey to help characterize mineral deposits and give U.S. companies preferential notice; Ambassador Fittrell said the U.S. Geological Survey is \"the best respected entity of its type in the world\" and that he would look favorably on expanded engagement.

What was not decided: senators asked how quickly the administration can translate the policy shift into tangible supply-chain projects and financing; Ambassador Fittrell described ongoing bilateral engagement with European partners and the need to reform U.S. financing tools to be faster and more risk-tolerant but did not provide timelines for specific domestic permitting or processing milestones.

Why it matters: Senators said dependence on non-U.S. processing leaves the United States vulnerable to being cut off from minerals that are important to defense and advanced technologies, and they urged congressional and administrative action to diversify credible supply options.","At a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing, the State Department witness and senators described Chinese control of African critical-mineral supply chains, cited examples including lithium market disruption and a recent tailings-dam collapse, and urged U.S. action to build domestic processing and allied supply routes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate subcommittee hearings push investment-led U.S. Africa policy to counter China

Senators warn cuts to humanitarian and PEPFAR funding undermine U.S. credibility in Africa

Senators press State Department on DFC, Lobito Corridor and paused MCC compacts

Senate hearing warns China dominates critical-mineral supply chains in Africa